Foundation Officers

 

President & Treasurer

Claudia L. Young

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A native Pennsylvanian with roots in Colombia and Ireland, Claudia is the founder of the Make a Difference Children's Foundation. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Biology, a graduate degree in Elementary Education, and over 20 years experience in the classroom. Throughout her career, Claudia has instilled her passion for service work in her young students. What began as a small classroom program grew into an international effort to bring relief to children living in poverty. Claudia has traveled to Nigeria several times to personally oversee the distribution of donations and has laid the foundation for future projects. She opened a new theater of operations in 2019 when she traveled to Colombia to visit orphanages in the Cali area and identify where MADCF could make the biggest impact.  She is returning in September of this year to facilitate several projects.  Claudia is the mother of three grown children and has recently welcome two beautiful grandsons.

 

Vice-President

Richard H. Meltzer

 

 

 

 

 

 

Raised in southern Ohio, Dick holds an undergraduate degree in American Studies, and two graduate degrees - in English and in Special Education. He headed programs for students with learning differences and ADHD for over 30 years and has presented at national conferences on the topics of learning disabilities, executive functioning, self-advocacy, and resiliency. Dick coached a middle school debate team prior to his retirement in 2021.  He continues to tutor adolescents and adults with learning differences, and volunteers in a public elementary school. Dick served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Sierra Leone.  Dick has one son, an attorney who lives on the West Coast, and recently welcomed his first grandson.

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Secretary

Susan J. Ripley

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The daughter of a military officer, Susan lived all over the country as a child. Her entire career has been focused on working with children and families. For the past 25 years, Susan has worked in the community to build resiliency, believing that the effort put forth to make a difference in our community creates opportunities for children that last a lifetime. She earned a Master's Degree in Counseling and is certified as a Child Welfare Supervisor in the state of Florida.  Susan currently serves as a director of foster home licensing and is the executive director of a private adoption agency. Susan is the mother of two grown children.