Sharon Clack, Founder and President of LoVE USA, was born in South Africa.  At University in Johannesburg, she majored in English and Biblical Studies (Theology).  Her post grad work was in higher education, music and counseling.  She is a musician, teacher, director and counselor.  Sharon, her husband David (Senior Pastor, Conejo Valley Community Church) and their four children immigrated to California in 1994 and she became an American citizen in 1999.  The most significant part of her life, according to Sharon, is her faith, family and LoVE.  On a trip back to South Africa, Sharon and her youngest daughter, Tirsha were deeply moved at the devastation caused by AIDS especially in the lives of children.  She established contact with several significant leaders and once back home, sought out a number of people with a similar passion, open to God’s call, and founded LoVE USA to respond to the problem.  In the years since, she has worked full time (as a volunteer) for this endeavor as well as maintaining her teaching and other activities. Every member of her family has been significantly involved in working for LoVE! Sharon has also served on the Board of Lily South Africa as International Representative.

 

Dennis Arnold, Corporate Secretary has been a member of the LoVE Board of Directors since 2006.  He is a retired insurance executive and was an Executive Vice President as well  President of the Specialty Underwriting Group for Underwriters Reinsurance Company which is now part of the Swiss Reinsurance Group.  Dennis graduated from Bethel University and holds a degree in Business with a minor in Economics.  Dennis lives in Thousand Oaks, California with his wife Terry.  He is a member of the Conejo Valley Community Church and is currently the Chairman of the Stewards Committee and a member of the Executive Council there.

 
 
 

Jan Allen, Missions Director for LoVE USA, currently teaches history at Oaks Christian School in Westlake Village, CA. In that role she has sponsored mission trips to Asia and Africa instilling a passion for the future generations of Americans to be aware and actively involved in sharing Christ's love and His abundant blessing.  Jan graduated from Taylor University with a Social Science major and has taught high school for the last 40 years. She is married to Steve and has two children. Education is a driving force in the family as Steve and son, Ryan, are both educators. Ryan and daughter, Brianna, continue their post graduate studies while traveling extensively.  During the 2011 summer, Jan and Brianna, took a group of Oaks students to Lily. One of the highlights for Jan was the murals Brianna created for each of the walls in the preschool room. 

 
 
 
 

Mickey Konson, East Coast Director was born in Zimbabwe and raised in South Africa. He has lived in the US since 2000 and is the Co-Founder of StreetShares, Inc., a financial technology firm based in Reston, VA that focuses on funding military veteran owned small businesses looking for growth capital. Prior to this he was a senior executive at one of the nation’s largest banks. Mickey has served on several non-profit boards, and has served as a board member of Lily of the Valley Endeavor since 2008. Mickey graduated from the University of Cape Town with a Business Science degree in 1995, an LLB in 1997 and MBA from Harvard Business School in 2002.  He also serves as a deacon at McLean Presbyterian Church. He and his wife, Michelle, have 4 children, all of whom attend Dominion Christian School.  Michelle has served as International Representative for LoVE on the South African Lily Board and heads up East Coast events.  Mickey, Michelle and their family have served LoVE with great dedication for over a decade.

 
 
 

SooYoung Kim, Marketing Director is our newest addition to the board, bringing nearly 15 years of marketing experience.  She is Group Marketing Manager (Small Businesses) at Google and has been with the company for the past 10 years.  SooYoung travels extensively all over the world for Google.   SooYoung graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a BS in Communications and is a proud New Jersey native. She currently resides in New York City and attends Redeemer Presbyterian Church. The past four years, SooYoung has been involved in the work in South Africa, leading teams from New York City to one of our villages, iKhethelo Children’s Village. She and other New York City-based volunteers have put on both business skills courses and children’s programs in South Africa. They have also held several crowdfunding campaigns and hosted teenagers from South Africa on two trips to New York City.