The Lingap Children's Foundation Board of Directors
Dr. Jay Brunette, MD is an orthopaedic surgeon with Georgia Bone & Joint Surgeons, P.C. in Cartersville, GA. He is also a member of the Lingap Committee with Transfiguration Catholic Church in Marietta GA.
Dr. Brunette is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, where he served in the Medical Corps, 2nd Medical Group at Barksdale AFB, Bossier City, LA.
He is a 1980 graduate of Amherst College in Amherst, MA where he received a BA in Neuroscience. He attended the University of Rochester, Rochester NY, where he received his Medical Doctor degree in 1984. He served his internship at the University of Rochester, in General Surgery. His residency was through the Orthopedic Surgery Residency Program at the Medical College of Georgia, Augusta GA and he received a Sports Medicine Fellowship with John Feagin, MD in 1989 from Jackson Hole Othopaedics, Jackson, WY.
Dr. Brunette belongs to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons; the Georgia Orthopaedic Society, the Medical Association of Georgia and the Bartow County Medical Society. He is certified by the National Board of Medical Examiners and the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery.
He enjoys both snow and water skiing, boating, hunting and fishing, camping and is an avid gardener.
Joseph Dahm is a high school science teacher at Loyola Academy in Wilmette, Illinois, and has been passionately teaching chemistry and physics for 15 years. Joe led the effort to introduce a new chemistry curriculum to Loyola Academy, Chemistry in the Community, which integrates chemistry concepts with societal and environmental issues. He serves as a mentor to Loyola students in the school honors program in arts and literature and is a moderator for the sailing team. He has also been active in leading Loyola Academy retreats for students.
Prior to teaching high school, Joe was a program director for the "I Have a Dream" program in North Chicago, IL which helped at-risk youths stay in school and earn scholarships for college. Joe began his career as a h ouseparent at a group home for boys started by the Jesuits in Evanston, Illinois (Boys' Hope). In partnership with his wife, he later started a branch of St Francis Shoppes in Chicago that marketed hand crafts from third world countries. Joe also spent several years as a trader at the Chicago Board of Trade, before moving into teaching as a career.
Joe has a Bachelors degree from Xavier University in Cincinnati and a Master of Arts in Teaching from National Louis University. He currently resides in Lincolnshire, Illinois with his wife and three children. In addition to time with his family, Joe enjoys the outdoors, including bicycling, hiking, and boating.
John Drake retired as Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Administrative Services for CMS Energy and affiliate Consumers Energy in Jackson, Mich., after a 32-year career. He was responsible for overseeing all aspects of human resources for 11,500 employees on five continents and the Philippines, where the company owned facilities.
John founded and is President of the Lingap Children's Foundation in the United States and the Lingap Children's Development Center, Inc. in the Philippines.
A U.S. Navy veteran, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Hillsdale College, located in Hillsdale Michigan.
Sandy Miller is an Account Executive with Aon Hewitt, in Lincolnshire IL, working with clients such as DTE Energy, Ford, GMAC, Motorola, and Nationwide ensuring integrated, coordinated, and seamless delivery of all of Hewitt's services. In this role over the last 6 years Sandy has sold over $200 million of consulting and outsourcing work. Prior to this role Sandy spent nearly 15 years in Hewitt's Talent and Organization Consulting group. She held various leadership positions in the talent management and compensation consulting practice and had a specialty consulting focus in sales effectiveness.
At Hewitt Sandy is on the Women in Leadership Governance Committee and is a certified trainer for "Gender Differences in the Workplace".
Prior to joining Hewitt Associates, Sandy had an 11-year career in sales and marketing at Westinghouse Electric, Power Generation Business Unit. Her responsibilities included direct sales, major account management, and the development and implementation of marketing plans for both products and services in the energy and commercial market segments.
