Board of Directors
John Ditty
Founder & Chairman
John Ditty is the Founder & Chairman of Giving Children Hope. John was born and raised in California. He earned an Associate of Arts degree from Fullerton Junior College. He spent time in the U.S. Air Force as a precision measuring and equipment specialist before returning to school to earn a degree and a teaching credential in Industrial Arts from Humboldt State University. He also acquired an electrical contractor’s license and started his own business. John has four children, three of whom he adopted internationally.
As John underwent the process of adopting his children, he was deeply affected by the poor treatment of children in orphanages. After adopting his fourth child from Russia in 1992, he became active in the distribution of humanitarian aid and founded Global Operations and Development/Giving Children Hope. John began the organization’s first projects with his own money, using his garage as a distribution center. It has grown to produce and distribute $30 million worth of aid out of a 43,000 square ft. facility.
“God birthed this place, and God has grown it,” says John of the organization’s success. “It has all been a miracle. It is exciting to see what He is going to do next.”
Marvin Payne
Associate Professor and Chair, Chemistry and Biochemistry, La Sierra University
William Darlin
William Darlin was born 1930 in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. His education includes Chagrin Falls High School, Miami University, Oxford Ohio, Ohio State University and University of California, Los Angeles. He is a member of Delta Upsilon, American Legion and St. Johns Lutheran Church Orange. After four years in the Korean War and college we was the west coast Sales Manager for Alcon Pharmaceuticals. After, he spent 37 years as a State Farm Agent in the Anaheim area. He is now retired, has two grandchildren and live with his lovely wife, Arlene in her childhood home in North Tustin. He feels it is an honor and privilege to be associated with Giving Children Hope.
Jeff White
Jeff White joined Giving Children Hope’s Board in 2008. He is currently the Vice President and National Accounts Manager at Franklin Bank SSB. He is also the owner and award-winning wine maker of Ovene Winery, Inc.
Jeff has his MBA in Management from Pepperdine University and his BS in Business Marketing from San Diego State University.
Jeff has been an active member for 19 years at the Yorba Linda Sunrise Rotary Club. Other volunteer committees he is involved include the Elks Club, Yorba Linda Friends Church, Stephens Ministry and Door of Faith Orphanage.
Jeff currently lives in Yorba Linda with his wife of 19 years and three daughters.
Kathy Ramos
Kathy Ramos joined the Giving Children Hope Board of Directors in 2008. She is currently a contract employed therapist for Orange County Adoptions and has a private practice as a licensed Marriage Family therapist, serving the ocmmunity, schools, and Medi-Cal patients in Diamond Bar, CA.
Kathy received her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from California State University, Fullerton, and received a Master of Science degree in Counseling for California State University, Dominguez Hills. She has over 20 years of providing service such as counseling through the vocational/workers’ compensation arena, private insurance companies, and through community-based hospital programs.
Kathy served the mentally ill while employed in Fullerton Theological Seminary and was a Soroptimist from 1994-19996. Currently, she coordinates fundraisers with the Catalyst Community Group at Rose Drive Friends Church in Yorba Linda.
Kathy lives in Placentia and has two grown daughters. Her oldest daughter is a Masters degree level teacher for the Anaheim School District and her youngest daughter is in the Golden Key National Honor Society.
Rob Burns
Rob Burns joined the Giving Children Hope Board of Directors in 2007 and currently chairs the Finance Committee. He is proud of the time he spends with Teri, his wife of 26 years, their four children, his Financial Services practice with Thrivent Financial, Habitat for Humanity, and Giving Children Hope.
Rob received his Business degree from California State University, Fullerton, and has several designations including Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFc®). He feels it is an honor and privilege to be associated with the outstanding Giving Children Hope staff and volunteers that dedicate their time to assist thousands locally and across the globe.
Lisa Hinz
Jack Little
Jim Siewertsen
Jim Siewertsen recently joined Giving Children Hope’s Board of Directors. He is currently the Vice President of Nutrilite’s Operations. He oversees supply chain activities at Nutrilite facilities in Buena Park and Lakeview, Calif., USA, as well as operations at Nutrilite’s agribusiness facilities at Trout Lake Farms in Washington State, Tiangu, Ceara in Brazil, and Rancho El Petacal in Mexico.
Siewertsen earned a bachelor of science degree in economics from the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, NY, and a master’s of business administration degree from the University of Phoenix.
Patricia Culver
Michael Kim
