Board of Directors
The HUGS Board of Directors is made up entirely of volunteers. While we are not paid in money, we are blessed by the progress being made because of our efforts in Uganda. Every member of the Board is dedicated to improving the lives of the women and children who struggle to survive in areas where childhood is often perilous. Keep reading to get to know each of us a bit better.
Meet the Board...
Victoria Gibson, BSN
President & Chairman of the Board
Africa captured my attention as a very young child while learning of Lake Victoria, the world’s largest lake. I remember sitting in class praying that one day I would have an opportunity to stand on the shores of "my" lake. The lake did, after all, have my name. Later in life, I was able to use my nursing knowledge to enter the mission field and travel to Uganda, landing in Entebbe on the shores of Lake Victoria. While in Uganda, I fell in love with the country, the people, and the culture. It has been a life-changing road, but the journey has been awesome. I have met and worked with many wonderful people along the way. Now my prayer is to be used by God to assist, in whatever way I can, the women and children of Uganda.
Lawrence Gibson
Chief Financial Officer & Director
larry@hugsforchildren.org
After being raised in San Diego County, I received my engineering degree from Northrop University in Inglewood, California. During my 25-year career in engineering, product marketing and executive management, I learned how to make the best use of available resources to achieve positive goals for various high-tech companies. However, somewhere along the way I realized that God had given me certain abilities, and I longed to apply those talents toward His purposes. Following her first trip to Uganda, my wife Vicky told me of the tremendous need of the children in the remote villages. When I visited these villages personally, I was amazed to see how the people there could accomplish so much with so little. A small contribution could educate a child, build a house, or feed a family. Using local resources, a school building or a dormitory could be constructed for a fraction of what it cost in the USA. Seeing the opportunity, it became my heart's desire to help the people in these villages by participating in the operation of HUGS.
Sueann Silva
Secretary/Event Planner
In March of 2005, I applied to be part of a team traveling to Thailand. Our mission was to rebuild a Tsunami-stricken village outside of Phuket. As a member of that team, I was assigned a “traveling buddy”. Her name was Vicky Gibson. After 20+ hours on a plane (each way) and countless hours working together, I learned about HUGS. Having been raised, in part, in Colombia, South America, I am no stranger to third-world countries and their plight. Therefore, when I heard of HUGS, it cut right to my core. God had placed Vicky and me together for a reason. The decision to join HUGS was not only for me, but also for my children. They needed to know one person could change someone's life - One child at a time. Later in 2005, I was able to visit Africa. I was struck by the great need. Since then I have become steadfast in my resolve to help the children. They are truly the future of that country. Compassion for others is "caught" not taught and I work to instilling this vision in both my family and community. I am most grateful for the response I have had from my children. My daughter Sofia has started "Kids Feeding Kids" (Or, what we fondly refer to as HUGS Junior). Her brother and sister have jumped in to help as well. It has been exciting to see first hand the vision that has now become reality. The vision we call HUGS.
Erin Lima
Director, Public Relations/Marketing
Born and raised in San Diego, received degrees in Graphic Design and Business Marketing. Even as the only child of a single mom, growing up I always felt privileged. Having worked my way through college and raising 2 children (and a husband), I felt it was time to give back in some way. HUGS has given me and my family the opportunity to help...one project, one village at a time.
Reese Mancillas
Director, Fund Raising
I wanted to sponsor a child or participate in an outreach of some sort for quite some time. Having been down many rough roads myself and having come back stronger and healthier spiritually, I wanted to give back. I have so much gratitude for what I have, but I find meaning in life by helping others. I have had the opportunity to help many women over the years, find their way back from their own individual troubles, but have had a pull towards doing more. I have been a friend of Vicky's and over the years have watched her grow and thrive in her drive to make H.U.G.S. successful and was inspired by her obvious calling to this purpose and love for the children of Uganda. I sponsor two children and was privileged to go to Africa this past October, 2008 to meet them, help in the village and get a taste of what these children and H.U.G.S. participation is all about. I was amazed at the overwhelming graciousness of the children and their gratitude for their very simple, yet fulfilling lives, thanks to H.U.G.S. For very little on our end, their entire existence is transformed into a future of hope and opportunity that otherwise is not much of an option. I am honored to be of service in helping H.U.G.S. help these special children of Uganda to reach for their dreams and I am dedicated to opening the eyes of others to the very real need that exists.
Jon Llera
Mission Pastor
I grew up ten minutes from the Mexican border and whether my family was helping flood victims in Tijuana, or I was leading teams of students on missions trips as a youth pastor, my most fulfilling experiences have been helping and encouraging others in need.
In 2007, I was given the opportunity to lead a team from my church to Uganda with HUGS. I was stricken not only by the great need in that impoverished country, but also with the effectiveness of the HUGS projects. Though the trip involved an enormous amount of work, I knew I wanted others to have the same experience.
Upon my return, I was asked to partner with HUGS to help others to have successful missions experiences in Uganda. It is my hope that we can provide life-enriching experiences for those who travel, and life-altering help for families in Uganda.
Anita Paredes
Director, Social Services
I have never shied away from challenges, and have spent 30+ years working around issues of prisoners reentering the community from incarceration. Everyone has an opinion about the criminal justice system, and I have always found the clients to be fascinating. Helping offenders reenter society makes everyone safer, improves our communities and saves taxpayer dollars. During my career, I’ve had the opportunity to work with many caring professionals specializing in areas such as addiction, homelessness, women and children, family violence, HIV and mental illness. For many years I have been a member of the Disabled Services Advisory Council for the City of San Diego’s Therapeutic Recreation Services to enrich the lives of persons with physical and mental challenges. I guess you can say that I have always been an advocate for the disenfranchised. With assistance, many of these individuals can become productive and self sufficient, rather than a burden on society. As a mother, grandmother and stepmother, I know the intense satisfaction that results from helping families and children reach their potential. Several years ago, I was introduced to HUGS and the wonderful work that a few individuals were doing to make a real difference in the lives of children devastated by poverty in Uganda. I am proud to do whatever I can to make a positive contribution to HUGS.
Jessica Jachim
Director, Service/Mission Trips
With a heart for third worlds, I fell in love with Africa sight unseen when I was a young girl. In 1997, I met ten wonderful people from Uganda and worked alongside them in my hometown for 6 years. The men and women labored at 2 & 3 jobs working day in and day out. After becoming friends, we spoke over long dinners of their gratitude for being able to work in the United States and send money back home to their families. Each one expressed the vast differences in our lifestyles, yet it wasn’t until I met H.U.G.S. founder, Victoria Gibson and joined the H.U.G.S. 2011 team that I was able to travel and lay eyes on those differences first-hand. I was witness to not only the beauty of Africa itself but more importantly the hearts of the men, women and children who live there. Their desperation was offset by humble hearts and incredible laughter. The 2011 H.U.G.S. trip was a life experience that altered my heart more than any other place I had ever been. I am honored to be a part of H.U.G.S. and look forward to helping Ugandan men, women and children build bright hope-filled futures one project at a time.
Members at Large
Sofia Silva