Sandy is on the Board of Directors at Pinnacle Biologics, Inc (Compensation and Governance Committee), and Powell/Kleinschmidt, Inc., a globally recognized interior architecture firm headquartered in Chicago, IL.
Sandy has a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Oakland University and a M.B.A. in marketing and finance from the University of Chicago.
David Richmond is a founding partner and President of Richmond Brothers, Inc. in Jackson, Michigan. As a personal financial strategist and retirement distribution professional, Dave helps retirees invest lump sum distributions. He is a member of Ed Slott's Master Elite IRA Group(tm) which provides him with ongoing training on IRA and distribution planning. Dave also focuses on Philanthropic Financial Planning (sometimes referred to as Legacy Planning) to help clients continue to support those organizations that mattered most to them in life, in perpetuity.
In addition, Dave is a founder of the 1 and 2 Richmond Brothers Place LLC, real estate holding companies, and the Richmond Brothers' Foundation. The philanthropic arm of Richmond Brothers, Inc. focuses on education of children and young adults.
Dave is a member of the Board of Trustees for Siena Heights University and is active at the Queen of the Miraculous Medal Church. He has a Masters of Science in Financial Services from The American College, a Bachelor of Arts degree from Michigan State University and is a Chartered Financial Consultant.
Joe M Walsh is the President of Legacy DMC. He is responsible for the oversight of contractual commitments relating to the sale of the Detroit Medical Center. Mr. Walsh is an experienced executive with strong leadership, communication, change management, strategic planning and process improvement skills. Industry exposure includes automotive sales and manufacturing, financial services, and gas and electric utilities. Management philosophy emphasizes high levels of personal contact, maximum delegated authority and accountability, subordinate development, and process standardization. Managed M&A due diligence and resulting complex partnerships and joint ventures. Lived and worked overseas in Europe (late 70's) and Australia-Asia (late 90's).
Eight-year consulting career includes successful projects to design, develop, and install a variety of financial control and corporate governance processes, including the initial Sarbanes-Oxley control and monitoring system at a utility and a regulatory compliance system for environmental, health and safety, and FERC/NERC requirements. Participating in development of an enterprise risk management process.
Thirty-year Ford career progressed through a series of auditing, accounting and financial analysis positions in Ford's finance function, including plant controllership and management of European and North American audit departments. Transitioned to general management at Ford Motor Credit Company; final assignment: president, Ford Credit Asia-Pacific with p & l responsibility for $5 billion in assets in ten countries; record profits of $45 million in 2000.
Presently serve as a trustee on the board of the Detroit Science Center, director on the board of the Homeless Action Network of Detroit, and executive in residence for the Leadership Development Institute at the University of Detroit Mercy.
Recent experience as an adjunct professor at Concordia University of Ann Arbor, William Tyndale College, and the University of Detroit and as a guest lecturer at Oakland University.
The Lingap Children's Development Center, Inc. Board of Trustees
Mauro Blardony is Chairman of Hi Tech Cable Inc in Tarlac, Philippines. He retired after 37 years in managerial positions, ultimately rising to Executive Vice President of Ayala Group. The conglomerate is involved primarily in real estate development, banking and insurance. Mauro is a life member of the Management Association of the Philippines.
He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Commerce and studied toward his Masters Degree in Business Administration at Stanford University in the United States.
Mahlan Boncavil is Head of the Engineering Section of Logistics Operations for Negros Navigation Co., an inter-island domestic shipping and transportation company in the Philippines. He is a member of Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers.
He has a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the Cebu Institute of Technology in the Philippines.
Danny Deen has been an attorney for Angara Abello Concepcion Regala and Cruz Law Offices in Cebu City, Philippines, for 27 years. He is a director or member of a dozen organizations, including the American Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Cebu Chapter, Cebu Economic Advisory Council, and Employer's Confederation of the Philippines-Cebu Chapter. He has held numerous leadership positions.
Danny holds a law degree from University of San Carlos, Cebu City.
