Believe in Haiti has a very dedicated and qualified Board of Directors. Each Board member is passionate about Believe in Haiti’s programs, mission, and vision. Board members serve on a strictly volunteer basis and receive no compensation. Board meetings occur monthly, and as needed throughout the year. Board members are required to visit Haiti on a biannual basis to develop and maintain relationships with the people that we serve, which deepens the Board’s commitment to the strategic objectives of Believe in Haiti.
Justin and Whitney lived in Haiti in 2012 and have been continuously involved since that time. While in Haiti their family had the opportunity to meet and work with the people of St. Roch. It was through these efforts that the need for the current organization was discovered. Whitney and Justin, along with the local liaisons began the current feeding program to help provide for the physical needs of the people of St. Roch Haiti. Whitney is a Registered Nurse and worked in Haiti with the people on acute medical needs and medical education. Justin worked in Haiti as an engineer and together they are intensely aware of the situation in Haiti. They have seven children that they are raising and have been “Mom & Dad” to many others through the foster program in the US and Haiti. Their passion is keeping families together with the hope that through their efforts with the feeding clinic and school sponsorship program they can ease the burdens of Haitian parents who are faced with losing their children on a daily basis.
After graduating from Boston College with a degree in Finance and Accounting, Jason worked for, and held various management positions with, Pricewaterhouse Coopers in their Assurance and Business Advisory Services Division in Denver, Colorado. He left public accounting in 2003 to join American Medical Response (AMR) as their corporate controller, and over the next several years was given the role of SVP and Chief Accounting Officer of Envision Healthcare, the parent of AMR, where he was responsible for corporate accounting, financial planning and analysis, treasury, tax and other support functions. He transitioned to the role of Chief Financial Officer of EmCare, a subsidiary of Envision, in 2013. He is married to Michelle Standifird and lives in Parker, Colorado where they are raising their 4 children.
Jenny had the opportunity to go to Haiti in Nov. 2012. She immediately fell in love with the beautiful children and the country visiting. Haiti worked its way into her heart and settled in there to stay. Jenny has been married to her husband for 16 years and has four of her own children who she loves and adores and enjoys being home with them daily. As the secretary, Jenny is responsible for the day to day upkeep and communication that comes with running Believe In Haiti.
After obtaining a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from the University of Richmond, a rollover van accident left Jensen Sutta with the valuable perspective of how short life can be. In response, he started all over…starting with Photography 101 through a Master’s Degree in Photography from the Brooks Institute in Santa Barbara, Calif. And he has been taking pictures ever since. In his first year of business, Jensen was fortunate enough to photograph Steven Spielberg, Leonardo DiCaprio, Paramount Pictures and the Polaroid Corporation among others and his career was off and running. Since then, wedding and event photography has taken him all over the world photographing the most recognized faces on the planet, including 27 U.S. states and 16 countries so far. Despite his success and the grandeur of the celebrity and high profile projects Jensen is regularly hired for, he truly has a heart for making change and shining a light on the nonprofits making a difference in our world and the people they are supporting. Following a recent trip to Haiti where he photographed the incredible work being done by a host of nonprofit organizations, Jensen said, “If I could make a living photographing nonprofit work like this I’d do it in a heartbeat. There are people in this world making a real difference and it makes me happy to share their story.”
Kristen is married and has two teenagers. Ashley, 18, is leaving for Dixie State in the fall and Ryan, 14, is starting at DCHS. She is self-employed. She assists her husband Dave with his real estate business and she creates social media marketing for her clients. She loves being behind the camera, writing, creating digital content and traveling. She has lived in Castle Rock for 19 years and absolutely loves it. They have no plans on moving. Kristen enjoys volunteering and has spent quite a bit of time helping at the Denver Rescue Mission.
Debbie is married to Gary Rolph, has 4 children and 11 grandchildren. After being raised in Detroit, MI she has experienced all the regions of the country including Salt Lake, Atlanta, Chicago, Philadelphia and currently calls Parker, CO home. Debbie has spent over 20 years working with Special Needs children from preschool through Jr.High. Her volunteer efforts in schools and orphanages expand across the globe and include areas like Russia and Peru. She has held leadership positions in children’s, youth and women’s organizations. In her spare time she enjoys reading, walking, baking, creating things, entertaining and watching movies with her husband.
