Jen Vihrachoff – Executive Director
Jennifer grew up in Jacksonville, where she graduated from Bishop Kenny High School. She graduated from Florida State Univesity in 2007 with an undergraduate degree in Social Work (BSW) and graduated in 2008 with her Masters degree in Social Work (MSW). Upon graduation, she began working for the Boselli Foundation as the Lead Teacher at Russell Bill Cook Park, the newest of the Boselli Foundation’s after-school programs. She is currently the Executive Director, overseeing the strategic direction and programs of the Boselli Foundation.
Growing up, Jennifer always had a heart for inner city kids that began with an opportunity she had to help lead a vacation Bible school in a housing project on the Northside of Jacksonville. Throughout counseling internships and volunteer experience with various inner city populations, her desire to help at-risk kids grew. She has a passion for working not only with inner-city kids but also their families through a holistic approach. Her experience with the Boselli Foundation has been wonderful and she is excited to see what the Lord has in store in the years to come.
Bonnie Upright – Development Director
Bonnie Upright has more than 17 years experience in the North Florida community, including previously serving as executive director of the Otis Smith Kids Foundation. Responsibilities included strategic direction, fundraising, board management, community/public relations and special event management. During her tenure with OSKF, Bonnie successfully led numerous fundraising initiatives, including Sea Cows for Kids and Big Cats for Kids, which generated more than $500,000 for the Foundation’s programs.
With expertise in fundraising, public relations and social media, Bonnie’s responsibilities with the Boselli Foundation include developing and managing relationships with corporate and individual donors, special event management, marketing and public relations. In addition to her professional career, Bonnie is active in numerous professional associations and leadership organizations. She is a graduate of Leadership Jacksonville 2005, an officer of the North Florida Chapter of PRSA and a member of the Jacksonville Women’s Network.
Bonnie believes that every child, no matter the circumstances, has the same potential, and has spent much of her adult life working to ensure children of Jacksonville receive life-changing opportunities.
A graduate of the University of North Carolina – Asheville who earned her Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) in 2003, Bonnie has three children: Sydney, 16; Jake, 13; and Emma Grace, 7.
Simonds-Johnson Park Staff:
Tonya Smith-Lead Teacher
Tonya Smith grew up in Jacksonville, where she graduated from William M. Raines High School. She has worked with children of a variety of ages and stages for more than 15 years in both the classroom and as the Director of the DeSoto Trail Elementary Extended Day Program in Tallahassee. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Florida A&M University in Secondary Education with an emphasis in History and is currently pursuing a Childcare Facility Director’s License through the Florida Department of Children and Families.
Tonya is committed to partnering with Boselli Foundation parents in supporting the children’s academic and social success. She takes very seriously the trust that has been placed in the Foundation to care for the most valuable gift – a child. She considers it her joy to serve God and the children of the Boselli Foundation each day by becoming a part of their growth and development.
Debbie Hellet-Teacher
Debbie was born and raised in Hialeah, FL. She moved to Tallahassee shortly after high school graduation and worked for the Secretary of State at the capitol for three years. She subsequently moved to Pittsburgh, PA to attend school and graduated with an Associates of Science degree in Environmental Science. Debbie began a career with Westinghouse Research and Development as a chemist and worked on creating infra-red radar devices for the military. She left the work force to raise her four children and was very active in their education and athletics. She also continued her own educational goals and received her Bachelor’s degree in 2009. She loves watching children grow and learn and feels blessed that the Boselli Foundation has given her the opportunity to work with the children in my community.
Shundell Welch, City of Jacksonville Recreation Leader
Shundell was born and raised in Beaumont, Texas but moved to Jacksonville in 2001. She graduated in 2009 from William M. Raines High School as one of the first graduating classes of the A.I.C.E. program. She is currently a student at Florida State College at Jacksonville where she is majoring in business administration. When she is not furthering her education, she works as a Recreational Leader for the City of Jacksonville. She has been a part of Parks and Recreation since the summer of 2007. Her time has included being a part of Kids Kampus and other local inner-city community centers.
Shundell enjoys working with the children because she shares a similar background with many of them. She hopes to continue to be helpful in the process of giving back to the community and inner-city youth. As a resident of the city of Jacksonville, she would love to grow and excel in all her endeavors.
Russell Bill Cook Park Staff:
Keandra Nate Ewing – Teacher
Keandra was born and raised in Dallas, TX. She moved to Houston, TX in 1999 to attend the University of Houston, and was a home school teacher during her college years. Keandra graduated with a Bachelor of business administration in Management in 2004 along with a minor in Spanish. After college, she moved to Los Angeles to attend a six-month training program at the Graduate School of Campus Ministry. After completing the program, she worked full-time as a campus minister with Every Nation Campus Ministries at the University of Houston for two years. She transitioned to working as an academic advisor at the University of Houston.
Keandra grew up in the inner-city and always had a heart for the youth there. When she found out about the work the Boselli Foundation was doing in the inner-city, she knew she had to be a part of it, so she relocated to Jacksonville. Keandra wants the kids to know that their neighborhood and upbringing does not have to dictate their future. God has a plan for each and every one of them.
Hannah Hamrick – Teachers Assistant
Hannah grew up near Jacksonville in Callahan. She graduated from Bryan College in 2010 with a degree in English Literature. She has always had a passion for working with children, and soon after graduating, she moved to Kenya to work with Gethsemane International, an organization that runs two children’s homes in the Nairobi area. When she moved back to Jacksonville, she heard about the work the Boselli Foundation is doing in the inner-city and knew she wanted to be a part of it. She is excited that she has the opportunity to work with these children each day.
Troy Hillman-Teacher
As a recent graduate of the Education program at Edward Waters College, Troy is enthusiastic to start his career as an elementary school teacher. As a teacher, he wears many hats, but one in particular is his priority: to keep an open line of communication with parents, students, and staff.
Troy’s goal for the Boselli Foundation is to reach as many kids as possible by showing them how fun learning can be. His philosophy is that students learn best when they are having fun. He makes a huge impact by providing a safe and stimulating environment, conducting group activities that encourage learning and differentiated instruction as well as develop social interaction skills. His mission is to make a lasting impact on every student he encounters.
Jeremy Schurke – Middle School Teacher
Jeremy Schurke grew up in Jacksonville. He graduated from The Bolles School and went on to graduate from the University of Central Florida. He took some time post-college to explore the United States, and received great perspective of this amazing country. Jeremy settled in Baton Rouge, LA and began working at Louisiana State University.
In 2009, he moved to Cabaret, Haiti to lay some operational foundation in an orphanage. Three months later, the devastating earthquake hit, which led Jeremy on a whirlwind journey that included staying in Haiti for another year and meeting his wife. He now resides in Jacksonville where his life began. Jeremy is excited to be an ambassador for Gospel reconciliation in this city and be a part of social change through the Boselli Foundation.