Leah Diaz is Technical & Support Services Manager of Toledo Power Co. for Global Power, an electric power generation company in Cebu, Philippines. She serves on the board of directors for the Pollution Control Association of the Philippines (Region 7), Toledo City Water District, and Toledo Business Club and is a member of the Toledo City Development Council and Philippine Institute of Chemical Engineers.
Leah holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the Cebu Institute of Technology, Cebu City and is a licensed professional chemical engineer.
John Drake retired as Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Administrative Services for CMS Energy and Consumers Energy in Jackson, Mich., after a 32-year career. He was responsible for overseeing all aspects of human resources for employees on five continents and the Philippines, where the company owned facilities.
John is founder and President of the Lingap Children's Foundation in the United States and the Lingap Children's Development Center, Inc. in the Philippines. A U.S. Navy veteran, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Hillsdale College.
Vacant
Vacant
Lingap Children's Foundation - Volunteers
Fr. Geoff Rose, OSFSLingap Children's Foundation Chaplain
Fr. Geoff Rose, OSFS is the Chaplain and Director of Campus Ministry at Lumen Christi High School in Jackson, MI. He also is co-founder of Mark 5:11 Ministries where he provides retreats, workshops, keynotes, and parish missions around the country.
Prior to joining the Oblates of St Francis de Sales, in 1996, he was involved in just about every level of political life. First, elected to the City Council of Ypsilanti; then as Mayor Pro-Tem (one of the youngest in history of the State of Michigan); he also served as an executive director of a Political Action Committee, then campaign manager for a targeted State House race; finally spending the last three years of political service as a senior staffer for a member of the US Congress.
Having a real passion for foreign mission work, he serves on the Board of Directors for IsleGo Missions—an inter-denominational mission that specializes in week-long experiences primarily in the Caribbean; and closer to home he is a director and chaplain for Catholic HEART Workcamp which provides service opportunities for over to 10,000 youth in 40 cities each Summer.
Fr. Rose has a B.S. in Organizational Communication, Public Law & Government from Eastern Michigan University and an M.Div. from the University of Toronto.
Jeff Drake
Web Designer & Information Technology
Crystal Bisonet
Accounting
Judy Drake
Sponsorship Coordinator
Veronica Frazer
Bookkeeping
The Lingap Center, located in Toledo City, Cebu, Philippines, is a haven of safety and hope where children who have been neglected, abused, exploited or abandoned can go to receive the love and protection that they need and deserve.
The original Lingap Center was founded by the Toledo City Government, in conjunction with the DSWD (Dept. of Social Welfare and Development) in 1988. The building was originally constructed as a pig slaughterhouse. It was later converted to house less than 20 street children. Within a very short time, the need surpassed the ability of the facility to accommodate them. Consequently, over the past decade, hundreds of children have been turned away, due to a lack of space and funding. The number of needy children continues to increase as the economic conditions in the Philippines worsen. At the time of its closing on March 30, 2006, the original Lingap Center was terribly rundown and with thirty-nine children living there, the conditions were deplorable.
It was determined that the original facility could not be renovated to the extent required. Additionally, there was no stove, refrigerator or many other facilities that we take for granted. The children washed their own clothes in the same trough that they used to wash dishes, brush their teeth and bathe themselves. Something needed to be done just to promote healthy living. Additionally, those without birth certificates were not allowed to attend the public schools or church.
Consequently, when the mayor asked if I would be willing to help renovate the old facility and run it, I accepted the challenge - but it needed to be an entirely new facility. As a result, the New Lingap Center was completed in March of 2006 and the children moved in on March 30. The new facility includes a well designed kitchen, dining room, study area and office facilities. It includes a new dormitory with bath and laundry facilities and enough space to accommodate at least 50 boys and 50 girls in a secure environment. Additionally, there are quarantine rooms to accommodate the children when they are sick, to prevent the spreading of illnesses. The new building has been carefully designed to accommodate future expansion. The children can now concentrate on doing what they should do - just being children.
