ABOUT.
The i.HUG Foundation, (International Help Uganda Grow Foundation) established in 2006, is a 501(c)3 organization that works with its Ugandan partners, the Tooto Wetu Education Program (TWEP), to provide basic necessities and run educational and other high-impact programs that empower children to succeed in school and in life. Working together, we create and strengthen systems of support that promote access to high-quality education and learning, development and long-term change for children, starting today but also for generations to come.
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
Our Board of Directors are volunteers who dedicate time to ensuring this organization continues to prosper and make positive changes in the world. Everyone brings exceptional talents and passion to the table.
Joanna Breitstein. Founder & President
Joanna first traveled to Uganda in 2004, and has been involved with developing and advancing the i.HUG Foundation ever since. She leads an all-volunteer Board to provide funding and technical assistance to i.HUG's partners on the ground. Joanna works in healthcare communications, with experience across public and private sectors. Currently, she works at Penn Quarter Partners, a public affairs agency, and previously worked at companies including Merck and Organon, where she led CEO and other aspects of corporate communications. Earlier in her career, Joanna led communications for TB Alliance, a not-for-profit with the mission of developing improved drugs for tuberculosis. For the previous decade, she was a writer and editor. Joanna has received numerous writing awards for her work including Grand Neal Awards and a Kaiser Family Foundation fellowship.
Eduardo [Eddie] Beltre. Treasurer, Finance & Operations Committee
Motivated by its dedication to helping pave the way for a better future for our youth, through high-quality education and experiences, Eduardo “Eddie” Beltre joined the board of i.HUG in March 2019.
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Eddie comes with over ten years of nonprofit leadership experience in building and implementing financial and operational systems that support stability and growth. Currently Eddie serves as Chief Finance and Operations Officer at Virtual Enterprise International. In his role, he oversees the organization’s financial stewardship, operational, legal and compliance activities.
Dr. Jacqueline Busingye. Program Committee; Health
Dr. Jacqueline Busingye was born and raised in Uganda. She immigrated at the age of 7 but has always kept a strong connection to “home”. When she attended a fundraiser for i.HUG in 2015 she became very interested in our organization and eventually joined the board in early 2017. Her role with the board is mostly to help with our health related programs. She is an Ophthalmologist with sub speciality training in Uveitis. She enjoys teaching residents both in and out of the operating room, doing clinical research, and international medicine.
Rebecca Duane. Program Committee; Finance
Becky joined i.HUG’s Finance Committee as a volunteer in 2007 and later became a child sponsor. She has made two visits to Uganda to meet her graduated student and experience the work on the ground. During her trips, she was inspired by the dynamic and resilient team and their accomplishments creating tremendous opportunities for Ugandan youth. She was excited to join the board to support the organization's strategic financial management efforts as well as work with the team to incorporate career development into the i.HUG’s programming.
She began her career in the financial services industry with a focus on advancing economic opportunity and financial inclusion efforts. Becky is a Fellow and Practitioner-in-Residence at NYU Alliance for Public Interest Technology. Her day job is at IBM as A Business Development Executive | Strategic Partnerships, M&A, AI For Social Impact | IBM Data and AI.
Lynn Serra. Creative Director, Head of Events, Operations Committee
Lynn has been a founding volunteer for The i.HUG Foundation since it’s inception. In 2010, she officially joined the Board of Directors and is responsible for creating and managing all marketing, communications and promotional materials for the organization. She has served as the Chair of the Annual Benefit Gala since 2008 and produces all fundraising events. She visited i.HUG’s program in Uganda for the first time in November 2010 and continues to travel there to help the programs grow and develop, as well as shoot photography and video for marketing and social communications. Each trip has been inspirational for her. Being able to meet and spend time with i.HUG’s Ugandan staff, volunteers, the children in the program, partner school staffers and members of the community, makes her dedication to i.HUG even stronger.
Dr. Beth Watson. Program Committee; Sponsorship Chair
Beth joined the board in January 2023. She has been serving as i.HUG’s Sponsorship Chair since 2020, where she has managed the administrative side of the program and all communications between sponsors and the team in Uganda. She has a doctorate in chemical engineering and professional experience in research and development, project management, finance, and capital markets. Most recently she retired from the pharmaceutical industry where she managed corporate investment and debt portfolios as well as financial risk mitigation strategies. She is currently focused on supporting non-profit organizations and initiatives. Her interests include education, micro-finance, and environmental conservation.
Christian Sellars. Operations Committee
Christian Sellars is a global business leader with 30 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical, NGO and consulting sector. He held global leadership roles at the US-based pharmaceutical company MSD & worked extensively in South Africa in NGOs & government. He is currently CEO of Transforming Engagements, a human capital development consultancy based in Rwanda. Christian has an MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management and a Masters of Commerce in Economics from the University of Cape Town. Christian was a donor and volunteer for i.HUG for many years before joining the iHUG board.
