NPH USA Leadership

Staff | National Board of Directors

Jennifer Rayno, CEO
For over two decades, Jennifer has been devoted to the NPH family, driven by a heartfelt commitment to vulnerable children. As Vice President of Donor Relations for the St. Damien Pediatric Hospital Fund at NPH USA, she led nationwide fundraising efforts to support healthcare in Haiti, where the needs are extraordinarily urgent and complex.

Jennifer’s journey with NPH began in 2003. Early on, she worked closely with leadership across the U.S., the National Board of Directors, and Our Little Brothers and Sisters, helping unify five grassroots organizations into a single, coordinated force. Her strategic contributions to infrastructure, communications, marketing, and direct mail strengthened the mission and expanded its reach.

In 2009, Jennifer partnered with Fr. Rick Frechette, physician, priest, and President of NPH Haiti, to launch the St. Damien Pediatric Hospital Fund. This initiative became an independent fundraising arm, easing financial pressure on NPH homes so they could continue providing excellent, comprehensive care for orphaned, abandoned, and vulnerable children throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.

Jennifer executed a feasibility study in collaboration with Harvard Business School graduate students, which resulted in the expansion of NPH USA into Boston in 2011. Her leadership helped plant deeper roots in the Northeast, rallying new donors and advocates to the cause.

Before entering the nonprofit world, Jennifer spent seven years in banking supporting U.S. military operations in the U.S. and in Germany, followed by seven years as Vice President of Operations for a global software consulting firm headquartered in the Netherlands.

Today, she lives in North Carolina and is the proud mother of three grown children and madrina to a child in the NPH family. When she is not working for NPH or spending time with loved ones, you will likely find her recharging at the beach.

Jennifer Abercrombie Foster, PhD, Director of International Engagement
Jennifer joined NPH in 2007 as an international volunteer for NPH Honduras and, more than 10 years later, she reunited with NPH USA, becoming the International Volunteer Coordinator in 2018. Over the years, Jennifer has grown into the role of Director of International Engagement, connecting the development efforts of NPH USA to the programs and operations of NPH. In her day-to-day responsibilities, Jennifer directs NPH USA’s International Volunteer Program, Travel Program, and “NPH University”—a new professional development program that endeavors to deepen staff and donors’ understanding of NPH’s mission and programs.

During her time at NPH Honduras, Jennifer served as one of the first coordinators for the girls’ empowerment program, Chicas Poderosas. In her second year, she lived in the capital city and attended classes on Central American literature at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras. Moving back to the States in 2009, she earned her Master’s and PhD at the University of Kansas, teaching classes there for over 12 years.

However, the worsening US/Mexico border crisis in 2018 helped evolve her “life course” as she became newly called to rejoin her NPH family in its mission to create meaningful social change and improve the lives of vulnerable children and families in Latin America. Jennifer is forever grateful to NPH for opening her eyes and heart to the goodness that exists in this world—a goodness that is embodied by the hard-working NPH employees and donors who offer a compassionate space and hopeful future to kids who come from difficult places.

Jennifer is incredibly proud to work for NPH. She loves visiting our international volunteers serving at the homes, talking with her “boys” from her previous volunteer days, working as a pen-and-ink artist, traveling and laughing with her partner, Andrew, and loving on her dog, Charlie.

Chuck Allworth, Director of Planned Giving
Chuck joined NPH USA in March 2009, as the Director of the Midwest Region. Prior to his arrival at NPH USA, Chuck had a 29-year career in the non-profit and education sectors. Most of his career was spent as a professional fundraiser with organizations such as Lions Clubs International Foundation, Loyola Academy, DePaul University, Boys Hope Girls Hope, and Marist High School.

Chuck received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from St. Norbert College where he majored in International Business and Spanish. Although he has worked in international organizations in the past, his position with NPH USA is the first time in Chuck’s professional career where he is able to regularly communicate in Spanish. He enjoys introducing NPH USA donors and friends to NPH homes for the first time, and he considers himself fortunate to have been able to experience NPH homes in seven of the nine countries where NPH conducts program operations.

Chuck and his wife, Verna, live in the Chicago suburb of Glenview. His family sponsors a godson at NPH Guatemala, and they also maintain a Mi Casa sponsorship at NPH El Salvador.

Heather Anderson, Donor Relations Director (Midwest Area)
Heather joined the NPH family in 2017 as a Donor Relations Manager. Over the years, she has grown into the role of Director of Donor Relations for the Midwest Area helping to raise awareness and funds in the Midwest Area states. Heather describes NPH as an organization that grabs your heart and never lets it go! She has a passion for connecting supporters to the mission of NPH in a lasting and meaningful way.

Heather lived and worked in Pontevedra, Spain and Mexico City, Mexico for a total of 13 years. It was in those two countries that she learned the Spanish language, culture, and fell in love working with children as an elementary teacher in private bilingual schools. Heather attended Endicott College at their Mexico City Campus where she earned her Degree of Bachelor of Science in Psychology.

Heather returned to the United States in the fall of 2014 and began working in the nonprofit sector. It was then that she realized she found her dream career – Working to help others. She started working with a local nonprofit organization named War Dogs Making it Home. A few years later, she was connected to NPH USA and knew she had found her forever nonprofit family. NPH USA reconnected Heather to her love of the Latin culture and being able to help children again.

Heather resides in Chicago, IL. She enjoys spending time with her two pups, traveling, live music, theatre, swimming, reading, and time with family and friends. Heather is the proud godmother of an NPH child in Honduras and has visited our NPH homes in Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico.

Christian Emxanuel Delgado, Chief Financial Officer & Chief Operating Officer
Christian joined the NPH family in November of 2011. For over five years, he oversaw all administrative functions at NPH USA as the Director of Finance & Operations. During this time, Christian was able to make significant and lasting contributions to the organization by heavily investing in the organization’s human capital and technological infrastructure.

Prior to joining NPH, Christian worked as a senior financial analyst for PepsiCo’s Business & Information Solutions division. In this role, he worked within the Project Management Office that managed a global SAP implementation project. Christian has always been driven by an entrepreneurial spirit having owned and operated several small businesses in mortgage banking and real estate investment.

In January of 2017, he accepted a promotion to serve as the Chief Financial Officer & Chief Operating Officer of NPH USA. In this new chapter, Christian is excited to work closer with NPH International to conceptualize and drive high-impact, international initiatives that strategically strengthen the organization’s core operations.

Christian is the proud sponsor of two university students at NPH. ​

Javier “Javi” Fernández-Dussaq, Vice President of Donor Engagement & Strategy
Javi joined the NPH family in 2025. In his role, he works to ensure every story of hope and resilience is told with care. With a background that bridges the non-profit, entertainment and sports worlds, Javi brings both heart and strategy to the work of advancing fundraising opportunities for vulnerable children across Latin America and the Caribbean.

Javi’s passion lies in storytelling that creates impact. Before joining NPH, he led creative and branding initiatives at U.S. Soccer, Washington Spirit, and D.C. United, and has collaborated with professional athletes to amplify their platforms. His native bilingual proficiency in Spanish and multicultural perspective allows him to authentically connect with diverse communities, making him a strong advocate for the children and families NPH serves.

Throughout his career, Javi has been recognized for leading award-winning creative campaigns, negotiating national partnerships, and overseeing multi-million-dollar budgets. He has built and guided creative teams that consistently deliver industry-leading work. These experiences have shaped his reputation as a trusted leader who combines vision, collaboration, and artistry to drive lasting impact.