Founder & Board Chair

Tami Jo Saling Caldwell

TJ has earned a B.A in Business Management from UWO. She is a wife to Dan and a mom/step mom to 5 beautiful kids. After the death of her first husband, she thought her life was over, but God created beauty from the ashes. On her first trip to India, God began to nurture a seed in her heart that led to many hours of prayer and some in-home fundraisers.

Interim Director

Stella Neil

Stella, a native of Italy, grew up attending church with her parents, and was exposed to world missions when the Doulos, a ship of Operation Mobilization, arrived in her City of Catania in 2005. This event placed great interest in Stella to pursue missions with her life. Stella went on to leave Catania embarking with Operation Mobilization for a period where they prepared the Logos Hope for Ministry. Stella’s interest for Travel and ministry took her to the United Kingdom, where she learned English, then to Germany. Went to study at University of the Nations in Hawaii, and later was sent to the Philippines for Ministry. She also participated in Ministry at home in Italy, where she met her future husband. Later married and moved to the United States where the Lord led her to serve with Apple Of His Eye Charity.

Accountant US

Debbie Cheney

Secretary

Gina Burrese

Gina is a wife and a mother of two daughters and works as an administrative assistant for the City of Albany. Her heart’s desire is to follow where the Lord is leading. Not much of a risk taker and always hesitant about going on a mission trip, in 2007, she stepped out in faith and signed up to be part of a medical team going to Haiti. It was such a blessing to her life that she went two more times. Since then she has had the privilege of going to Rwanda and India. She never felt adequate for the task but God always shows up in a big way. Serving in Rwanda with board members from Apple of His Eye (AHEC) is where her heart was touched to want to become a part of this organization. Seeing the passion of helping those that are hurting was an inspiring experience. She has witnessed firsthand how donations to AHEC are being used to transform the lives of the widow and the orphan. It is making a difference in such a way that she is excited to be a part of something that she knows touches Jesus’ heart.

Board Member & Donor Care

Sue Ruddell

Sue is a retired nurse who has lived with her husband Bryon in the Gresham area for 40 years. They have four grown children, 13 grandchildren and one great grandchild. Sue uses her heart and her hands to communicate with our incredible supporters. Aside from helping with various important administrative tasks, Sue’s favorite job is writing “Thank You” cards to donors. As someone who has visited India first-hand, Sue understands what a difference our supporters are making, and loves to express her gratitude on behalf of Apple of His Eye Charity.

Board Member & Spiritual Advisor

James Schlatter

Jim is a small business owner in Portand Oregon. He looks at his business as a personal gift from God as well as a means to build God’s church. He is committed to being a pastor/ missionary/ servant with a global perspective. His passion is that God’s church would choose to fix their attention and hearts on Jesus. Jim has been involved with Apple of His Eye Charity (AHEC) from the beginning and has embraced their vision for ministry in their heart to help the least of God’s children in India and Rwanda. He absolutely loves the way that AHEC partners with local leaders to build God’s Kingdom – not by taking over leadership authority but by partnering with…encouraging them and sharing the burden physically, spiritually and financially. Jim is thrilled to serve as a spiritual advisor to the AHEC board and to be a participant on mission trips.

Board Member, Treasurer & Certified Public Accountant

Keven Steege

Keven is a CPA and partner at Baker & Colson, PC, a public accounting firm in Gresham, OR. He became involved with Apple of His Eye Charity (AHEC) after attending one of the annual banquets in the early days. The area of help that initially really caught his attention was the need for clean drinking water. After realizing how little of an effort on our part is needed to provide a lasting source of clean water for a village or a school, he decided to help AHEC by administratively supporting those who are spreading the message of hope and opportunity. Previously, Keven served on the board of Union Gospel Mission in Salem, OR, and he brings this experience to AHEC along with the same heart for the helpless and hopeless, those in need of physical relief and a spiritual Savior in Jesus Christ. His involvement in AHEC can be summarized in one verse: “We love because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19.

