Building Futures Thailand

Kris Edwards, Founder, Board Member

Kris Edwards has been working with organizations in Thailand since 2007 and founded Building Futures Thailand, Inc. in 2011. Her motivation to start Building Futures Thailand began in the aftermath of the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami that ravished many parts of Thailand and other countries in that region, claiming the lives of 230,000 people and leaving thousands of children orphaned. Visiting Phuket for the first time in 2007, Kris volunteered her time at an orphanage and decided she could do more, and by 2011 she started Building Futures Thailand.

Kris knows the importance education plays in the lives of Thai orphans in order to reduce their chances of a life of poverty, human trafficking, or other. She is dedicated to providing educational access, support, and resources to orphans in Thailand.

Kris is a financial consultant and resides in the Washington D.C. area.

Kathy Sebuck, Board Member

Kathy Sebuck has been working with and for non-profits for years as she strongly believes in giving back. As an active board member of BFT, she also is the board Vice President of Loudoun Literacy Council located in Leesburg, Virginia, works on Habitat Global Village projects, supports USO volunteer activities, and plays in various local charity golf tournaments. She has spent her career working in the IT industry in various sales and marketing roles and currently resides in the DC metro area.

Linda Teel, Board Member

Linda Teel got involved with Building Futures Thailand because she saw first hand the dedication and difference Kris Edwards was making in the future of some very special lives, children, for various reasons, have been either abandoned or simply a burden on their families and can't be cared for properly. With that comes a unique set of circumstances for each child and we can either sit back and hope somebody else will do something, or we can jump in and provide educational resources and some basic needs which provides these children an opportunity for growth, proper development and a plan for their future.

Linda currently resides in Omaha, NE and works as the Sales Manager for a Brazilian Company in the Ornamental Rock industry.

Gina Zaffino, Education Consultant

Dr. Gina Zaffino has been working in academia since 2008. Both professionally and personally, Gina is dedicated to continuing to help people learn and give them the education, skills and support needed to grow and develop into independent and self-sufficent individuals.

Gina currently resides in the Washington D.C. area.