Board of Directors
Executive Committee
Marvin Payne
Associate Professor and Chair, Chemistry and Biochemistry, La Sierra University
Kimberly Payne, Ph.D.
Kimberly and her husband, Marvin, first came to know Giving Children Hope when they moved to southern California in 1998 and were searching for a partner for their humanitarian aid project in Romania. The Paynes have partnered with Giving Children Hope to bring medical supplies and other aid to Romania for over 8 years. Kimberly received her Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in 1998. She completed her postdoctoral studies at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles where she developed a National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded research program. Kimberly joined Loma Linda University as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology and Human Anatomy in 2006. She is a member of the Center for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine where she directs a research program that studies the development and function of the immune system. Kimberly represents the School of Medicine on the Loma Linda University Interfaculty Advisory Committee. She and Marvin have two sons, Benjamin, age 28, and Jonathon, age 18. As a graduate student, Kimberly served as vice-chair of the Board of Directors of Middle Earth Child Development Center, a nonprofit childcare facility in Norman, Oklahoma. She joined the Board of Directors of Giving Children Hope in 2006. Kimberly is currently a member of the Riverside Community Health Foundation Health Executive Exchange. As a graduate student, Kimberly served as Sabbath school leader and deaconess in the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Norman, Oklahoma. Currently she is among the presenters for the La Sierra University Church Faculty and Friends Sabbath School class and the Schumann Pavilion Sabbath School class at the Loma Linda University church. Kimberly brought Giving Children Hope and Loma Linda Univeristy’s, Malawi project together in a partnership to provide anti-malarial and other pharmaceuticals to the Malamulo hospital.
John Ditty
John Ditty is Co-founder, President and CEO. He oversees all of Giving Children Hope’s operations, as well as its management and staff.
John was born and raised in California. He earned an Associate of Arts degree from Fullerton Junior College. He spent time in the U.S. Air Force as a precision measuring and equipment specialist before returning to school to earn a degree and a teaching credential in Industrial Arts from Humboldt State University. He also acquired an electrical contractor’s license and started his own business. John and his wife, Juliana, have four children, three of whom they adopted internationally.
As John and his wife underwent the process of adopting their children, they were deeply affected by the poor treatment of children in orphanages. After adopting their fourth child from Russia in 1992, they became active in the distribution of humanitarian aid and founded Global Operations and Development/Giving Children Hope. John and Juliana began the organization’s first projects with their own money, using their garage as a distribution center. It has grown to produce and distribute $30 million worth of aid out of a 43,000 square ft. facility.
“God birthed this place, and God has grown it,” says John of the organization’s success. “It has all been a miracle. It is exciting to see what He is going to do next.”
William Darlin
William Darlin was born 1930 in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. His education includes Chagrin Falls High School, Miami University, Oxford Ohio, Ohio State University and University of California, Los Angeles. He is a member of Delta Upsilon, American Legion and St. Johns Lutheran Church Orange. After four years in the Korean War and college we was the west coast Sales Manager for Alcon Pharmaceuticals. After, he spent 37 years as a State Farm Agent in the Anaheim area. He is now retired, has two grandchildren and live with his lovely wife, Arlene in her childhood home in North Tustin. He feels it is an honor and privilege to be associated with Giving Children Hope.
Directors
A. Andrew Truong, Ed.D., MBA
Jeff White
Jeff White joined Giving Children Hope’s Board in 2008. He is currently the Vice President and National Accounts Manager at Franklin Bank SSB. He is also the owner and award-winning wine maker of Ovene Winery, Inc.
Jeff has his MBA in Management from Pepperdine University and his BS in Business Marketing from San Diego State University.
Jeff has been an active member for 19 years at the Yorba Linda Sunrise Rotary Club. Other volunteer committees he is involved include the Elks Club, Yorba Linda Friends Church, Stephens Ministry and Door of Faith Orphanage.
Jeff currently lives in Yorba Linda with his wife of 19 years and three daughters.
Virginia Vaughn
Virginia Vaughn has worked at Northrop Grumman Corporation since 1981 and has held many different positions from Facilities Manager to her current position in Business Management. She is a Member of the Women’s Club of Fullerton and Vice President of the Buena Park Woman’s Club. She is the co-founder of the Beadiftul Sisters Club who make bracelets for senior and hospice Centers and Missionaries at no cost. She is also the owner of the “3 Points of Light” Christian Events &Production Company which stared in 2008. Her passion is helping others, spreading God’s word and introducing everyone to Giving Children Hope organization.
Martin Self
Kathy Ramos
Kathy Ramos joined the Giving Children Hope Board of Directors in 2008. She is currently a contract employed therapist for Orange County Adoptions and has a private practice as a licensed Marriage Family therapist, serving the ocmmunity, schools, and Medi-Cal patients in Diamond Bar, CA.
Kathy received her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from California State University, Fullerton, and received a Master of Science degree in Counseling for California State University, Dominguez Hills. She has over 20 years of providing service such as counseling through the vocational/workers’ compensation arena, private insurance companies, and through community-based hospital programs.
Kathy served the mentally ill while employed in Fullerton Theological Seminary and was a Soroptimist from 1994-19996. Currently, she coordinates fundraisers with the Catalyst Community Group at Rose Drive Friends Church in Yorba Linda.
Kathy lives in Placentia and has two grown daughters. Her oldest daughter is a Masters degree level teacher for the Anaheim School District and her youngest daughter is in the Golden Key National Honor Society.
Rob Burns
