Sandy is a Marketing and Event Coordinator for Hewlett Packard as well as a successful photographer. She is a mom of 4 kids – James, Haylie, Raider and his wife Jennifer and has been married to her best friend, Micah, for 20+ years. Sandy has been deeply active in children’s ministry starting in the 6th grade when she regularly volunteered in special needs classes. In middle and high school she served in the children’s areas of women’s shelters, and in college she launched a weekly Sunday School ministry for kids in the low-income families in downtown Sacramento. Early in their marriage Micah and Sandy felt called to become foster parents and they were placed with a 12-year old boy, Raider, who was later adopted. Sandy has worked over the past 10 years to help launch church orphan ministries and other foster care related programs, including Safe Families, which allowed Micah and Sandy to host additional children in their home. Sandy's passion and call in life is to "defend the cause of the fatherless." 

Dave has been active in youth ministry for 20+ years and currently works as the Outreach Coordinator for Safe Refuge for Children + Families. He and his beautiful bride, Sue, have been married for 40 years and have 4 grown children and 11 grandchildren.  Together they serve as the Directors of Royal Family Kids Camp - Brentwood, an annual summer camp for children in the foster system. Dave is the Short Term Care Regional Leader for Defending the Cause and a certified foster parent.

Megan is the Director of Serve United, an organization that helps churches activate gospel sharing initiatives through acts of service and also on staff with the Church Volunteer Network. Megan and her husband Matthew have been married for 7 years and are several years into an international adoption process in Ghana, Africa where they eagerly await approval to bring their son Enoch into their family.

Ricardo is a Pastor at Southport Church in West Sacramento and also a graduate student at Western Seminary, studying to become a licensed marriage and family therapist. He has been married to his wife, Tiffany, for over 10 years and they have four vivacious children Penny, Jude, Ryland, and Skyler. Their two youngest were adopted through the foster care system.  His passion is to partner with God to bring transformation and healing to parents, children, and families.

Sally is an attorney and through her law practice, Beaudry Law Offices, Inc., offers services including wills and trusts,  nonprofit formation, drafting and reviewing all kinds of contracts and referring people to legal specialists. Sally has been married to her husband Bob for 27 years and is mom to Gregory and Nikky. Her passion is to care for widows and orphans and to share the love of Jesus through prayer and action.

Dr. Heather Penny is an experienced leadership coach, trusted advisor, celebrated teacher, and engaging speaker.  She encourages individuals to step into their best life as they recognize the unique strengths they have to offer. Heather draws out fresh ideas and actionable goals to focus on forward momentum, and holds a Ph.D. in Human Services, as well as an M.A. in Educational Leadership. Her background includes work with at-risk communities stateside and abroad to focus on interventions that break the cycle of poverty.  As a professional coach, Heather serves her clients by drawing out their natural strengths and motivated direction through her coaching approach of 3C Living – Clarity, Confidence and Courage.  She is a clear-thinking partner while promoting creativity, passion, and growth on teams and within organizations.  The highlight for her is a life well lived and enjoys living in Rocklin with her husband and two children.

Tiffany is the Founder and Executive Director of Defending the Cause and has been passionately advocating for vulnerable kids since 2010 after a mission trip to Haiti. She, and her husband Matt, led over 20 short-term mission trips to Haiti and also launched and led a local church-based orphan care ministry. Tiffany is a church ministry coach for the Christian Alliance for Orphans and is passionate about unity, helping people find their purpose and mobilizing the community to serve kids and families in need. Matt & Tiffany have 2 amazing kids, James & Laurie, who they adopted from Haiti in 2017 after a 6 1/2 process. Tiffany has a degree in physiology from UC Davis and a doctorate in physical therapy from University of the Pacific.  

Tiffany first became passionate about advocating for vulnerable kids in 2010 after a mission trip to Haiti. Over the next 7 years, she and her husband Matt returned to Haiti many times leading short-term mission teams while also launching a local church-based orphan care ministry. Tiffany is a church ministry coach for the Christian Alliance for Orphans and out of her passion for unity and collaboration she founded Defending the Cause Regional Alliance in 2016. She believes that every child deserves a family who loves them and that we’re all called to make a difference for the kids and families struggling around us. Tiffany and Matt have 2 amazing kids, James (14) & Laurie (16), who were adopted from Haiti in 2017 after a miraculous 6 1/2 year international adoption process.

Heidi majored in Sociology in college and began her career with Koinonia Family Services where she worked for 4 years (2 years as Child care Counselor in group homes and 2 years as clerk in adoptions). While working in the group home, Heidi felt called to ministry and joined staff at Bayside Church in 2013 as the Women’s Student Life Director of Thrive School (a 9 month internship program for college students). Her favorite thing in life is to see people encounter Jesus and through discipleship Heidi gets to walk alongside people as they pursue God and His call on their life. Her passion for foster care and adoptions began when she was 15 years old and currently Heidi feels called to help connect the heart of the Father with the hearts and homes of the Church.

Michelle began helping foster youth in 2015 with a community-wide coat and pajama drive, where she collected over 250 new winter coats and PJs for local foster youth.  She soon realized that no matter how many items were provided, there would always be another need and that the greatest need of all was for these children to feel accepted and loved within a family. With a heart motivated by God's love for at-risk and foster youth, Michelle became a regular volunteer at Koinonia Family Services and Blossom Place. Her mission is to help kids know they are worthy and deeply loved while also finding creative ways to provide for their physical needs and desires so that they can experience childhood.  Michelle was named Koiniona’s volunteer of the year in 2018, she serves as a chaplain at Bayside Adventure Church, and is part of their memorial team. Michelle and her husband, T.J., have two amazing children (Kaden and Kyla), one gentle dog (Jammer) and a stubborn cat (Nala), and all of them enjoy spending time outdoors.

Jill has been in the social media world for over a decade and still gets excited about a well-written Instagram post. During this time, she has helped small businesses and non-profits find their on-line voice while also partnering with larger brands on national campaigns. Jill grew up in a family of “helpers” so getting involved and service is a way of life. She volunteers within the community with her family and friends and has spent the past five years serving in high school ministries at Bayside Church. She is passionate about students and children knowing how very loved they are - especially by God. Jill and her husband have two amazing daughters and an adored labradoodle pup. They love spending time with family, getting outdoors, and planning their next trip to Disneyland. 

Jessica and her husband, Ruston, have been married for 12 years.  They have three beautiful children, two through foster care adoption and one biological child.  Jessica has been working as a social worker, and now supervisor, in the foster care and adoption field for 11 years.  Jessica also works as a therapist specializing in foster care, adoption and early childhood trauma.

Emily oversees the foster care and adoption programs in Koinonia's Sacramento District Office. She has worked for Koinonia Family Services since 2009. She is passionate about recruiting and training families who will care for vulnerable children as their own. Emily and her husband Greg married in 2008 and began their journey as foster/adoptive parents in 2015. 

Shelly has spent her life working with children and youth as a preschool owner, editor of Sacramento Parent magazine, foster parent and most recently as the founder of Blossom Place. With 3 biological children, one adopted daughter, five aged-out foster youth who are a forever part of her family and 3 grandchildren—she understands the importance of family and belonging.

Nancy is a woman who loves God! She has been married to her husband Mike for 27 years and has 2 bio-sons and 2 daughters through international adoption from China.  Being an adoptee herself, she is passionate about all children having the love of a family, a forever home, and most importantly knowing God’s amazing love for them.