NPH USA Leadership

Staff | National Board of Directors

Casey Guevara-Lehker

Casey assumed the role of NPH USA President and CEO on September 3, 2024. He was no stranger to NPH USA having worked for the organization in various roles. Joining us in 2016 as NPH Trips Coordinator, he assumed increasing responsibilities, including Director of International Engagement and Executive Office, and Development Manager. Most recently, Casey served as a member of our National Board of Directors.

Casey spent the previous three years as the Director of Major Gifts at the U.S. Soccer Federation. At USSF, he was responsible for development, including strategies to cultivate and develop major gifts.

Casey received a bachelor’s degree in International Relations and his Master’s degree in Nonprofit Administration from Grand Valley State University in Michigan. Casey is a lifelong soccer player and fan. He lives in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago with his wife, daughter, and their affectionate cat, Nala.

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 Gift Planning
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. ​

Andrea Nahigian, Donor Relations Director (East Coast)
Andrea joined NPH USA in June 2022 and is thrilled to be working with all donors that are located in the East Coast of the United States. She is here to answer questions about NPH, provide information and be the liaison for vision and immersion trips. In addition, she will be overseeing the local committees and volunteers.

Andrea has always had a passion for helping children. The mission at NPH resonated deeply with her. In June of 2022, she had the opportunity to visit the home in Miacatlan, Mexico and Cuernavaca, Mexico. She was able to see firsthand how NPH provides food, clothing, education and a loving family to children who may not receive it otherwise.

Currently, Andrea resides in Brookline, MA with her husband, 2-year-old daughter, yorkie and malti-poo. She enjoys eating at new restaurants, extensive traveling, speakeasies, music and dancing, exercising, positivity, trying new adventures, and being with friends and family.

Stephanie M. Pommier, Vice President, Donor Relations (Midwest Area)
Stephanie joined NPH USA in July 2016 as the Director of the Upper Midwest Region. Before joining NPH USA, Stephanie has been a professional fundraiser for Girl Scouts, Humane Society of the United States and the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine.

Stephanie attended the College of Saint Benedict and pursued her BA in Psychology. She then attended Augsburg College where she completed her MA in Leadership and is currently finishing her doctorate in education with an emphasis on philanthropy at Saint Mary’s University.

Stephanie resides in North Branch, Minnesota, with her husband and two children. She thrives in her work to be a mentor to children and being a catalyst for social change. It is her philosophy everyday to be able to teach the importance of philanthropy to others and to celebrate philanthropic efforts and all that it accomplishes. It is her passion to ensure that the donor bill of rights and fundraising ethics are utilized at all times. She is driven to work collaboratively and to convey sensitivity to the needs of benefactors. Stephanie currently sponsors one child.

Jennifer Rayno, Vice President, Donor Relations, St. Damien Pediatric Hospital Fund
Jennifer has more than 20 years of working experience in both the corporate and non-profit sector. She currently serves as the Director of the St. Damien Pediatric Hospital Fund at NPH USA and has been tasked this year with raising matching funds for a generous $1 million gift in cooperation with Fr. Rick Frechette, Country Director of NPFS Haiti.

Jennifer joined the NPH Family in 2004 and worked closely with the Friends leadership and National Board of Directors in 2005 helping unify five grass roots organizations across the U.S. that were supporting the children from an office in Northern Virginia that was a collaboration with Our Little Brothers and Sisters. Jennifer worked with the national office under the CEO to coordinate infrastructure, marketing, communications and direct mail. At the end of 2007, the Virginia office poised to homogenize with the other fundraising offices and activities and by the beginning of 2008, Jennifer had recruited a staff and regional board that set off to focus solely on fundraising activities. In 2009, Jennifer was asked to work with Fr. Rick to fund St. Damien Hospital and established the Haiti Initiative to raise operating funds for St. Damien Pediatric Hospital in an effort to relieve NPH/NPH homes of the hospital’s operating costs. In 2011, Jennifer led the expansion of NPH USA into the Boston community executing a feasibility study that she had conducted together with the graduate students of the Harvard Business School in 2008.

Prior to joining NPH USA, Jennifer spent seven years in various banking institutions both state-side and in Germany providing support services to the U.S. Military and an additional seven years as Vice President of Operations for HSO Business Systems, a global software consulting firm based in Holland.

Jennifer received an Associate’s Degree in Marketing from Strayer University after completing many courses through the University of Maryland while overseas. Jennifer is a graduate and former member of the American Institute of Banking and a graduate of Georgetown University’s Non-Profit Management Program.

Jennifer currently resides in her native New England after relocating from Washington D.C. where she spent 17 years. She sponsors two children and has visited the homes in the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Mexico and Nicaragua.

Xavier Walker, Vice President, Donor Relations (West and South Area)
Xavier joined the NPH team in 2017. Previously, Xavier worked with the YMCA of Southern Arizona for five years. At the Y, he held several positions with the last being the Financial Development Director. Xavier has an extensive volunteer and staff member nonprofit background as he serves on the board of directors with the following organizations: Susan G Komen, Educational Enrichment Foundation and Urban League Young Professionals.

Xavier attended the University of Arizona where he earned his Bachelors Degree in Public Management and Policies. He is a proud Wildcat for life!

Xavier is a world citizen and is dedicated to bettering not only his own community, but our entire society. He sponsors a child in Mexico whom he met on his first trip to an NPH home.