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Home Who We Are Our Team

Our Team

 

 U.S. Team

KenBever

 

 

 

 

 

Ken Bever

HFHC Founder/President

Elder, Northeast Church of Christ

 

My wife Rhonda and I first visited Haiti in 1993. We were deeply moved by seeing hundreds of children gathering around the outside walls of cinder block school buildings – peering through the windows, yearning to attend school. Through a grassroots partnership with caring Haitian and U.S. Christian volunteers in 1995, God opened a huge door for those of us blessed with financial resources to make an eternal difference in the lives of these forgotten children.  I am very excited by the Rebuilding Hope 2020 plans and opportunity to provide a sustainable future to those trapped in tent cities after the devastating 2010 earthquake.

 

 
tonya

Tonya Hunt

HFHC Vice President, U.S. Operations

 

I joined the HFHC team in February 2005. Since that time, I've seen on a day-to-day basis how God is using this ministry to change the lives of the children of Haiti. When visiting Haiti in February 2009, some of the children told me that being sponsored by HFHC completely changed their lives. After seeing and experiencing HOPE first hand, I found a renewed passion for serving the needs of the Haitian children.

 

 
jennifer

Jennifer Anthony

HFHC Finance Manager

 

I became a member of the HFHC team in March 2008. It is such a blessing to be a part of this beautiful ministry. Lives are being transformed because of what we do. On a trip to Haiti in February 2009 I was able to meet many of the children in our program. They are so sweet and polite. And despite some of the most deplorable conditions you could imagine, these precious children still had a smile with which to greet me. I am forever changed. I pray God will use me for many years to serve and love the people of Haiti.

 

 
amyhughescaleb

Amy Hughes

HFHC Sponsorship Coordinator

I joined the HFHC organization in January 2010. The very next week was the major earthquake so, I hit the ground running. It is so enjoyable working each day because I see the hand of God at work here. I am honored to be doing a great service for the children of Haiti.

 

 
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 Shaun Talaber

Account Administrator 

I joined the HFHC team in September 2011, but lost my heart to the Children in Haiti back in 1999 when we began our first child sponsorship. I was able to go to Haiti in January 2012 and experience first hand  the courage and love of these precious children. I am forever changed after seeing how they live in unimaginable conditions and yet are filled with hope and trust in God, because they have seen HIS love through this organization. Amazing things are happening on the ground in Haiti and I feel so blessed to be a part of it.

 

 

 

 Haiti Team

Jeantyrard-Elmera

 

 

 

 

 

Jeantyrard Elmera

President, HFHC Haiti Operations

Minister, Delmas 28 church of Christ

 

Jeantyrard Elmera has served since 1995 as the Country Director of Espoir Pour les Enfants d'Haiti, HFHC's government-recognized, non-government organization (NGO). Jeantyrard has supervised the construction of 10 HFHC-affiliated Christian schools, two orphanages, and a mission team center in Haiti, as well as serving as the President of the NGO's board of directors. Jeantyrard grew up in a poor area of Port-au-Prince and remembers having nothing to eat at times and having no school books of his own for his early schooling. Through perseverance, hand-copying huge sections from other's schoolbooks, and an education scholarship -- Jeantyrard was able to complete High School and secure a job as a Country Health Registrar with Haiti's public health ministry. Jeantyrard traveled all throughout Haiti, meeting many people in government and making contacts in many different regions of the country. In 1981, he received a scholarship for additional health statistics training and English training at Columbia University in New York City, where he attended school in 1981 and 1984. In 1989, Jeantyrard was instrumental in founding the Delmas 28 church of Christ , where he continues to serve as the pulpit minister. In 2003, he also helped found the Delmas Christian School (pre-K through High School) on the major Delmas thoroughfare in downtown Port-au-Prince.

 

 
jean-baptiste-chery

Jean Baptiste Chery

Vice President, HFHC Haiti Operations

Minister, Cite Soleil church of Christ

 

Jean Baptiste Chery joined our team in 2005. His heart for the children and the Lord is seen daily as he works with the principals to manage the sponsorship program which serves over 1,100 children in our 9 schools. In addition, Jean Baptiste oversees operations at our two HFHC orphanages and serves as a minister for the Cite Soleil Church of Christ. Jean Baptiste and his wife Beatrice have 3 children and live in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Future plans include leadership at our HFHC-owned property in Thomazeau where our Team Center, orphanage, and school are located.

