Jen joined For His Children in 2009. She served as the International Ministries Coordinator, overseeing short-term mission teams for many years. In 2018, she assumed the role of Executive Director, overseeing the staff of For His Children, connecting with donors, serving on the Board of Directors and promoting the organization around the world. Jen is a graduate of Gordon College with degrees in Elementary Education and Spanish. She also holds a master’s degree in Holistic Child Development. Jen, her husband, Marcus, and two sons, reside in Norfolk, VA.
PRESIDENT
Jennifer Thomas
Erin has always had a heart for Ecuador after living in Quito with her parents who were missionaries there for twenty five years. After graduating high school in Quito, she returned to Minnesota, where she was born, to study International Business at Bethel University. Erin is an interior designer and recently started a ministry-focused center near downtown Minneapolis with her husband Peter. She is a homeschooling mom of four boys and a passionate community builder. Erin and her family live in Edina, MN.
CHAIR OF THE BOARD
Erin Corniea
Andres Valenzuela
Andres was born in Quito, Ecuador and grew up in Kenya and Mexico. He serves as the Director of the School of Formation, a spiritual formation program training leaders to live deeply formed lives. The school is based in New York and serves leaders around the world. He holds a Master of Organizational Leadership from Alliance University. Andres has held various leadership positions at Alliance University over a span of 20 years and also owns a wedding and family photography business in the NY metro area. He’s an avid traveler and a fanatic of all things soccer and tennis. Andres, his wife Kim, and their 2 wonderful girls, Ana Sofia and Neomi, live in New York, NY.
VICE CHAIR
Jhonatan Ayala
Jhonatan is an experienced Senior Director with more than 18 years of global expertise. He is a specialized business consultant, particularly skilled in financial and tax matters. He's also a trusted advisor to family businesses. Jhonatan is passionate about giving back through social responsibility, collaborating with various non-profit organizations. His educational background includes master's degrees in Business Management and International Taxation, along with bachelor's degrees in Economic and Administrative Sciences. Jhonatan and his family reside in Quito, Ecuador.
TREASURER
Rebecca Carpenter
Rebecca is a visionary entrepreneur, accomplished business leader, and dedicated adoption advocate. She runs Sprout, a Benefit Corporation, and she is also a Presidential Leadership Scholar in the selective program run by the Presidential Centers of Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. As an adoptive parent, she is a passionate advocate for children living outside of family care, and dedicates her energy to several adoption-related initiatives and organizations. She has volunteered as an ESL teacher for more than twenty years. She earned an MBA from the University of Virginia, and lives with her husband Eric, and son Jairo, in Alexandria, VA.
SECRETARY
Augusto de la Torre
Augusto is a professional economist who has combined research, writing, policy advice, and policy making throughout a rich career, with a special focus on Latin America. He earned his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Economics at the University of Notre Dame and holds a Licenciatura in Philosophy from the Catholic University of Ecuador. Augusto and his wife, Carol, have two daughters adopted from Ecuador, Karina and Sarita. They reside in Washington DC.
BOARD MEMBER
Rachel Gunderson
Rachel is a Nurse Practitioner with an M.S. in nursing. She works in a family practice clinic, where she cares for patients of all ages, with a focus on the Spanish-speaking community in NW Missouri. Her mission journey began in 1987 when she went to Honduras, and she has been committed to serving the Lord ever since. Rachel also coordinates surgical mission teams in Latin America and has volunteered with For His Children for over 30 years. Her connection with FHC started in Ecuador, where she worked as a nurse and met FHC's co-founders, Melinda and Clark Vaughn. She is a mother of three and lives in Saint Joseph, MO.
BOARD MEMBER
Beatriz Valverde
Beatriz considers it both a privilege and a blessing to serve on the For His Children Board. Beatriz holds a degree in Industrial Psychology from the Central University of Ecuador and has further enriched her knowledge with a diploma in Hotel and Restaurant Management from Penn Foster College. She is married to Asad Zeidan, and together, they are proud parents of two wonderful daughters, Rozet Laila and Hanan Ghadir. They reside in Quito, Ecuador.
BOARD MEMBER
