Estela Alesna Ohlrogge, known as “Lalay,” was born in Cebu City, Philippines, attended college in Cebu at San Carlos University___ and took a job with the UN High Commission on Refugees.  In 1987, she married Paul Ohlrogge, and after spending their first several married years together in the Philippines, they returned to Paul’s home state of Wisconsin. Paul has been an integral member of the Wisconsin Microfinance board and was responsible for starting the Philippines program in 2014. Lalay played a critical role in working behind the scenes in developing infrastructure that allowed the Philippines program to flourish.

Lalay’s dedication to supporting the communities in the Philippines was profound. For more than 5 summers, she traveled to the small islands where our borrowers were located. Lalay interviewed many of them and was quick to give hugs and find laughter with these perfect strangers.

Lalay died on May 14th, 2020.

Remembering Lalay

In order to honor her legacy, the Estela “Lalay” Ohlrogge Award for Volunteerism and Support of Microfinance was launched at the Wisconsin Microfinance fall gala in 2021. The award reflects the critical role of volunteers in supporting the mission of Wisconsin Microfinance.

Renia Salinas is a Filipina with a long and dedicated commitment to empowering women in her country.  For many years, she served as the director of VICTO, a large regional credit union in the central part of the country.  After her retirement from VICTO, she helped start the cooperative movement in Myanmar but was forced to leave as the country became less stable.  She returned to the Philippines and continues to work with and support Wisconsin Microfinance.

We recently opened a new loan program on the island of Panay through Renia’s support and assistance.  She has worked with the director of a small credit union in the community of Iloilo on setting up a microfinance program that focuses on women entrepreneurs.  This program is running very well, and has already expanded because of Renia’s guiding hand.

Renia has instrumental in all of the Philippine microfinance programs that we have provided funding for.  She has been a great sounding board and has provided a steadying influence within the country.

Benaja Antoine is Haitian and worked with World Renew, an economic development non-profit in Haiti.  Under his guidance and leadership, FOTADEL, an agricultural cooperative in the South-central part of the country, was chosen as a new partner in Haiti.  We opened this new program during the pandemic, largely because of our believe in and our confidence in Benaja.

He has trained the director of FOTADEL on how to administer our program.  Loan reports are timely and accurate and we have documented changes to quality of life for loan recipients. He also provided the case studies that are published on our website.

He has been the cornerstone on which the new Haiti program is being built.