Signed in as:
filler@godaddy.com
OUR TEAM
GISELLE MEZA /FOUNDER
Giselle Meza, an active humanitarian, survivor of human trafficking, and former top model, witnessed the exploitation and injustice happening to women and children around the world while traveling extensively to over 58 countries while on assignment.
Moved with love and compassion for the victims of injustice that she met, Giselle founded Puresa Humanitarian, a non-profit 501c3 charitable organization.
Her mission is to reach, rescue, restore, and to provide a tangible solution for victims of human trafficking. Providing safe homes for innocent children who were trafficked and sold into a life of forced slavery and bondage, empowering rescued women by creating opportunity for self-sustainability, making a difference in their lives has been Giselle's dedication for two decades.
Giselle was trafficked as a child. At the age of 14 years old, she escaped and survived, This traumatic experience fueled her passion and devotion for her humanitarian work and created a life-long mission to rescue and restore innocent victims who have been exploited.
Giselle knows that only by God’s Grace was she able to escape and survive. She has dedicated her life through Puresa Humanitarian to breaking the cycle of human exploitation, helping victims and survivors to have hope, a future and to live the life that God intended for them.
ANA L. MEZA / PROJECT COORDINATOR
Ana L. Meza has been an interior designer for 30 years, an entrepreneur with an extensive retail background, and a humanitarian volunteer in Costa Rica. She lived her early years advocating for women and children in Central America, witnessing the tremendous injustice of sexual slavery.
Ana has a passion to empower women with love and dignity She is a mother of three, a grandmother of four, and is no stranger to adversity.
It was only natural for her to join forces with her sister, Giselle, to fight the injustices of human trafficking. Ana is utilizing her expertise to help reach those in need worldwide. She empowers rescued women with skills training, opportunity, and employment. This helps women escape poverty and helps break the cycle of human exploitation.
Ms. Ana L Meza is currently Project Coordinator in the US for Puresa Humanitarian as her sister works on the front lines.
NADINE WOLFF / BOARD MEMBER
Nadine has been actively involved in Human Rights most of her life.
In 2012, fate led her to India,
where she witnessed first hand, the utter and unspeakable human devastation of Sex Trafficking.
She left India with a vow to continue to support and bring awareness to this insidious crime against humanity.
"I prayed to God that an authentic and meaningful path be revealed to me," Wolff says.
Months later, she met Giselle Meza, and the bond was instant.
"I was compelled by her personal story, and even more so, the bravery and commitment with which she fearlessly works to free women and children from the horrors of sex slavery."
Shortly after meeting with Giselle, Wolff became a part of the Puresa Humanitarian board of directors.
"To work alongside Giselle; a woman of impeccable character and a deep love, gave me then, and continues to provide me an incredible sense of purpose, authenticity and meaning."
Working in the field with Giselle continues to be an honor.
My prayers continue to catapult this work forward, organizing medical camps in one of the most notorious red light districts in India.
I am always awestruck by the resiliency these beautiful children and women possess.
"That I have played some small part in their healing by witnessing and loving them is Indescribable." Wolff says.
“Lokah Samastha Sukhino Bhavanthu”
May All Beings Be Happy and Free
Rev. DAHN GANDELL / BOARD MEMBER
Dahn Gandell was born in New Orleans and raised along the Gulf Coast. She has degrees from Vanderbilt University, the University of Mobile, and Yale. Gandell was ordained in the Southern Baptist Church in 1991 and in the Episcopal Church in 1998. Before she retired, she served as rector, associate rector, and deacon in four parishes in the Diocese of Rochester, NY. She’s been elected to numerous governing bodies and was appointed Missioner for Global Relations as well as diocesan coordinator for Episcopal Relief and Development.
In 2016, Gandell oversaw a water project in Tanzania, she raised funds and negotiated with village and parish leaders for its completion. She has worked in both Tanzania and India bringing education, job training, and health care.
She serves on the Board of Directors for Puresa Humanitarian, Her philanthropy has helped built homes and created support systems for trafficked women to become independent.
Gandell is a devoted humanitarian, helping to bring financial support, freedom, love, healing and hope to these innocent victims of human trafficking and sexual slavery.
DR. DAVID DEAN / ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER
Dr. David Dean is a board certified Neurosurgeon,
a Princeton Graduate who then graduated medical school from the University of Washington. Dr. Dean pioneered laser brain surgery in two states (Texas and Alabama) and was one of the original physicians forming the Texas Neuroscience Institute.
Dr. Dean’s has worked at the Lacklland Airforce Base in San Antonio, the Kessler Air Force Base in Biloxi, The University of South Alabama in Mobile, the Methodist Hospital in San Antonio, and more.
He worked at Charity Hospitals in New Orleans and went on medical mission trips to Nepal, India, Nigeria, and Honduras.
Dr. David Dean was a practicing neurosurgeon for 50+ years.
He is renowned in his field and highly regarded.
Dr. Dean has traveled to remote villages in India with Puresa Humanitarian to provide medical care to hundreds of patients with different medical needs who had never received medical care before.
We are honored at Puresa Humanitarian to have the compassion, medical expertise, and advise of Dr. David Dean.
“I saw the deepest kinds of needs in these remote villages of India.
I witnessed how love, care, and commitment through Puresa Humanitarian makes a difference," Dean says.
NADIA TOMASI / AMBASSADOR
Nadia Tomasi is a Physician Assistant, born in Italy and raised in New York. She began her career in health care as a Physician Assistant in surgery as she always dreamt to make a difference and help others. Tomasi initially met Giselle Meza and Nadine Wolff in New York City where she quickly became inspired by Giselle and her story along with the work Puresa Humanitarian has done. She has a passion for exploring the world and traveling with a purpose therefore in February 2019, Tomasi traveled to India on the Puresa Service and witnessed first hand the dynamics and injustice of sex trafficking and the positive impact Puresa Humanitarian was making. She worked closely with Dr. Gandell in India to bring health care services to women and children in need, which only solidified her intentions to assist Puresa Humanitarian to reach, rescue, and create new opportunities for victims of sex slavery.
“I am extremely grateful to have been asked to be on the board of Puresa Humanitarian. To be part of such an amazing charitable organization with so many inspiring people and survivors is an honor. Being able to meet some of the many survivors of sex trafficking while in India has taught me how prevalent sex trafficking is yet how little awareness there is to the topic. I will walk side by side with Puresa Humanitarian and will strive for this change and be the voice that these victims need," Tomasi says
ANUSHKA BLAU / AMBASSADOR
Founder of the world renowned Anushka Spa joins forces with Puresa Humanitarian to help rescue children’s lives from human trafficking and slavery.
Having an acute business sense, Anushka Blau founded the original Anushka Spa and Cellulite Clinic in New York City in 1972. The spa opened its first doors in Florida in 2001, and the West Palm Beach location has been a worldwide destination since 2007. For more than 40 years, Blau, whose expertise is in body contouring and cellulite, has been a featured educational source for beauty, health and wellness in every major U.S. magazine as well as with international media and television programs.
Blau is an advocate of helping others achieve their utmost greatest potential. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Blau was raised to have a strong sense of family and belief in herself. Confidence in oneself carried over into raising her two daughters, and then has touched the lives of many children impacted through her charity work.
Since 2007 she has volunteered with Urban Youth Impact, which provides counseling, educational and health services to at risk children and families. She is on the committee to help organize their annual charity auction, dinner and golf tournament. In 2013, she joined the board of Puresa Humanitarian, a non-profit organization dedicated to the eradication of sexual human trafficking. With perseverance and dedication Anushka Blau helps to encourage those she encounters to reach their ultimate goals.