GIVE

Our Team

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Bill Manassero

Founder

Prior to founding Child Hope and The Lighthouse with his wife Susette, Bill spent 25 years as a corporate executive and business entrepreneur. He sold his possessions to go into full-time ministry, first as a children's musician, writing, producing CDs and performing songs around the world with his Mister Bill Band and, later, moving to Haiti to serve children in Port-au-Prince. Bill and Susette have seven children.

Spencer Reeves

Executive Director

Spencer's involvement with Child Hope began back in 2010 when he and his wife Risa led a team to do relief work. In 2012, the Reeves family moved to Haiti to work alongside Child Hope, where Spencer worked as Team Coordinator. After that first year, he decided to branch out and other ministries. In 2016 Spencer and Risa rejoined the Child Hope team as the Haiti Directors and began leading the transition to family-based care. In 2020 the Reeves relocated to Florida and Spencer accepted the position as Executive Director.

Craig Ronning

Chairman

Craig is a business person, a trained business and life coach, and a credentialled Spiritual Director.  He loves to support folks who are leading others, which is why he has served on several non-profit boards. Craig has been a friend of Child Hope International for years, and plays a very supportive role in the life of one of our graduates. He is a faithful servant of Christ and talented musician.  He and his wife Teri have 4 children and 8 grandchildren.

Denise Hardy

Secretary

Denise joins the board after a 30+ year career as a nurse, which included work in the operating room, home health, immunization, and family practice nursing. She has participated in several disaster relief missions with her church in Pensacola, helping after Katrina and other hurricanes. Denise’s involvement with Child Hope International began in 2020. Denise and her husband Jim currently live in England. They have two children and two grandchildren.

 

Patrick Murphy

Treasurer

Patrick has over twenty years of Technology leadership, with an emphasis on design, implementation & managing. Patrick began supporting the Reeves when they got involved with Child Hope 2011 and has been a strong advocate since then. He also sits on the Board for a missionary in the Amazon. He is a talented artist and avid surfer. Patrick and his wife Lynda live in Bend, OR.

Brett Hall

Member

Brett’s career is in digital advertising and internet technology, but he also spent 3 years at a private equity firm. Brett is the co-founder of a streaming media ad placement agency called Evolution Media Group. Brett’s wife Ashley visited Haiti in 2011, and they have been very supportive of Child Hope International ever since. Brett and Ashley have 3 children and live in Costa Mesa, CA.

Cody Axthelm

Member

Cody is an entrepreneur who runs a dog training business and marketing business out of his home in Ellensburg Wa. He and his wife Taylor have two children and are involved in local Bible studies with young men and women. Cody connected with Haiti in the summer of 2009 when he asked the Lord to give him a country to pray for. He has since taken several short trips to Haiti and volunteered at Child Hope International. Cody is excited to be a part of the Board of Directors and continue to use his skills to serve the mission.

staff

Spencer & Risa Reeves

Executive Director

Spencer and Risa's involvement with Child Hope began back in 2010 when they led a team to do relief work. In 2012, the Reeves family moved to Haiti to work alongside Child Hope, where Spencer worked as Team Coordinator. After that first year, they decided to branch out and serve with Ambassadors Football hosting summer soccer camps and mid-week soccer clinics, sharing the Gospel through sport. During that time Spencer also served on the board at Quisqueya Chapel working to help build the local church and Risa worked with World Vision coordinating the very first Movement Day, in Port Au Prince. In 2016 Spencer and Risa rejoined the Child Hope team as the Haiti Directors and began leading the transition to family-based care. In 2020 the Reeves relocated to Florida and Spencer accepted the position as Executive Director.

 

Amanda Magnuson

Director of Operations

Amanda grew up in Carpinteria, CA and studied at Westmont College.  There she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, but also was exposed to chapel speakers who encouraged students to discover their vocational calling.  In 2009 Amanda visited Haiti and was shaped by the experience.  The visit was one of the factors that influenced Amanda to complete a Master’s Degree in Human Rights at University College London.  In London she interned for World Vision and wrote her dissertation on girls education in Zimbabwe.  Amanda joined the Child Hope team as Director of Operations in 2016.

Christina Cruz

Finance Manager

After being connected to Child hope for several years, Christina finally got the chance to come serve with us on our first Dream Team in June 2013. It was on that trip that the Lord called her to serve with Child Hope in Haiti on a longer-term basis. She began as the Team & Volunteer Coordinator in 2014, but stepped into the role of Finance Manager in 2017.

Haitian Staff

For the safety of our Haitian staff, we have removed their biographies from our webpage.