Patricia Kindermann, Board President
Embracing the Child began as a simple, privately funded web site in May 1997 developed by Pat Kindermann. A turning point in her professional career led to the founding and development of Embracing the Child in direct response to the needs she found as a volunteer member of a non profit strategic planning committee for a school-to-career mentoring program in Philadelphia. Throughout her three year participation in this program and diversity workshops for inner-city teens, Pat observed the desperate need for a strong foundation in reading and writing skills that would permit every child an opportunity to succeed and experience a meaningful life. Embracing the Child became a non-profit organization in 2001.

For more information about our Outreach Program.

Daniel Thomer, Board Treasurer
Dan is the father of three and President of a Redevelopment Consulting Firm in the Philadelphia area providing input to business owners regarding all aspects of their redevelopment projects such as cost projection, analysis, budgets and tracking; project scope of work, management and administration, contractor selection, contract writing and administration; construction scheduling; quality assurance on construction projects; constructible analysis and value engineering on projects under development.

Katherine Krzyzanowski, Board Secretary
Katie is the President of K & K Productions, a special events and meeting planning organization; and a coordinator for LEC (a non-profit French student exchange program).

Cari De Santis
Cari is the mother of two and Cabinet Secretary for the Delaware Department of Services for Children, Youth & Their Families, which encompasses child protective services, children and family services, child mental health and juvenile justice services, as well as community-based prevention and early intervention services (as in school-based anti-drug and anti-violence programming), after school programs, etc.

Evelyn Small
Evelyn is the mother of two and President of United Bank of Philadelphia, a community bank and the only African American owned and controlled, full service FDIC-insured commercial bank within the tri-state-region of Pennsylvania, Delaware and Southern New Jersey. United Bank of Philadelphia is committed to bringing financial services and economic support to portions of the Philadelphia community that have been historically underserved.

Francis A. Heljenek
Frank is the father of two grown children and an expert in limited self-funding, employee benefits, Section 125 Plans, 401(k) programs and managed care.

Sheila Findiesen
Sheila is the mother of two, a tutor and retired high school science teacher.

Jean Magargee
Jean is the mother of two and Director of Client Development for Cura Hospitality, Inc., a regional healthcare food services company providing dining services for senior living communities.