About US
Mission
To facilitate and coordinate medical support programs for marginalized children affected by heart disease, so as to restore health, hope and happiness.
Vision
A self-sufficient congenital heart program that can provide the necessary medical care to children who suffer from heart defects and disease, especially for those who have few resources to pay for such care.
Our Team
USA Board
Solomon Makau Musyimi, MBA, JD
Solomon Musyimi is a lawyer with his own practice in Houston, Texas. He graduated from the Benjamin Banneker Honors Program at Prairie View A&M University with a Bachelor of Business Administration with Cum Laude Honors in 1991. In 1994, he graduated with a Master of Science in Management from the Krannert School of Management at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. In 2001, he graduated from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law located at Texas Southern University. Solomon Musyimi was admitted to the Bar in 2001.
While in Law School, Mr. Musyimi did a Judicial Externship with Honorable Judge Kenneth Hoyt of the United States Southern District Court. Solomon Musyimi has been admitted to Practice Law in all State Courts in Texas, as well as the United States Southern, Northern and Western Districts. Prior to entering into the practice of Law, he worked as a Financial Analyst for Ford Motor Company in Dearborn Michigan. After leaving Ford, he worked for Bristol Myers Corporation as a Senior Financial Analyst in the Zimmer Division located in Warsaw, Indiana.
Mr. Musyimi represents clients in Corporate, Personal Injury, Criminal, Immigration and Family law. He founded the firm in 2001 and is a shareholder. Since establishing the firm, the Law Firm of Solomon M. Musyimi has handled a wide array of cases that has resulted in numerous favorable settlements. Solomon Musyimi is a father of three children. He attends Lakewood Church and is a member of the African Christian Medical Mission group. Through this Organization, Solomon Musyimi has done volunteer work in Kenya, Jamaica and Rwanda. Solomon Musyimi, is the President of Care for a Child’s Heart (Formerly THAP). This Organization is geared towards providing heart surgery for children in developing countries. An avid runner, Solomon Musyimi has participated in three marathons and numerous half marathons. Solomon Musyimi is the Vice President of the Africa Bar Association in America, Member of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Member of the Port of Houston Small Business Division and a Member of the Houston Minority Council.
Barbara L. Ciconte
– Senior Vice President, Consulting Services Donor Strategies, Inc.
Barbara L. Ciconte, is Senior Vice President, Consulting Services, Donor Strategies, Inc.(Retired), With more than 35 years’ experience in fundraising and development, Barbara recently retired from the consulting firm she founded. She has worked with local, regional, national and international organizations to assist them in building successful fundraising programs. Barbara is the co-author of Fundraising Basics: A Complete Guide, Third Edition 2009 published by Jones and Bartlett Learning.
In 2002 Barbara met Peter Mbogo Kamau, the founder of Take Heart Association Project(THAP) in Kenya who wanted to start a nonprofit in the U.S. in order to help more children and young adults in East Africa get the life-saving heart surgery they need. She served as President of THAP-USA from 2007-2017 and now continues her personal mission to help these patients as Secretary of the Care for a Child’s Heart(CFACH) Board. Barbara is married and has three grandchildren, Tommy, Andrea and Hannah who have joined her over the years in contributing and raising funds to help children in East Africa who suffer from heart problems.
Kae Gleason Dakin
Kae Dakin’s first job was as a Peace Corps volunteer in Kenya, in an agricultural project in Njabini. Because of this, she has had a lifelong interest in the country and its people. Following the PC, Kae worked for the first half of her career testing and remediating learning disabled children in Libya, London and New York. All of her various volunteer projects taught her what a need there was for sound management of nonprofits. This led her into nonprofit leadership and management of a number of NGOs.
She continues her consulting practice today helping organizations meet their goals through financial sustainability.
Kae is married, has 3 sons and 3 grandchildren. She earned a BA from the U of Vermont, an MS in psychology from Yeshiva U and an MS in nonprofit management from U of MD.
Tom Kumenda, MD
Tom Kumenda M.D, M.P.H is Board Certified Physician in Family Medicine since 2002, currently serving Veterans at the Michael E Debakey Medical Hospital in Houston Texas. He has served in the same capacity for eighteenth year. He completed his Medical school at the University of Nairobi Kenya in 1990 and Residency at UTMB, Galveston, Texas in 2002.
He serves as a mentor to Rice University Students in the Global Medical Mission Alliance chapter, with whom he has completed successful Medical Missions to Mexico and Honduras.
He serves as a Board member of Mama Ester Washington foundation that supports beacon of Hope Primary school in Maasai Mara. The same organization also supports Medical missions in Maasai Mara.
He is currently serving as a dedicated Board Member of Care For A Child’s Heart . He is married to his college sweetheart Rose and has 3 daughters.
