Mr. Gary Gamer
President
Gary’s career is humanitarian and child welfare based. Prior to leading Child Foundation, he served as an international consultant specializing in child protection, social services and livelihoods. He served as President and CEO at Holt International Children’s Services, and also directed the refugee and immigration service agency Sponsors Organized to Assist Refugees (SOAR) in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. Additionally, Gary coordinated peace and justice programs for the U.S. National Council of Churches of Christ USA. Gary has worked with NGOs in Africa, Asia, the Pacific Islands, the Middle East, Latin America and the U.S. Gary has a Master’s Degree from Columbia University’s School of International Affairs in New York City, and an under graduate business management degree from the University of Oregon.
Mr. Kamyar Lashgari
Chair of the Board
Mr. Lashgari received his Bachelor in Urban Planning and Masters in Urban Design from the University of Washington and has been a professional planner and designer for the past 34 years. At the start of his career, Mr. Lashgari worked in the public sector for various cities in Washington and California as an Urban Designer and Planner. He later worked for architectural and civil engineering firms in both Southern California and Iran. While working in Iran, he specialized in urban reconstruction planning for areas affected by the war.
Ms. Manijeh Taherynia
Treasurer
Ms. Manijeh Taherynia is a certified public accountant with over 15 years of experience in state and local government auditing and accounting, as well as taxation in public accounting in Colorado. She received her Master’s in Accounting from the University of Colorado at Denver. Ms. Taherynia has also served on the board of other non-profit organizations.
Mr. Morteza Ferdowsi
Secretary
Mr. Morteza Ferdowsi is presently a real estate developer and management consultant and has been involved with Child Foundation since 2018 in various volunteering capacities. He graduated in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from California State University, Long Beach and in 2000 he completed the Executive Management Program at UCLA. Mr. Ferdowsi’s professional career spans decades which began in 1987 in the Telecommunications industry. In 2012, his company was acquired by a major US based networking company leading him to begin his independent endeavors. As a leader in the community, Mr. Ferdowsi has served on the boards of multiple organizations and has held positions on the board of American Red Cross in Southern California. Mr. Ferdowsi dedicates much of his time to following causes that are close to his heart and culture.