Val McDyer - FOA-US President and Founding Board Member
Val McDyer became involved with the Amani Children’s Home in 2005 when she visited the Children’s home in Tanzania Africa while in route to climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. Val, who had been an avid fundraiser for various charities in the past, was so moved by the immense need of the street children in Tanzania that upon returning to the U.S. she contacted Valerie Todd (the Amani Children’s Home Director). Once learning more about the need, operations and management of the children’s home, Val committed to help raise money. A year later, Val got together with several other Amani supporters and founded the Friends of Amani Children’s Home U.S.
Skip MacKinnon - FOA-US Treasurer and Board Member
Freddy Gonzales - FOA-US Founding Board Member
Freddy Gonzales is a first generation Puerto Rican-American. He was the first in his family to graduate from high school and college. He feels fortunate to have had the luck to grow up in a country where this opportunity is available. Freddy has traveled throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the US. He has witnessed the sadness of homeless children (especially in Tanzania, Africa). Freddy understands the difference that one single US dollar can make in a country like Tanzania. Freddy also knows what the Amani Children’s Home can do for the children of Tanzania. “Through Amani Children’s Home, one US dollar per day will provide basic medical care, feed, clothe, and educate a child.” Freddy joined FOAUS in 2006.
Tim Conley - FOA-US Board Member
Tim joined the Friends of Amani Board in 2007. Tim and his family had the opportunity to visit Moshi and the Amani Children's Home in the summer of 2006. They were able to work with the children of Amani and experienced first hand the tremendous results being achieved at the Amani Children’s Home. This experience prompted Tim to take an active role in supporting and promoting the efforts of the Amani Children’s Home and Friends of Amani US.
Paul and Louise Hale - FOA-US Founding Board Members
Paul & Louise Hale have had a long-standing relationship with Valerie Todd and became involved with Amani Children’s Home when she became Director. They had the chance to experience life in Moshi, meet the children and help build gazebos at the new home during a Mission Trip with 25 adults and children from their church in June, 2006. They are convinced from first-hand observation that the Amani Children’s Home in Moshi Tanzania provides people an opportunity to directly and significantly impact children’s lives.
Timothy Porter - FOA-US Founding Board Member
Tim Porter became involved with the Amani Children’s Home with the help of Freddy Gonzales and Val McDyer. While in route to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro a visit was made to the Amani Children’s Home. Back in the US Tim, Val and Freddy teamed together with Paul and Louise with the help of Valerie Todd to form the Friends of Amani Children’s Home – US organization. Tim has been involved with Amani since 2005 and is also a member of the Porter Family Foundation, which seeks to support non-profit organizations, dedicated to providing disadvantaged children and youth opportunities to succeed in life.
Rick Platt - FOA-US Board Member