 

 

 
Marieshelle

Marieshelle Jean-Pierre

Office Administrator

 

Marieshelle J. Joseph joined our team in July 2010 shortly after the January 12, 2010 earthquake. Marieshelle brings great organization and attention to detail skills to our team. She helps us to maintain our high standards for financial accountability by collecting receipts and submitting expense reports for all funds sent to Haiti. In addition, she assists with coordination for all Mission teams and communication with our U.S. staff and Haitian leadership.

 

 
Johnny Laine

Johnny Laine Evenson

Sponsorship Assistant

 

Johnny Laine joined our staff in June 2012 to assist with the administration of our Sponsorship Program. In addition to serving by working with the children, he also assists with translation and Mission Team coordination.

 

 

 

 Board of Directors

kentblake

 

Kent Blake
ServiceMaster/IBM IT Liaison

 

My wife, Jennifer, and I began sponsoring a child in the late 1990’s. As a family it was very good, not only for us but for our children, ages three and five at the time, to think and pray for our sponsored child, Jonas. We knew from pictures and stories the standard of living he experienced compared to our own. One of the most moving times of my life was getting on a plane and flying down to visit our child. We have continued to support him through secondary school and we want to stay with him. Staying with people is central to HFHC’s philosophy of going deep, not wide.

 

 
cedric2

Cedric Boyd

Retired Sales Executive, Proctor & Gamble

 

My involvement with Hope for Haiti's Children began in the fall of 2002. Working with an organization like HFHC, whose broad mission is to serve the needs of impoverished children has been, and continues to be, deeply rewarding. Demonstrating compassion through service and personal leadership excites me, particularly in a locale where the needs are so great. My goal, working with our board, staff, and Haitian friends, is to bring our Rebuilding Hope 2020 plans to life for every child involved in our program; to turn expressions of love and compassion into concrete action for the children of Haiti.

 

 
peggycruze2

Peggy Cruze

HFHC Board Chairman

 

My first trip into Haiti in June, 2001 was very revealing. I met a beautiful and valiant people engaged in daily living under such difficult circumstances. Their task today is even more daunting. So I am truly pleased to be a part of the family that is Hope for Haiti's Children and a part of an effort to bring relief and hope to the Haitians whose lives we are privileged to touch, especially the children.

 

 
julie

Julie Georges

HFHC Board Vice Chairman

Connecticut Department of Transportation -- Principal Engineer of Bridge Design

 

My first trip to Haiti was in 1995. We came hoping to establish a child sponsorship program. I immediately fell in love with the people, particularly the Christians. They face such difficult life circumstances, they are constantly in some kind of serious need and yet are full of faith and love.

 

 

 
don

Don Henderson

Optometrist

 

I was asked by Ken Bever to go on a medical mission trip in July 2001. After seeing the children of Haiti with their extreme need and big smiles, I was hooked. They now own a piece of my heart.

 

 

 

 

 

 
brucezupa

Bruce Zupa

HFHC Board Secretary

 

My connection with Hope for Haiti’s Children began in 1995 when my congregation, Bellevue Church of Christ started supporting the work. As a member of the Mission Committee, I had encouraged our participation financially and it then became my mission point responsibility. I was asked to join the board in 2002 and served for 2 years. My first trip to Haiti in 2002 captured my heart's deepest feelings and it just keeps getting stronger and stronger. My wife, Betty and I had already started supporting a young boy (Jean Civil) and I was thrilled to meet him on that first trip. During my second trip in 2008, bringing food supplies to the hurricane ravaged areas, I visited with him once again. This past December of 2010, my third trip, our mission was to personally deliver Christmas Joy Boxes to the sponsorship children. Again, I saw Jean and now he is a grown man, still furthering his education and has a job. HFHC IS WORKING! Now again, I am blessed to rejoin the board. I look forward to a lifelong relationship with HFHC. It’s all about the children…and they have captured my heart!