Kenya Board
Rina Hicks
– Chairperson
Rina Hicks is a Corporate Finance Analyst, certified Investment Analyst (ICIFA) and the Operations Director at Faida Investment Bank. She holds an MBA degree from Strathmore Business School, a Bachelor of Business Degree majoring in Finance and Marketing from Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia and sat for CFA ® Level II in 2007. She has been involved in many corporate advisory projects.
Rina is also a finance coach and prolific writer. She authored the book Money-Wise: Create, Grow & Preserve Wealth (2016) Integrity Publishers, U.S.A.
Joseph Wang’endo
Joseph is the founder and Executive Director of Bloodlink Foundation, a charitable trust registered in Kenya in 2004. Bloodlink Foundation is a partner with the National Blood Donor Services and the Ministry of Health in recruitment of blood donors. Bloodlink Foundation is also a first aid training accredited institution.
He is an alumnus of Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government Executive Leadership Program. He undertook his MBA in Non-Profit Management at the University of St. Thomas (Minnesota) and a three-month internship at Children Heartlink, a non-profit based in Minneapolis in 1995 through sponsorship by USAID. He is also a graduate of Egerton University.
Between 1995 and 2000, he was the General Manager of Heart To Heart Foundation where he established the Dettol Heart Run (renamed the Mater Heart Run), an event he successfully managed for six years raising funds to help children with heart ailments undergo heart surgery. From 2001 to 2002 he was the Executive Officer at the Kenya Medical Association.
Joseph has been a speaker at different fundraising forums around the world, including the International Workshop on Resource Mobilization, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 2008; International Fundraising Congress, opening plenary, Netherlands, October 2008; and the Association of Fundraising Professionals annual meeting in Chicago 2011, Baltimore 2015, and San Francisco 2017. He is also a regular speaker at the annual Eastern Africa Workshop on Resource Mobilization organised by the Kenya Association of Fundraising Professionals. He has consulted for many organizations around the world, including World Society for Protection of Animals (UK), International Baby Food Network, American Jewish World Service, Forum for African Women Educationalists, World Vision, Resource Alliance, Oxfam Novib, Association of Donor Recruitment Professionals (USA), Egerton University, Catholic University of East Africa, and Compassion International.
A keen marathon runner, Joseph managed the International Women’s AIDS Run 2004 and has consulted for the Standard chartered Marathon 05/06. He has run and completed 9 international marathons including London (2), Nairobi (4) and Chicago (3). He was listed on the International WHO’S WHO of Professionals 2006/7 edition for “exemplary achievement and distinguished contributions to the community”.
Faith Mwaura
Faith Mwaura is a Passionate Entrepreneur with a keen interest in developing superior and affordable housing and communities. She has over ten years experience in Real Estate and is very deliberate about adding value, mentorship, nurturing the environment through a tree planting initiative named Miti Millioni that has been involved in tree planting activities across the country, making meaningful relationships and traveling the world.
She is also involved in a number of volunteer programs in her community involving school children.
She is a graduate student at Heriot Watt University Scotland studying Msc. Real Estate Management and Development and is also a Bachelor of Commerce with a major in Marketing and Business Management
Joyce Omondi
Joyce is a medical practitioner and emerging global health leader – with special interest in non-communicable disease control.
She is registered and licensed to practice medicine by the Kenya Medical and Dentist Council and the General Medical Council (United Kingdom); and has wide experience in emergency and non-emergent clinical practice, health promotion, health service management, disaster preparedness, project coordination as a clinical leader and consultancy in the non-governmental sector.
Joyce holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery Degree (University of Nairobi) and Post graduate certificate and preceptorship, transthoracic echocardiography (University of Nairobi and The Heart Center – Nairobi). She is currently undertaking a Master’s Degree in Global Health Policy (University of London, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine).
She is the chairperson of the Kenya Medical Women Association, Nyanza Branch. Under her leadership post-rape medical care and post trauma counselling were provided to victims of 2017 post-election violence in Kisumu, Kenya. Joyce is a member of the Kenya Medical Association, Kenya Cardiac Society and Equity Bank Leadership Program.
She serves as the Medical Officer, United Nations Office at Nairobi, in charge of the UNHCR Sub office Clinic in Dadaab, Kenya. Dadaab is classified by the United Nations as security level 4 (substantial threat level) and as such she serves as a member of the Area Security Management Team of UN agencies, that oversees disaster preparedness programs. She has previously served as a medical officer in medicine, critical care and emergency settings of various busy teaching and referral hospitals in Kenya.
In addition, Joyce loves to create and share knowledge and experiences and to this end has served as a clinical instructor at Uzima University, School of Medicine. She is a Trainer of Trainers for Cardiovascular disease control for the Government of Kenya, in the Division of Non-communicable Diseases. She also served as superintendent in the planning of health promotion activities at Rabita Data Communications, a Non-Governmental Organization that promotes HIV awareness, Road safety and occupational health and safety.