Cary F. LaCouture, DDS, graduated from Baylor College of Dentistry 1985. He practices in Parker & Franktown, Colorado. He has been involved in dental research, teaching & practice development.He is affiliated with Local & International Humanitarian Organizations with recent dental clinic set-up & service in Cambodia & Haiti. Presently, he serves on the Board of Directors for Arapahoe House, Believe in Haiti, & Seeing is Believing & supports and serves Plan International & Ayuda Humanitarian. Cary is a 37 year Professional I USPTA member. He served as Head coach of Ponderosa High School Men’s Tennis for 18 years. Cary and Karen have 6 children & 4 grandchildren. He is a passionate outdoor photographer & bi-Lingual in French.
Cary and Karen have 6 children and 4 beautiful grandchildren. They have lived in Franktown, Colorado for 27 years. Karen has her Masters degree in Guidance and Counseling from BYU. She has traveled in 33 countries, but more recently with a humanitarian dental service teams to Cambodia and Haiti. Karen has worked in various capacities in accounting/operations of Cary’s two dental offices over the years. She has been involved in several interfaith dialogue groups at DU and traveled to Turkey with a group including those of Jewish, Muslim and other Christian faiths. She has held leadership positions in children’s, youth and women’s groups and taught early morning religious study classes to high school kids for 3 years. She loves to take opportunities to help those in need in whatever capacity she can and is delighted to be involved with the important work of Believe in Haiti.
I’m Dimitry Florestal, born in 1984, February 9th, my mom used to explain me all the time this day, she had c- section, right after she delivered the baby (me), Doc said that I am not going to make it, because I was tiny and under weight. But For God the doc was wrong , I survived. Born in a ghetto my parents was forced to leave the 2nd Ave Bolosse , because it started to be a dangerous place to raise kids so we moved to Carrefour, when I was 2.
I went to a good primary school which teach me french. (7years) so when I was ready to go to a secondary school I picked College St Pierre which was a prestigious expensive school that my father wasn’t able to afford.
I remember he told me this: if u go to this school I won’t be able to feed you son and I whispered : it’s ok Dad , I really want to go to that school. So I did it even if I was malnourish for several years.
So I grew up, finished my secondary school. In the same year 2003 I meet the lds missionary and I get baptized (Sept 2003) because they answer my big questions, went to a university to learn computer skills for 4 years but after 2 years my Dad passed away I quit because I wasn’t able to pay. I married Elmase Celestin Who is my friend, sister, and celestial wife, the who always support and help me through my trials, I have so much thing to say about her I should write a book loll. I started to drive taptap, worked for the MSPP (health ministry, Blood safety program, I quit 2 years after the earthquake, and start working for NGOs like: Sionfonds, CRS, DayOneResponse,Degenkolb, etc, but I liked Sionfonds the most because I like being involved in kids education, because (Education gives wings to fly wherever you want). On my road I meet Jean Pierre Johnny who is my lds friend , he introduced me to BIH which is an organization that mixed with my goals to help more my brothers and sisters and Haiti and I falled in love of the Henwoods and their Dreams, purposes. I always wanted to leave the country because bad things happening sometimes , but when travel I realized that bad things happen everywhere, only by living the Gospel of Jesus Christ someone can have peace and joy.
Do good to everyone you meet and good things will happen to you. That’s what my father used to tell me.
Now that I work for BIH I understand more this phrase: if you want to change the world start by changing your community and be honest because honesty is the best policy.
Sincerely yours. Lil bit of me<
Dèyè mòn gen mòn
Monica has been involved with Believe in Haiti since her first Vision Trip in August 2017, where she fell in love with the country and the beautiful people of Haiti. A native Texan, Monica began nonprofit work as a young teenager and quickly developed a passion for charitable work. After completing her MA in Audiology from the University of Texas at Austin, Monica teamed up with a classmate to start and run a non-profit, Children’s Hearing Aid Texas. After her family relocated to the Denver area, Monica changed careers and is currently an elementary special education teacher. Monica enjoys spending time with her husband and four children finding adventures outside and learning new things. In her spare time, she coaches children’s Muay Thai and adult kickboxing, practices Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai, enjoys photography, music, her 2 dogs and anything involving the outdoors.
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