Board Member

Gary Majors

Gary Majors is a native of Portland, and has lived in Milwaukie since 1995. He and his wife Barbara have been married for 35 years and have raised 4 sons. Gary has been a Realtor in the Portland area for over 38 years, selling homes and small plexes, while holding several management and leadership positions, serving as President of the Portland Metropolitan Association of Realtors in 2009. He has served the homeless community in several capacities, and has volunteered with Union Gospel Mission for the past two decades. Gary is very active in his church, and has been involved with the Homeless Solutions Coalition of Clackamas County for most of its existence. He has also served with several non-profits as a volunteer and board member. Much of his past board involvement has been in document creation and review, some event planning and fundraising, and general governance. Pastimes include golf, classic cars, board games, and woodworking.

Board Member

Jared Tjaden

Jared Tjaden is a dynamic individual with a deep passion for faith, family, and business. He is a Marine Corps veteran who served two successful deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, earning the rank of Staff Sergeant. Jared has also accomplished great success in his professional life, having built his clientele to over $62 million in assets under management. Jared is a dedicated family man, having married his best friend Sara. Together, they have built a life centered on their faith and their three sons (Henry, William, and Jonny). He is an avid golfer and enjoys playing chess in his free time. Jared is also a successful entrepreneur, having founded and grown two companies: Kingdom Wealth Group and EUC Inc.Jared’s academic achievements include earning a B.S. degree in Business Information Systems from Oregon State University. Through his experiences, interests, and accomplishments, Jared has developed a unique perspective that has helped him succeed in all aspects of his life.

Board Member

Debi Huffman

Debi has been married to Joel Huffman for 50 years.  She has 3 children and 7 grandchildren who all live in the Portland area.  Debi was a stay at home mom before working in the hotel industry for 22 years until her retirement. She has long considered herself strongest in a supporting role, where she enjoys using her organizational skills to come alongside and help others.  She enjoys volunteering for her church as a small group leader and in community events. She began volunteering for Apple of His Eye Charity in 2021 when she took on the position of Cycle For A Cause Coordinator.  Currently, she heads up the Wednesday AHEC prayer team and helps out in the office as needed.  She also loves to ride bikes, hike, spend time with grandkids and cook for family and friends.

Board Member

Linda Baker Kaahanui

Linda Baker Kaahanui is a third generation missionary with family roots in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.  She has been leading and ministering with short term missions teams each year for the past 40 years, with the last fifteen years focused on ministry to the women of India.  She is the author of two books, Every Good Gift: Stories of Chinese Christians in the Time of Mao and Glimpses of Glory: God in Baja Mexico.  She is happily married to her highschool sweetheart, Eric, and is the mother of two grown daughters and gramma to four grandsons.  When not running her moving and estate sale business, she is busy planning her next trip back to where she left her heart – the mission field!

Social Worker

Agnes Niragire

Rwanda social worker: Agnes is 35 years old, married and has two boys. She is a christian, loves kids and helping people in need. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Rural Development Economics and has been working at ERM as a social worker since September 2020.

Accountant - Rwanda

Brigitte Mujawayezu

Brigitte Mujawayezu was born and raised in Rwanda! Started working at with Apple Of His Eye Charity Rwanda in 2019 as an accountant.

Social Worker

Jeannette Uwamariya

Jeannette is married and has a daughter. She holds a Master’s degree in Development Studies and a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work. She has 9 years of working experience in several organizations which contribute to the improvement of the living conditions of vulnerable children, families and the community as whole. She chose this profession because it is her passion to support vulnerable children, especially in the Rwandan community because of the consequences of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. Since Jeannette joined the Apple Of His Eye Charity sponsorship program she’s been using her skills to provide holistic development care including physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual and medical care to serve the Rwandan community.

Rwanda-Director of Sponsorship

Antonia Hauser

Antonia is originally from Germany and fell in love with Rwanda and its people during an internship with ERM in 2021/22. She is married and now lives in Rwanda. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and Religious Education and joined Apple Of His Eye Charity as the Rwanda-Director of Sponsorship in September 2024. She loves kids and is excited to serve the community in and around Kabuga.