Kathy Halbert
PRESIDENT
Kathy Halbert is the cofounder of the Caris Foundation and is a major motivating influence behind the initiative of the organization. She has always had a passion for philanthropic work and demonstrates it in her daily life and in her community. Kathy provides the “spiritual heartbeat” for the Caris Foundation as well as leadership and direction concerning the management, application and use of Caris funds.
Christopher Harmon
VICE PRESIDENT
Christopher’s educational and professional experiences in business management have proven vital to Caris’ operational success. His abilities to problem solve and proactively manage projects across continents have resulted in a remarkable impact in the lives of those the foundation serves. Christopher’s hands on style and relentless effort in the face of adversity have become trademarks of the Caris Foundation.
Jim Reppart
KENYA director
Jim Reppart brings to Caris Foundation more than 50 years of experience in Africa. He and his wife Laura, prior to her untimely death in 2012, planted churches, equipped church leaders and served the urban poor. Jim is now remarried to Dorcas Mkongo. They live on their farm in a small Kenyan community among the very people to whom Caris Foundation ministers. Jim facilitates the Caris Foundation initiatives in Africa.
Nathaniel Segaren
ASIA director
Dr. Nathaniel Segaren, MD, MRCPCH, MA, MPH, MBA is a Pediatrician, who trained at Cambridge University, UK. His residency was at the University of London teaching hospitals (Guys, Kings and St.Thomas’ Hospitals). As Director of Caris Foundation Asia, Dr. Segaren and the team have initiated activities in Cambodia and Malaysia. In Cambodia we are working, in partnership with the Government, to screen and treat correctable visual problems within all students enrolled in government Secondary schools nationally. This ambitious program (1.02 million students) is carried out through our 6 regional offices and allows us to provide same day, ‘on the spot’ prescription glasses to students and their teachers to promote educational achievement. In Sabah, Malaysia the team is working to serve the health needs of some of the most vulnerable and poor communities within the country. Helping with primary education, health promotion, WASH and non-communicable diseases out teams provide direct community services. The team are also providing eye services to every State secondary school within Sabah, a population of over 100,000 Students.
Tessa Lewis
HAITI director
Tessa grew up in the UK and graduated with a BA hons. in French and Italian from Leicester University. After spending her year abroad in France and Italy, she returned home to finish her final year and then went on to complete a Masters in PR. In 2007 she moved to Haiti as Program Director of the Caris Foundation where over the years that followed, she has overseen a team of over 400 staff with seven regional offices. Tessa developed curriculums and launched Kids Clubs and Mothers Clubs that have provided invaluable education and psyco-social support to over 3,000 adolescents and over 10,500 pregnant/breastfeeding women living with HIV. Tessa is currently the Country Director of Caris Haiti, overseeing all aspects of the program, ensuring targets are met and often over-achieved. She is passionate about the work that Caris Haiti is doing and believes that through education and empowerment, everything is possible.
Jane Gitahi
KENYA PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Jane is an integral part of the administrative staff and brings much wisdom, experience and spiritual depth to the planning and implementation of Caris Kenya projects. In addition to her responsibilities of designing, maintaining and monitoring the financial system, she also oversees women’s empowerment, personnel contracts, taxes and partnerships with other institutions. She has a heart for service, which is tempered by practicality and a marvelous sense of humor.