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Changing of the Guard
Grace, VeAhavta prepare for peaceful future

The island nation Sri Lanka now faces a future where peace is a condition, not a wish. In the impoverished, war-torn northeast, opportunities to help a struggling population have never been greater.

A diverse range of talent and experience will guide VeAhavta in supporting and administering the Grace Care Center children’s home and elder care facility in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka. Victims of poverty and survivors of war, the children and elders of Grace are in greater need than ever of educational and vocational opportunities.

In October 2009, the nonprofit group VeAhavta relocated from California to Ypsilanti, Michigan, with a five-member Board of Directors providing oversight to a hands-on team of operating directors. VeAhavta Founder and President Emeritus, Eric Parkinson, transferred management authority over the Grace Care Center to southeast Michigan volunteers who have been increasingly involved with the orphanage.

Reporter James Mitchell – author of “But For the Grace: Profiles in Peace From a Nation at War” chronicling the story of Grace and VeAhavta – will serve as President of VeAhavta USA.

“It is both an honor and challenge for us to continue the work started by Eric Parkinson,” said Mitchell. “His astonishing work for these past seven years leave pretty sizeable shoes to fill – and it will take many of us to live up to that challenge.”

Along with Mitchell, the five-member team of directors includes: Dr. Naresh Gunaratnam, Vice President for Community Outreach; Dr. Cheryl Huckins, Vice President of Operations; Lynn Helland, Secretary; and Lori Kostoff, treasurer. Each of the directors has been to Grace; Mitchell recently spent a total of three months at the compound (see separate report).

Oversight will be provided by a five-member voting Board of Directors. Chaired by Dr. Doug Edema – a vice president with St. Joseph Mercy Hospital and past visitor to Grace – the panel includes retiring anesthesiologist and VeAhavta donor Siraj Alseri; internist and Grace visitor Dr. Mohammed Nadeemullah; donor and MBA Rosemary Esch; and geriatrician and infectious disease specialist  Dr. Preeti Malani.

VeAhavta is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization. For information, visit www.you-shall-love.org.