Staff

Tanya Weaver, Executive Director

Tanya Weaver joined American Foundation for Children with AIDS (AFCA) in 2005. In addition to directing AFCA’s day-to-day activities, Tanya frequently speaks about AFCA and AIDS to students, community organizations and religious organizations. In 2007, Tanya created and held the first Climb Up so Kids Can Grow Up, an international climbathon that raises funds for AFCA.

She has spent much of her life abroad involved in international development. Prior to joining AFCA, Tanya worked in Afghanistan as a Project Supervisor and later as Interim Country Director for Shelter for Life International, a global organization that provides assistance building homes and other shelters for those in need. Previously, Tanya worked with Habitat for Humanity International in Romania, Portugal, Kyrgyzstan, Hungary and Russia.

Tanya’s involvement with international development began early in her life. Raised in Colombia, she worked in orphanages in Colombia, Brazil and Jamaica during college summer breaks, further broadening her world view.

Tanya has a Masters in Art Therapy from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She currently resides in Harrisburg, PA with her husband Eric, her daughter Julia and her son Aiden.

Christine Bitikofer, Executive Assistant / Finance Director

Christine graduated from Eastern Mennonite University with a degree in accounting. While in college she spent 3 weeks in Jamaica learning about the culture and what it is like to run a business in Jamaica. She and her husband Keith have been married for 13 years and have two wonderful children. Christine worked for 6 years in the accounting field before staying home full time to manage their home and be with their children. She also volunteers at Youth with a Mission in Lebanon doing some of their bookkeeping work.

Sarah Ladner, eBay Store Manager

Sarah Ladner has a degree in Elementary Education but in addition to teaching, she has worked in various fields including design & construction, home-based bookkeeping and private tutoring. She’s been married to Jason for eight years and is the proud mama of three beautiful children. She is very thankful to be able to stay at home with her children. She is thrilled to be on board with AFCA and to use her gifts to work out of her home and help AFCA grow in its scope and mission.

Jim Copland, Database Manager

James A. (Jim) Copland lives in Quebec, Canada and has worked in the information technology field since 1987. For the last six years he has specialized in database stewardship and management for charitable organizations.

Jim holds a bachelors degree in music from the University of Toronto and a Ph.D. in English literature from the same university. As well as doing database administration he also does French-to-English translation and conducts two community choirs and a professional orchestra and was on the boards of Les Groupes Bibliques Universitaires (Québec) and Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship (Canada) for several years.

Jacqueline Johnson, Graphic Designer

Jacqueline Johnson holds a degree in Fine Art from the University of Wisconsin Madison. Currently she lives and works in Appleton, Wisconsin as a full time Graphic Designer. Jackie, together with her husband of 6 years, are grateful to give their gifts to local and international non profits such as AFCA.

Kathryn Griffin, Partners Director

Kathryn is a recent addition to AFCA as of July, 2009.  Kathryn took an early retirement as Elementary Director of Special Services, and School Psychologist at Northern Lebanon School District, Fredericksburg, PA, to follow her heart in devoting her time and efforts to improving and supporting the lives of disadvantaged and disenfranchised children.  Kathryn has a 30 year work history of helping children both in the public and private sector.  In the school setting she was instrumental in identifying childhood disabilities including specific learning disorders, mental retardation, autism, hearing and vision disorders, traumatic brain injury, sensory-motor integration, emotional disorders, speech and language disabilities, and other health impairments.  As a school administrator, Kathryn was responsible for implementing all local, state, and federal policies and guidelines for students with special needs.  In the private sector, Kathryn worked as a child/adolescent therapist for children with emotional and behavioral needs.  Kathryn has an Ed. S. Degree in School Psychology, M. Ed in Educational Counseling, and a BA in Psychology.

During vacations, Kathryn has done volunteer mission work in children’s homes, hospitals, and orphanages in Romania, Ukraine, and Guatemala.  She serves on her church mission board, is active in church activities, local and foreign mission organizations and community.

Kathryn and her husband, George, have 3 children and 3 grandchildren.  They reside in Jonestown, PA.

Rose Romano, Event Management Intern

Born and raised in the Philippines, I moved to the Washington, DC area is 2001. I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Hotel and Restaurant Administration from the University of the Philippines in 1998 and am currently enrolled at the George Washington University’s Accelerated Masters in Tourism Administration (AMTA) Program with a concentration in Meeting and Event Management.

I have over 8 years experience in the Hospitality industry specifically in Catering working for historic boutique hotels in Washington, DC. I have executed various types events including meetings, seminars, weddings, receptions and other social events held in the hotels that I have worked for. One of the biggest successes that I have experienced in my Catering Sales position was to have an off-premise event for 800 people which involved a lot of logistics and creative thinking.

I currently work as the Lead Meeting Planner for ESI International headquartered in Arlington, VA where I am responsible for planning 1500 meetings throughout the United States. In addition to this, I also handle our Canada sessions as well as manage two training centers located in Ballston and Rosslyn, VA.

With my work experience and education, I have just submitted my application for the Certified Meeting Planner exam with the hopes of becoming eligible to take the July 2010 exam in Washington, DC. My career goal is to become a Director of Meetings and Events for a corporation.

On the days that I do not have school and work, I enjoy visiting museums, taking my dog for a walk in Old Town Alexandria and planning trips to visit friends and family all over the United States.

Paige Manieri, Communications Intern

Paige is currently a senior Communications/Public Relations major at Messiah College. She is involved in a work study with the Communications office as well as the college's chapter of PRSSA (Public Relations Student Society of America). She spent last semester studying in Athens, Greece for 3 months and spent this past summer interning with the Pennsylvania Immigration Resource Center. She loves to travel and hopes to incorporate this into a career working for non-profit organizations. Paige is excited to be part of the AFCA team and use her skills to help in any way she can.