Meet the founders
Jennifer Grisham, Ed.D.
Co-founder, Board President
Jennifer Grisham, Ed.D., Co-Founder and President of Hope for Tomorrow. As well, she is the Founder of the Hope for Tomorrow Preschool program. Jennifer is a Professor Emeritus in Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education program and former faculty director of the Early Childhood Laboratory School at the University of Kentucky. She works across the U.S. and internationally to support inclusive educational practice for young children. Jennifer regularly visits Guatemala with her son and greatest source of pride, Kendall Aroldo Lee Brown, who was adopted from Guatemala, and her supportive husband Daniel Halbert.
Brenda Riddle
Co-founder, d. 2019
Brenda Riddle was the executive director of Adopt!inc. and had obtained her Bachelor's Degree in Social Work and her master in Rehabilitation in Administration and Services. She worked in social services most of her adult life. Brenda had been involved with various aspects of Guatemalan adoptions and other humanitarian aid in Guatemala for over 26 years. In November 2019, she passed away.
Meet the team
Kenneth Sese
Legal Representative
Diana Sese
Director
Lisa Birdwhistell
US Office Manager
Kendall Brown
Sponsorship & Team Coordinator
Delmy
Preschool Director
Katheryne
Psychologist
Leonela
Administrative Assistant
Lisi
Social Worker
Erica
Supervisor
Paola
Caregiver
Mirsa
Caregiver
Roxana
Caregiver
Evelyn
Caregiver
Blanca
Cook
Celica
Preschool Teacher
Dayrin
Preschool Teacher
Margarita
Preschool Assistant
Meet the board
Jennifer Grisham, Ed.D.
President
Jennifer Grisham, Ed.D., Co-Founder and President of Hope for Tomorrow. As well, she is the Founder of the Hope for Tomorrow Preschool program. Jennifer is a Professor Emeritus in Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education program and former faculty director of the Early Childhood Laboratory School at the University of Kentucky. She works across the U.S. and internationally to support inclusive educational practice for young children. Jennifer regularly visits Guatemala with her son and greatest source of pride, Kendall Aroldo Lee Brown, who was adopted from Guatemala, and her supportive husband Daniel Halbert.
Lisa Birdwhistell
Treasurer
Lisa Birdwhistell is the treasurer for the Board of Directors. Lisa has a bachelors degree in Social Work from the University of Kentucky. She has been involved international and domestic mission work since she was 18 years old working in Egypt, India, Guatemala, Texas, Florida, Louisiana, Kentucky to name a few!! Lisa and her husband Randy have 3 cats and love spending time with her family. She has been with Hope for Tomorrow since June 2004. Currently, Lisa manages and is the bookkeeper for our office in Lawrenceburg, KY.
Kenneth Sese
Secretary
Kenneth Sese is the Legal Representative of Hope for Tomorrow in Guatemala and is the Secretary for the Board of the Directors. Kenneth has been serving in Guatemala since 2001. He has been married to Diana, who serves as the director of Hope For Tomorrow, since 2003. The couple have two children, Madisson and Jacob.
Mary Louise Hemmeter
Director
Mary Louise Hemmeter is a professor of Special Education at Vanderbilt University where she teaches courses, conducts research and provides training and technical assistance around issues related to young children with disabilities and challenging behavior. She travels around the world talking to teachers and administrators. She has been visiting Hope for over ten years and has a deep commitment to the ministry.
John & Marcy Weidman
Directors
John and Marcy Weidman are from Tulsa, Oklahoma. They became involved with Hope for Tomorrow over 10 years ago through their relationship with Kenneth and Diana Sese. They started coming to Guatemala with their church, Asbury UMC, on youth trips. After outgrowing the youth trips, their hearts were still in Guatemala. As a result, they started adult mission trips to the children’s home in 2014. John and Marcy have 4 children and 11 grandchildren.
Kathy Causey
Director
Kathy Causey lives in New Iberia, Louisiana with her husband, David. She became part of Hope for Tomorrow at its earliest conception, as she was very good friends with Brenda Riddle. She has a Bachelor of Arts in both regular and special education, as well as a Master of Science in Special Education with a focus on Early Childhood. She has been working with children in various environments for thirty-nine years. She served on the board in the late 90’s and early 2000’s and had the privilege of traveling to the Children’s Home in 2018.
Jacob McCowan
Director
My name is Jacob McCowan. I am a full time farmer from Frankfort Kentucky that specializes in pasture poultry and market gardening. I am also currently the farm manager of the historic Jane Julian Farm in Frankfort Kentucky where I manage 400 acres of beautiful farmland. I received my education from Berea College with a bachelors of Science in Agriculture and Natural Resources and a minor in Peace and Social Justice. It is a great honor to sit on the board and I am thrilled to help in any way possible.
Megan Purcell
Director
Megan Purcell is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Science at Purdue University. Her primary responsibilities include coordinating, teaching, and supervising field experiences for teacher candidates in the Early Childhood Education and Exceptional Needs program. She is dedicated to preparing early childhood educators, early interventionists, and special educators to create inclusive, high-quality learning environments and provide effective instruction that supports every child in reaching their fullest potential.
David Sullivan
Director
David Sullivan is the senior pastor of Faith Family Fellowship in Spanish Fort, Alabama. David has been involved with the ministry of Hope For Tomorrow since 2010. Throughout those years, David has served with multiple teams from multiple churches to help further the ministry of Hope For Tomorrow. David has been married to his wife Katie since 2001 and they have four children.
Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans.
Isaiah 1:17
