From March 25–30, 2025, a dedicated team of USANA Foundation volunteers, staff, and local Associates came together for a transformative service trip to Iloilo and Guimaras, Philippines.
Together, we worked hand-in-hand with local communities to build 77 Garden Towers—innovative, sustainable gardening solutions that bring nutrition and self-reliance to families in need.
A total of 17 volunteers, including one USANA executive, joined the effort, alongside 2 local USANA Health Sciences staff, 3 USANA Foundation team members, and 3 Iloilo-based Associates who helped facilitate the experience.
Trip attendees were from Canada, Malaysia, the United States, Hong Kong, New Zealand, and the Philippines, representing the global reach of USANA’s mission to create the healthiest family on earth and the USANA Foundation’s mission to end global malnutrition for good.
Canada: Alex Tai, Vivian Lee, Darren Tai, Sophie Sun, Mandy Zhou, Helen He, and Alina Yuan
United States: Randy Crebs and Angela Crebs
Malaysia: Foong Poh Chee
Hong Kong: Winnie Kwok, Ada Chai, Jeff Ng
New Zealand: Terry Cheng and Swicky Ouyang
Philippines: Billy Dela Fuente, Roff Pastilloso, RN Pastilloso, and Rowena Tamagos
Leadership on the Ground
One of the most impactful aspects of this trip was the participation of David Mulham, USANA’s Chief Market Development Officer. His presence and hands-on involvement reflected the company’s deep commitment to service.
“The USANA Foundation, its wonderful volunteers, and the incredible Garden Towers program make a big difference in supplying a sustainable and nutritious food source,” said Mulham. “I’m lucky to have been able to join the group on this trip. I met so many amazing people. Iloilo impacted me deeply, and this is a trip I’ll always remember.”
He also encouraged others to get involved:
“If you’re not yet involved, I encourage you to learn more about the USANA Foundation on its website, Facebook, and Instagram. And if you have the chance to participate in one of the Foundation’s service trips, I assure you it will be the best USANA trip you’ll ever attend.”
Life-Changing Conversations
While building Garden Towers in La Paz, Iloilo, team members met with many families whose lives are already being changed by the program. Among them was Juliet, a mother whose story left a lasting impression on Roff Pastilloso, a Philippines Associate and trip leader.
“One woman I met on this trip who impacted me in a special way was Juliet, one of the Garden Tower recipients,” shared Roff.
“She told me that with the Garden Tower, she can now save money on groceries and afford to buy pencils for her children. That may seem small to us, but for her, it’s life-changing. Through this Garden Tower, more ordinary people—like Juliet—will be impacted and empowered to live fuller lives.”
Building for the Future
In total, the group built 55 Garden Towers in Iloilo and 22 more in communities on Guimaras Island. These towers will provide an estimated 85,000 meals of vegetables per year, supporting families with fresh produce and reducing reliance on store-bought food.
Helen He, a Canada Associate and volunteer on the trip, reflected on the significance of the hands-on work:
“The most impactful moment for me was actually building the Garden Towers myself. Seeing my contribution and donation result in something that could help others in real-time was truly a heartwarming moment.”
Why Iloilo and Guimaras?
The Foundation chose Iloilo as a destination because of the dedicated work already being done there by local leaders like Roff & RN Pastilloso and Rowena Tamagos.
Families living along the San Isidro River often lack space for traditional gardening, but Garden Towers offer a compact, sustainable solution. The community eagerly embraced the opportunity, with families taking pride in planting their own vegetables and greens.
In Guimaras, the Foundation partnered with Building Youth Around the World (BYAW). The recipients there are families whose children attend school on BYAW scholarships. During the trip, these scholars became guides for the day—leading volunteers through their communities and helping deliver hope and health through every tower built.
One volunteer, Vivian Lee, Chairman’s Club member and Canada Associate, was especially struck by what she witnessed on Guimaras Island:
“Visiting Guimaras and realizing that the people there are smaller in size due to a lack of nutritious food was eye-opening. It’s powerful to see how a small Garden Tower can address a family’s vegetable supply needs for several years.”
Nourishing Lives, Upholding Values
This service trip exemplified USANA’s mission to create the healthiest family on earth. By empowering families to grow their own food, reduce costs, and improve health, Garden Towers are more than just a structure—they’re a symbol of hope and self-reliance.
From leadership to first-time volunteers, every participant left with a deeper understanding of the impact they can have through service.
This is the power of Garden Towers. This is the heart of USANA.
Want to be part of the next service trip?
Visit the USANA Foundation or follow along on Instagram, Facebook, and our website to learn how you can help nourish the world—one Garden Tower at a time. Click here to sign up to be considered for our next service trip!