Joyce is passionate about mentorship for growth and so she is volunteer mentor in the Equity Bank Leadership Program, with 4 proteges under her wings in various Medical schools. In Dadaab, she is a volunteer trainer and clinical mentor of medical staff in guideline-based management of hypertension and heart failure in surrounding health facilities, notably, International Rescue Committee Hospital – Hagadera, Dadaab Sub-county Hospital and Kenya Red Cross Hospital in Ifo.
Asava Kadima
– Board Member
Asava Kadima is a senior manager with the government of Kenya working as Human Resource Manager at Kenya Railways.
He is an expert in strategy , corporate governance , Organisational Design and Occupational Safety, Sports development , Leadership and change management .He holds BED , Everton university , Msc ( Human Resources ) JKUCAT, CHRP ( certified Human Resources practioner ).
He is a seasoned football administrator , afc leopards and currently nurturing young talents in football on voluntary terms. He is a board member of a local school in Nairobi.
Irene Mukuria
– Executive Director
Beverly Mumbo
-Secretary
Janet Mugo
-Treasurer
Advisory Board
Paul Ngugi
– Advisory board member
Paul Ngugi possesses over 20 years of cumulative experience across Banking, Global Media, International Development and Humanitarian sectors, having led multiple teams across five continents towards business excellence in a competitive culture. He has experience across more than 20 countries in Africa, MENA, Latin America, Europe and Asia. Whilst being an expert in Organization and Talent Development, he is highly accomplished in culture change, international labor practices and business partnering, resulting in business sustainability and profitability.
Paul earned his MBA at University of Nairobi with a focus on Strategic Management. He previously graduated in Culture Studies as his undergraduate education at Moi University. Paul possesses a Post-Graduate Higher Diploma in Human Resource Management from Institute of Human Resource Management Kenya. He is a Full Member of the Society of Human Resources Management (USA), Institute of Human Resource Management (Kenya), Kenya Institute of Management, and the Round Table for HR Professionals of INGO, for the African Hub. He actively practices HR in Kenya as a licensed practitioner
Paul holds Master’s Degree in Business Administration (Strategic Management), BA (Cultural Studies) and a post-graduate Higher Diploma in Human Resource Management. He is a full member of Society of Human Resources Management, USA, Institute of Human Resource Management Kenya, Kenya institute of Management, and Round Table for HR Professionals of INGO, Africa hub.
As an Executive Advisor, Paul serves as the Chairman of Care for A Child’s Heart,Kenya Chapter which is a Kenyan & United States based organization. Proactively, he also serves as the Board Member at Ilkisonko High School and Enkii Boys and Serian Foundation based in Kenya. Paul is passionate about strategic thinking at organisations whilst effectually building competencies for the employee of the future. As a leader, he intends to position himself as a talent breeder and influencer at a Board level, ensuring thought leadership which fuels next level leaders resulting in sustainable social impact.Michael R. Liske, MD
Dr. Liske was born in British Columbia, Canada, and graduated from the University of Michigan Medical School in 1989. He completed his residency in general pediatrics with the Air Force at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in conjunction with Dayton’s Children’s Medical Center, following which he was selected as Pediatric Chief Resident. Thereafter, he served as a general pediatrician with the Air Force for 3 years. In 1996, he began his Pediatric Cardiology training at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago, and completed his training at the University of Michigan in 1999, with a special emphasis in advanced echocardiographic imaging.
From 1999 to 2003, Dr. Liske practiced cardiology in Knoxville, bringing many innovations to the echocardiography laboratory. From 2003 to 2009, he held an academic position at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, playing an instrumental role in their echocardiography laboratory and fetal cardiology clinic, managing critically ill post-operative patients, training the next generation of pediatric cardiologists, and conducting published research in fetal arrhythmias, screening for critical heart defects in newborn infants, rare structural heart conditions, pre-operative management of hypoplastic left heart syndrome, pulmonary hypertension in Down syndrome patients, and screening for acute rheumatic fever. He continues to maintain an active affiliation with the Vanderbilt team.
Dr. Liske is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology and a Fellow of the American Society of Echocardiography.
Dr. Liske has a particular passion for the care of patients in underserved regions of the world. Since November of 2008, Dr. Liske has yearly led a cardiac team to Tenwek Mission Hospital in Kenya, East Africa. This team is comprised of physicians and staff from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, and other surgical centers, and receives logistic and financial support from World Medical Mission, the medical arm of Samaritan’s Purse. Cardiac surgery is performed on 20 children and young adults each trip and approximately 100-150 patients are seen in a clinic setting, providing life giving care to those who would not have received it otherwise.
Dr. Liske is pleased to partner with Dr. Bremer at East Tennessee Pediatric Cardiology, established in 2009. He loves living in East Tennessee with his wife Angela, and their four children. When not seeing cardiac patients, he enjoys travelling, seeing his kids engaged in music and sports, and fly-fishing the tail waters and streams of the region. Their family is committed to the ministries of Two Rivers Church, Tenwek Hospital in Kenya, and the InterFaith Health Clinic in Knoxville.
