The Assistance Fund of Cambodia "ABOUT US"
Chris Hilleary, B.S., Pharm.D. - Director
After completing a Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 1995, Chris began traveling extensively to countries in SE Asia. He fell in love with Cambodia and spent several vacations traveling the countryside via motorbike. In 2001, Chris became involve with Operation Smile after he noticed a young girl with a severe cleft lip near the Thai border and decided to make a difference in her life. Since that time, he has been responsible for transporting over 125 children to Phnom Penh for corrective surgery. In 2003, he filmed a video documentary "Welcome to My World", chronicling the daily life of Chia Kree, a 13 year old girl working as a scavenger at Phnom Penh's city dump. Following the completion of the film, Chris made the commitment to Chia and her family to support her financially. This would enable her to attend school full time and take the pressure off of her to provide for the family. In 2004, Chris began working for Pharmaciens Sans Frontieres (Pharmacists Without Borders) and successfully completed a child survival pilot project 3 years later. Chris continues to actively support the interests and needs for the various efforts TAFC champions.
After completing a Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 1995, Chris began traveling extensively to countries in SE Asia. He fell in love with Cambodia and spent several vacations traveling the countryside via motorbike. In 2001, Chris became involve with Operation Smile after he noticed a young girl with a severe cleft lip near the Thai border and decided to make a difference in her life. Since that time, he has been responsible for transporting over 125 children to Phnom Penh for corrective surgery. In 2003, he filmed a video documentary "Welcome to My World", chronicling the daily life of Chia Kree, a 13 year old girl working as a scavenger at Phnom Penh's city dump. Following the completion of the film, Chris made the commitment to Chia and her family to support her financially. This would enable her to attend school full time and take the pressure off of her to provide for the family. In 2004, Chris began working for Pharmaciens Sans Frontieres (Pharmacists Without Borders) and successfully completed a child survival pilot project 3 years later. Chris continues to actively support the interests and needs for the various efforts TAFC champions.
Alice E. Smith, Ph.D.- Director
Alice has a doctorate in Speech Pathology and teaches courses on cleft disorders at the University of Iowa. She has been volunteering for Operation Smile missions in Cambodia for many years. This remarkable person not only manages a busy career in the States but continues practicing her specialty by lending her expertise to Cleft missions in Cambodia and teaching local healthcare personnel at the International University in Phnom Penh. Alice’s dedication and desire to help the people of Cambodia has spilled over into her personal life with the fact that she has adopted two children from Cambodia. Her wit, charm, knowledge and experience of Cambodian life made her a natural to help and direct the Fund.
Roger Bailey, B.A., Pharm.D. - Director
Compared to the other directors, Roger is relatively new to the Cambodian experience. He is a retired pharmacist/manager that worked for a large HMO in the California for 26 years. Through his association with Chris Hilleary, he made a life-changing trip in 10/05 to work with Chris on his child survival project. He came back to the US knowing how little it takes to make a difference and the desire to do more. In Jan 06, he set up a successful fund raising effort to help Operation Smile and the orphaned children he had met at the Anakut Laor facility. Roger came back from that trip with even more of a desire and drive to set up something more permanent. Working with the other directors, he was able to set up The Assistance Fund of Cambodia. Living in California, Roger continues to help raise money, manage the web-site and support educational efforts for individual Cambodian citizens.
Compared to the other directors, Roger is relatively new to the Cambodian experience. He is a retired pharmacist/manager that worked for a large HMO in the California for 26 years. Through his association with Chris Hilleary, he made a life-changing trip in 10/05 to work with Chris on his child survival project. He came back to the US knowing how little it takes to make a difference and the desire to do more. In Jan 06, he set up a successful fund raising effort to help Operation Smile and the orphaned children he had met at the Anakut Laor facility. Roger came back from that trip with even more of a desire and drive to set up something more permanent. Working with the other directors, he was able to set up The Assistance Fund of Cambodia. Living in California, Roger continues to help raise money, manage the web-site and support educational efforts for individual Cambodian citizens.
Mark Abatangelo -RTD- Director
Mark is a welcome member of our board of directors. He originally hails from San Diego, Ca, where his never ending search for the perfect wave began. He put 20 years into real estate before retiring to South East Asia where he divides his time between Cambodia and Thailand. A keen surfer and off-road motorcycle rider, he is best known for his mostly unstoppable conversation (even while on a wave) and his ability to get things done.
Over his decades in Cambodia, he has been active in helping transport children from remote villages to Phnom Penh for corrective cleft-lip surgery and devoting his time and energy to the causes of our organization and his understanding of the Cambodian (Khmer) culture makes him a valuable member of our board,
Mark is a welcome member of our board of directors. He originally hails from San Diego, Ca, where his never ending search for the perfect wave began. He put 20 years into real estate before retiring to South East Asia where he divides his time between Cambodia and Thailand. A keen surfer and off-road motorcycle rider, he is best known for his mostly unstoppable conversation (even while on a wave) and his ability to get things done.
Over his decades in Cambodia, he has been active in helping transport children from remote villages to Phnom Penh for corrective cleft-lip surgery and devoting his time and energy to the causes of our organization and his understanding of the Cambodian (Khmer) culture makes him a valuable member of our board,
Sak Sothavy B.S. Director
Sothavry is one of the unique citizens of Cambodia that in her adult life sought out ways she could make Khmer children’s lives meaningful and productive. She has always maintained a deep interest in helping Khmer youth obtain their educational objective. Early in her life, she decided to obtain the education and work experience needed to reach her goals of helping disadvantaged Khmer youth. She obtained a BS in Economic Development from Royal University of Law and Economics in 2009. This degree and her working as a counselor in children’s organizations, inspired her to focus on becoming a Social Worker specializing in helping Cambodian youth. She achieved this goal in 2010 and is now a recognized Social Worker with the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation. Through her past and current work experience in counseling and managing various Khmer Children NGO’s, including Anakut Laor organization, TAFC recognized that her talent and experience in country would make her a welcomed resource and addition to the TAFC board.