Dwyatt Gantt, Executive Director
- Dwyatt Gantt
Founder and Executive Director Dwyatt Gantt established Children’s Hope International as a means of finding homes for orphan children in 1992. At that time, the focus was solely on the adoption of orphans from China. Over the years, as the number of adoptions through Children’s Hope grew, Dwyatt's understanding of the needs of children in all corners of the world increased.
Before 1992, Dwyatt lived in China /U.S. and directed a work of placing English teachers in Chinese universities. During that time, he became aware of the growing number of Chinese orphans needing homes. Because of his caring and compassionate soul, people began to approach Dwyatt for help. Thus, Children's Hope International began.
Over the course of 15+ years, it has become increasingly apparent that Children’s Hope assistance in finding homes for orphans was needed in many other countries, as well. Currently, Children’s Hope helps find forever families for children in China, Colombia, Ethiopia, Guatemala, India, Kazakhstan, Russia and Vietnam. Dwyatt believes our work does not end there, however. He is moved by God’s calling to help at-risk children…wherever they may be.
Through his work in finding homes for orphans, Dwyatt was moved by the many orphans worldwide, who would never be adopted internationally and their need for medical care, foster families and hope for living. Many of these children suffer due to medical problems, poor nutrition and inadequate health care - or simply from lack of love and hope. Children’s Hope Orphan Sponsorship program was established as a way that caring people who want to minister in love - can help the orphans have homes, health and hope.
Melody Zhang, Associate Director
- Melody Zhang
Note: Melody was recently featured in the Winter 2006 edition of Washington University's Alumni Magazine. Click here to read a PDF version of the article.
Melody Zhang was working as a journalist in China when she first became aware of the orphaned children of the country. She joined Dwyatt in the mission to facilitate adoption of Chinese orphans and Melody moved to Guiyang in 1991 to begin changing lives, and then subsequently to the U.S. As Children’s Hope grew, the organization became involved in many projects beyond finding homes for orphans - projects that served those children left behind. Melody was a key force in gathering a team of medical experts to send to China in 1999 to perform surgeries on several orphans. This trip marked the beginning of Children’s Hope medical mission project, which later became known as "Give Me New Life" and now provides medical care and treatment for about 500 Chinese orphans every year. In 2004 the need was so great in China that she moved there with her family to direct the work of Children’s Hope in China.
Melody firmly believes in teaching the people of each country how to help their own children, through the development of family preservation programs, domestic adoption, and efficient foster care systems. Her goal is to see Children’s Hope work closely with local people to identify the basic needs of their own children and then provide assistance as they establish and begin to run their own programs.
Melody has a personal passion for the older and special needs children who wait for their forever families. She and her husband Kevin have three adopted daughters from China, all of whom entered their family as teenagers. They also have two young daughters born to them in August, 2003 and February, 2006.
Valerie Trim, Associate Director of Development Aid
Valerie discovered her passion for helping people at a very young age. Throughout the years, she has contributed much time and effort to charitable organizations around the world. However, she wanted to do more.
After working in the airline industry for almost six years, Valerie decided to follow her heart and was very excited to learn of this opportunity at Children’s Hope. She can now focus on helping children around the world full time.
Having earned a BS in Business Administration with a specialization in International Business, Valerie plans to continue her education and study of countries and cultures around the world.
Michelle Wehde Howdeshell, Church & Community Relations
Michelle Wehde Howdeshell started working for Children's Hope International in 1997 as the Guatemala Program Director. She has a Bachelors of Social Work from the University of Missouri. Michelle has always had a love for children, being one of seven children herself, and now with twenty-five grandchildren in her family. Her love for international work started after a mission trip to Haiti where she worked in orphanages and homes for dying children. Michelle states, "I remember holding that first baby, on my first day in the orphanage; I immediately knew how deep my love for orphans really was!"
In 2003, Michelle turned her attention to Children's Hope's humanitarian aid, and is now working to coordinate Church and Community Relations. Michelle can answer your questions regarding how you can give hope to an orphan and calls you to become a "Sponsorship Volunteer"!
Michelle states, "Children's Hope International has become a huge part of my life. It is not just a job to me. It is my family, my passion, my heart. I truly believe in our mission and our work and I thank God everyday for giving me such a gift - the gift of being a part of His work!"
Andrei Skurtu, International Programs
Andrei was born in Kishinev, Moldova, which is currently a country of about 4 million people, and formerly one of the fifteen republics comprising the Soviet Union. His family moved to the United States in 1992, and the US has been his home ever since. Andrei's educational background includes a degree from Washington University where he double-majored in International Relations and History.
Prior to coming to Children’s Hope as Operations Manager in February, 2006, Andrei worked in Private Client Services for Morgan Stanley and later participated in the creating of a small real-estate redevelopment company. Currently Andrei is part of the Development Aid & Orphan Sponsorship department where he is responsible for International Programs.
Chris Havron, Finance
Chris is our Finance Coordinator and handles all income and distribution of funds for the Orphan Sponsorship and Development Aid team. He earned his BS in Business Administration specializing in Finance at Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville in 2006. This year he married his high school sweetheart, Teri.
Chris likes to spend his spare time at the ballpark, cheering on his favorite team the St. Louis Cardinals and spending time with his two chihuahuas, Lucy and Gizmo.
“God has blessed my life very much and has shown me the path here to Children’s Hope. I love everything about this organization and hope to spend many years of my life serving God’s children.”