One hundred children live there today but who can guess the number who will be saved in the years to come. This was all made possible by the support of countless friends and benefactors who also have a special place in their hearts for the least fortunate children.
WHO ARE THE STAKE HOLDERS?
Other stake holders in this very important project include Fr. Rolando Manayon, parish priest of the St. John of Sahagun Parish, who provides spiritual direction to the children; Arlene Zambo, Vice-mayor of Toledo City, who oversees the City's participation in the project along with Jun Zambo, city administrator and member of the Philippine-based, Lingap Childeren's Development Center Board of Trustees; Jojin Ladroma, Lingap Center manager and of course, John Drake.
WHO IS JOHN DRAKE?
John Drake retired on June 1, 2006 after 32 service from the position of Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Administrative services for a major U.S. energy company. His retirement enables him to focus all of his efforts on the Lingap Center project. His work took him to the Philippines frequently over the past decade, where he worked with local people to set up the human side of doing business there for his company. Consequently, he got to know and understand the people and their culture well and he began to notice the poor, abandoned and neglected children of the region. He found this to be unacceptable and was determined to make a difference in their lives.
After working as a volunteer with King's Garden Children's Home in the Province of Bataan for a period of time, he was approached by the Mayor of Toledo City in February of 2002 with a request to build and manage an orphanage to replace the Lingap Center. His initial reaction was negative, however after visiting the facility and getting to know the children, he found that this was something that had to be done. God had placed this burden on his heart and now he is committed to making this a priority in his life.
WHAT ABOUT ADOPTIONS?
We are asked about adoptions at virtually all Lingap Children's Foundation presentations. The answer is a complicated one. Children who are "certified" orphans are eligible for adoption (both foreign and domestic). However, obtaining the certification can be difficult. A certified orphan is a child who has absolutely no living relatives, including aunts, uncles, cousins etc. Proving this can be difficult in a country with extended families such as the Philippines. Additionally, it is often difficult to track family movement through the islands, provinces or in mountain regions.
Once a child is certified as an orphan by the DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development), they are eligible for adoption. All adoptions in the Philippines are handled by the Inter-Country Adoption Board, in Manila. More information can be found at www.sykinet.net/~icaba. In the U.S., Philippine adoptions are coordinated by the Holt Adoption Services.
It should be noted that the ICABA makes all matches of prospective parents with the children. Individuals are not allowed to make their own selections.
HOW LARGE IS THE LINGAP CENTER STAFF?
The Lingap Center staff includes the Lingap Center Manager (a social worker); three Staff Social Workers; ten House Parents (one who does administrative work); two Security Watchmen; two Cooks; one Utility Worker; one Maintenance Worker; two full-time and two part-time Tutors and one Peace Corps Volunteer for a total staff of 24 plus one volunteer. These individuals operate the facility 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days per year.
HOW OLD ARE THE CHILDREN?
Officially, the children range in age from 6 - 16. However, we have some as young as 4 and as old as 17.
I WOULD LIKE TO DONATE BOOKS OR CLOTHES, HOW CAN I DO THIS?
We are frequently asked about donating used clothing and books. Sadly we are unable to accept such items. While we desperately need them, the shipping costs to the Philippines are prohibitively high. Additionally, we are able to buy new clothes and books locally, for a fraction of the initial purchase price in the U.S. not to mention the shipping costs. If you still would like to donate books and/or clothing, we would suggest that you make a directed donation. You can designate specifically how you would like for your donation to be used. You will receive confirmation that the money was used exactly as you intended.
HOW CAN WE CONTACT YOU?
We can be contacted by E-mail at helpingkids@lingapcenter.org , or you can reach us by telephone at 517-529-9702.
Our Postal Address is:
The Lingap Children's Foundation
P.O. Box 1553
Jackson, MI 49204
Our Fax number is:
517-529-9754
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