Our Leadership
Jonathan Nimrod
President
Tim Muzira
Director of Business Operations
Board of Directors:
Gregg Bettis is the president of Kids Across America and the chairman of the Board for Kids Across Africa Foundation. His heartbeat is for children and for seeing them experience an intimate relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ.
After Don Frank joined Kanakuk Kamps as Chief Financial Officer in 1994, camp attendance grew from 6,000 to 15,000 campers annually over the next dozen years. Don directs the activities of eight departments in his role as Kanakuk CFO.
Doug Goodwin is the President of Kanakuk Ministries and summer director at K-Kauai (Kanakuk Family Kamp). Doug also has experience as a teacher, coach, administrator and long time Kanakuk counselor and director.
Bishop John Rucyahana has been instrumental in contributing to the recovery of Rwanda after the 1994 genocide by leading education, health, business development and unity and reconciliation ministries in Northern Rwanda. Bishop John established the Sonrise School, providing scholarships to genocide orphans and other vulnerable children. He also founded the Shyira Hospital and two community health centers; Bigogwe and Nyange in northern Rwanda. He currently chairs the boards of Hope Rwanda and Prison Fellowship Rwanda.
Joe White is the president and owner of Kanakuk Kamps with his wife Debbie-Jo. The Whites are also the founders of Kids Across America. Joe has been a staff member at Kanakuk since 1966 and the owner since 1976. He also has an active ministry as a speaker and writer across the United States.
Advisory Council:
Dale Dawson is Founder & CEO of Bridge2Rwanda, an organization committed to creating tomorrow’s leaders by building schools and businesses in Rwanda. He serves on Rwanda President Paul Kagame’s Presidential Advisory Council as well as the Boards of Urwego Opportunity Bank of Rwanda and the Sonrise School in Musanze, Rwanda.
With his brother, Jack Herschend is co-owner and co-founder of Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation. For most of the company's first 50 years, Jack served as chairman, president, and CEO. He also serves on the Board of Kids Across America.
Immaculée Ilibagiza, survivor of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, is regarded as one of the world's leading speakers on peace, faith, and forgiveness. She has shared her universal message with world dignitaries, school children, multinational corporations, churches, and at many conferences. Immaculée works hard to spread her message and to raise money for her Left to Tell Charitable Fund which directly benefits the children orphaned by the genocide.
Tom Ritchey, an inventor of the mountain bike and longtime racer, developed a love for Rwanda during his 2005 visit. He then founded Project Rwanda, a non-profit organization that seeks to use the bicycle to further economic development in Rwanda. Tom brings a love for the country and a valuable knowledge of using sports to promote change to his role with Kids Across Africa.
