Board of Directors
Joni and Rick Vanderslice
Dr. Rick Vanderslice and his wife Joni act as the joint head of the Valentine Project. The Vanderslices live in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, where Rick practices urology and Joni runs her interior design firm, J Banks Design Group. They share a passion for Jesus, travel, and children, that sparked the vision for the children’s home. Over the years Tanzania has become a second home to the Vanderslices, visiting the children with their daughters Sarah and Grace at least once a year, if not more. There is little else they would rather be doing than sitting in the shade of the Valentine Children’s home’s cashew trees tickling the children and singing songs. Their passion continues to drive them to expand the Valentine Project and it’s operations to serve more and more young Tanzanians.
Rev. Greg Kronz
Growing up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Greg never had the time or money to even think about traveling. The thought that one day he would be part of the "Missionary" and helping others all over the world never once crossed his mind. But, as he grew he could feel he was destined for a greater cause. So, he traveled his way to South Carolina and through his travels he found his calling with the church. And through god’s blessing, this led him to Bishop Valentine Mokiwa, who visited Hilton Head Island in 2004 for a well needed vacation. Valentine Mokiwa observed Rev.Greg Kronz service and was so inspired by his work he insisted that Greg come to Tanzania, to his Diocese in Dar Es Salaam, to teach his clergy. Fast forward: Greg eventually invited Dr. Rick Vanderslice to lead a "medical team" to the Diocese of Dar Es Salaam, and the following year, Joni, his wonderful wife, joined the team. They were given a vision for the orphaned children of Dar Es Salaam and invited Rev.Greg to be part of their mission. Henceforth the Valentine Project was Born! Rev.Greg Kronz have visited the Valentine Children's Home since its beginning a number of times and have watched the Home flourish, blessing the children, their extended families, the Diocese, and the community.
Dina Kriscunas
Dina Kriscunas has established her career working with major corporations within their finance operations. After obtaining an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh, Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business, Dina went through credit training school and became a lender for Mellon Bank serving large industrial companies. She also held positions with Dick Sporting Goods as Corporate Budget Manager and with MMC 20/20 Inc., a boutique healthcare consulting group, leading their financial department. Dina has been involved with the Valentine Project since its inception and has served on the Board of Directors over the past several years managing the financial requirements.
Darcie and Kevin Patrick
Darcie and Kevin Patrick met in 1988 at Elon College. They were then married in 1994 in Indianapolis, Indiana and moved to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina in 2000. Kevin is an insurance adjuster and CEO of D'Brook & Company, Inc and Darcie has served in the education field for the last two decades as a teacher and school principal. Darcie is also the founder of College HHI, an educational consulting firm located in Hilton Head Island meant for helping high school students from around the world choose the right college for them. Personalizing college strategies working hand-in-hand with the student, parents and college admission directors. Darcie and Kevin are also parents to three wonderful children - Ella, Hake and Jeep. As close friends of the Vanderslices, Darcie and Kevin embraced Rick's vision to support the orphans in Dar es Salaam and have both traveled to Tanzania alongside the Vanderslices multiple times to support the Children's Home.
Anne Hinely
Anne had always hoped that one day she would have the opportunity to travel to Africa for missions work. To be given the chance to experience the culture, meet the people, and most importantly give a helping hand to those who need it. When she was invited to join a team going to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in the summer of 2009, Anne was ecstatic to go, having no idea that she was about to embark on a journey from God. Anne fell in love with the people of Tanzania and couldn’t wait to go back the following summer's to share more of her support. In Anne's words "Each child is so unique and special, we wanted to make sure we were offering them the best environment to gain confidence and find success academically." Since then, Anne have become the educational consultant on the VCH Board of Directors. Along with tracking their academic progress, we also work as a team to promote each child's spiritual, emotional, physical and social growth.
Carmen Mullen
Judge Carmen Mullen and her 12 year old daughter, Tevi, visited the Valentine Children's Home in Tanzania for the first time in June of 2019. Struck by the love, exuberance and curiosity of the children at VCH, their family has joined many others in making VCH a family purpose. With the encouragement of VCH's founders - the Vanderslices', Rev. Greg Kronz, and Susan Ketchum - the Mullens are humbled to serve the children of VCH and look forward to many visits and sustained growth of this worthy project. Being a part of VCH has helped their family connect to others not just locally, but afar, giving purpose and meaning to their lives outside of their immediate community.
Simon
Mary
Sister Janet
Sister Lucy
Mama Irene
Zella
Partners
Kravet Fabric Collection
J Banks Design Group is thrilled to collaborate with Kravet for its first-ever fabric collection, Tanzania. Showcase designers and the design accents of famous locations, lifestyles and brands, distributes many high class fabrics, furniture, wall coverings, and more, Kravet Tanzania introduces a line of ethnic-inspired performance fabrics with graphically stunning patterns and textures. Each pattern presents a modern interpretation of traditional African tribal designs with a residential style and feel.
United Way
United Ways builds on community strengths and assets, helping individuals and groups to find ways to contribute their time and talents, support direct-service programs and community-change efforts.
All of this is done in collaboration with diverse partners. Depending on the issue and how the community chooses to address it, United Ways work with schools, government agencies, businesses, organized labor, financial institutions, community development corporations, voluntary and neighborhood associations, the religious community, and others.
Stanbic Bank
The Standard Bank Group is Africa’s largest bank by assets and also has the biggest single network of banking services in Africa. Through this network it is able to offer a wide range of banking products and services. These are delivered through more than 1,450 points of representation in 19 African countries, including Botswana. In addition to the Group’s well distributed footprint, it has 53,000 employees around the world to ensure delivery of a complete range of services that cuts across Personal and Business Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking and wealth management. Stanbic Bank is committed to creating prosperity and giving back to our community, the people of Botswana.
Rotary Club
The Rotary Club of Bahari Tanzania and Vanlandingham Rotary USA provided a solar powered well through a Rotary International Global Grant. Base funding for the project was achieved with contributions from over twenty Rotary Clubs in District 7770, Eastern South Carolina. The Rotary Club is a global network of 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.