Home Starts With Us
/‘Home Starts with Us’ Gala: Investing in the Next Generation of Refugee Leaders
Editor’s Note: In the early 2000s, the Member-Meneh family arrived from Nigeria/Ghana as refugees resettled in St. Louis. Blessed by the Church community at Messiah Lutheran in South City walking alongside them, and with the support of CFNA educational scholarships, Nadum, Zo and Lekator attended and graduated from Lutheran schools. As they established successful careers, they created the Member-Meneh Foundation (TMF), a Christ-centered organization dedicated to cultivating the next generation of refugee leaders through education, mentorship, and opportunity. Here they share about TMF’s fundraiser gala in St. Louis and their vision & hope for the future!
On World Refugee Day, June 20, the Member-Meneh Foundation (TMF) hosted its inaugural “Home Starts With Us” Gala, bringing together supporters, advocates, community members, scholars, and refugee families for an evening celebrating culture, opportunity, and belonging.
Founded in 2023 by the Member-Meneh family, themselves refugees who experienced firsthand the transformative power of community, TMF exists because organizations like Christian Friends of New Americans (CFNA) once extended a hand to their family when they needed it most. Today, the Foundation seeks to do the same for others by cultivating the next generation of refugee leaders through connection, compassion, and opportunity.
Throughout the evening, guests were introduced to the Foundation's growing ministry, including the “TMF Scholarship” supporting refugee students attending Christ-centered schools; “Program Possibilities” connecting refugee professionals with career mentors; “Home Through Our Eyes” which amplifies refugee stories through art; and the newly launched “Scoring for Change” initiative that pairs professional athletes with refugee youth through mentorship and sports clinics. The gala marked an important milestone as TMF took its first public step in a long journey towards investing in refugee families and the communities that walk alongside them.
Thanks to the generosity of supporters, sponsors, volunteers, and community partners, and belief in TMF’s goal to connect 1 million refugees to possibilities; $29,051.60 has been invested toward the Foundation's inaugural $40,000 fundraising goal. Reflecting on the significance of this support and the gala, Zo Member-Meneh noted: "…collective investment came to life at our inaugural Home Starts With Us Gala…Together, we celebrated what is possible when a community commits to opening doors, expanding access, and investing in human potential. Because home isn't just where we live. Home starts with us!"
CFNA Founder Dr. Allan Buckman, who has seen the Member-Meneh’s grow over time, was appreciative of the effort - "Your willingness to go the extra mile and more, to help provide for the enrollment of refugee students in Lutheran schools is much appreciated. Stepping up as you have has been a major source of encouragement for all of us.”
To our sponsors, donors, volunteers, board members, attendees, and every supporter: thank you. This was more than our first gala. It was the beginning of a movement. Learn more at tmf.bio or text HOME26 to 44321 to help us close the remaining gap and reach our inaugural fundraising goal of $40,000.
by Nadum & Zo Member-Meneh (TMF)
