For more than 35 years, I’ve poured my heart into students. I’ve seen that education at its best does more than fill minds. It builds character and equips children to step into their future with confidence. I believe every child bears the image of God and deserves to be seen, known, and given every opportunity to thrive.

Today, I mentor the next generation of teachers and invest in the kind of education I’ve always dreamed of helping build, but I never imagined that dream would lead me to Africa.

That changed when I met Enock, a Burundian pastor leading a local nonprofit serving vulnerable children and families. Through our friendship, I came to love Burundi long before I ever visited. When I finally went, the warmth of the people, the resilience of the children, and the dedication of local educators only deepened that love.

Icari was born from that journey. We come alongside local educators to help create places where children can learn, grow, and thrive.

Thank you for being here. I’d love to connect with you.

As a young girl, I liked pretending to run a business or be a teacher. I loved school and everything to do with it. In high school, business classes were my favorite. So, that was the degree I got in college. My favorite subject was accounting.

When raising my family, my volunteer work was always in the classroom with the children. One of the highlights for me was when I taught Junior Achievement.

But it wasn’t until my kids left home that I went back to school and got my teaching certification. It was then that I realized I had finally figured out what I wanted to be when I grew up. I had found my place and my people and something I knew how to do instinctually.

Acting as treasurer for the Icari Foundation and serving as a teacher trainer on missions is a dream come true for me and something I never imagined myself doing. It is also one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done.

If what we are doing in Burundi speaks to your heart, I encourage you to get involved. You’ll be glad you did and we are grateful for your support.