U.S. Directors
Rev. Fr. John Mary Lugemwa, OSB, President and Volunteer Coordinator
Fr. John Mary, born and raised in rural Uganda, holds a JCL (Canon Law) degree from The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law, as well as STB (Theology) and MA (Monastic Studies) degrees with honors from Saint Vincent Seminary, Pennsylvania, where he also received the Honorable Judge Bernard Shrerer Award for academic excellence, integration of knowledge, faith, and charity. He also obtained BA degrees in Computer Science and Philosophy from St. John’s University, Minnesota. In 2013, he studied Leadership and Management at Sant’ Anselmo Pontifical University in Rome, a course offered in collaboration with the University of St. Gallen’s Business School in Switzerland. Besides studying Law at Makerere University in Uganda, Fr. John Mary has taken classes in Non-profit Management at the University of Richmond’s Institute on Philanthropy. He also holds two diplomas in Bible Studies from the International Bible School in Norway.
As a monk of the Mary Mother of the Church, Benedictine Abbey, Virginia, Fr. John Mary serves as Director of Vocations and Formation, Webmaster, and previously as an assistant in the Business office. He is the Chaplain for Benedictine College Preparatory where he also teaches a computer class on Web Design and Web Technologies, as well as serving on the Board of Trustees. He regularly takes on weekend missions in local parishes in the Richmond Diocese. Fr. John Mary also serves on the Mission Committee of the U.S. Conference of Major Superiors of Men.
Fr. John Mary founded Uganda Rural Fund (URF) in 2005 while a college student and currently serves as President. Through URF, he established the Hope Integrated Academy in 2008, a vocational high school for orphans and other underprivileged rural children. In 2013, he added the Hope Junior School, a kindergarten and elementary school that provides a solid academic foundation to prepare kids to excel at higher levels of education. Under his leadership, various other programs have been initiated: a community library, a computer center, village banking, water and sanitation projects, a leadership institute, a medical clinic, and initiatives promoting empowerment for women and youths.
Fr. John Mary founded the Grassroots Development Network (GDN) as a resource to empower other grassroots development practitioners with skills and resources they need to effectively manage sustainable projects in their local communities. Using his experience, he also provides free consultancy to individuals and groups who are starting up new nonprofit organizations.
During his college career, Fr. John Mary initiated the Africa Service Learning Program, a program that sends groups of college students to work with AIDS support organizations in East Africa. He also founded two student organizations: the Global AIDS Awareness Organization and the Africa Students Association at the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University, Minnesota.
Fr. John Mary has received various awards for his work in Africa and the United States. He was the recipient of the International Peace Award in Washington, DC in 2007, and the 2006 Excellence in Leadership Award and the Inspiring a Shared Vision leadership Award from the College of St. Benedict’s/St. John’s University. He was one of the recipients of the Peace and Justice Award from the Vincent L. Hawkinson Foundation, Minnesota in 2006. In 2010, Fr. John Mary received the Innovative Community Builders Award in Virginia.
In 2012, Fr. John Mary was ordained a Catholic Priest and hopes to go for doctoral studies in Canon Law to continue serving the Abbey and the universal church. Fr. John Mary’s experience of growing up in poverty in a rural village in Uganda drives his passion for helping children and those in need. His work brings him much joy and peace, knowing that these small deeds can make a difference in other people’s lives.
Benjamin (Ben) Kaster, MD
Ben Kaster has been with Uganda Rural Fund since its founding in 2005. He holds a BA in Peace Studies from St. John’s University. Ben obtained his MD degree from Ross University Medical School and MPH degree from Johns Hopkins University.
“I can smell the anger and see the frustration in the eyes of people who have become victims of poverty which has propelled me to act. In 2004 I helped establish Uganda Rural Fund (URF) based in Uganda to promote equality for the rural poor. URF is now able to assist the community in supporting themselves while providing them with the fundamental realities that all humans need:food, shelter, education and access to health care. Upon my return, I have continued to be a voice for the voiceless, sharing the stories of commonality and bringing home a human face to correspond with our nightly news. It is from these experiences that I gather my inspiration and dedication to proceed towards my ultimate goal: to become a physician, and help my global community.”
Phillip W. (Phil) Powell
Phil and his wife, Elizabeth, have two adult children, Allison and Carolyn. He lives in Richmond, Virginia, where he worked for the local electric utility, Dominion Virginia Power, for more than 30 years before his retirement. His work at Dominion involved various assignments in the areas of Electric System Protection, Power Supply, Electric Planning, Reliability, and Renewable Energy Efficiency. . He has a Bachelors Degree from Georgia Tech in Electrical Engineering and a Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University. He loves to run, camp, and do volunteer work. He is a member of Engineers Without Borders (EWB) and serves on the Board of the Bainbridge Community Ministry a Richmond-based food closet for people in need).
In 2009, Phil and a group of students at Virginia Tech from EWB were able to complete a volunteer project in rural Uganda at the Hope Integrated Academy installing a solar power system with battery storage for the school. They later returned to assess additional projects to be worked by the Virginia Tech EWB teams. Phil’s work and his passion is to support conversion of the United States economy to a renewable energy base and, one small project at a time, to help guide the growing nations to start with a renewable energy base.
Sarah DiCerbo
Sarah grew up in a Marine Corps family near Annapolis, Maryland. After graduating with a Bachelors in Business Management from Virginia Tech, she began her career in business and IT consulting at one of the big 5 consulting firms. She now resides in Richmond, Virginia, where she continues consulting with a specialty in Organizational Change Management.
Through a mission trip to China, her eyes were opened to the disparity between life in the West and life in many other parts of the world. She saw barriers in education, health, community engagement, and limited opportunities as common barriers many people in underdeveloped nations faced. Wanting to find a way to help, she connected with Uganda Rural Fund, which was started by Ugandans and works with the local Ugandan community to build resources and better the community. Sarah has worked with URF since 2008 and is continuously amazed by the volunteers’ passion and the impact this organization is making on the community. “The great thing about URF is as a concerned citizen of the global community, you don’t have to have all the answers to make an impact. As an individual, you can donate your time, skills, or money, and URF integrates your contribution into their holistic approach to supporting the Ugandan community. URF has the local knowledge and development experience to give your contribution meaning and make it significant to the community.”
Jeff Eiffler
Jeff Eiffler was born and raised in Chisago City, Minnesota. After high school, Jeff spent a little over a decade serving as a US Army infantryman. After his service, Jeff earned a BA in History from St John’s University and a BS in Ecology and Field Biology from St. Cloud State University.
Jeff has been involved with URF since the organization’s infancy and has traveled to Uganda three times since 2006. He has also helped organize fundraisers and mentor several student volunteer groups. Jeff is motivated and encouraged by the changes he has seen at URF/Hope Academy over the years. He states: “I am always amazed when I think about the brief yet productive history of the organization. During my 2006 visit to Hope Academy, only the building foundation existed. Now, there is a vibrant, flourishing academic community that was made possible largely by small volunteer groups and other concerned parties. This experience has helped me realize that an individual does have the ability to positively impact the lives of others.”
Elizabeth (Beth) Dingmann Schneider
Beth D. Schneider has a BA in English from the College of St. Benedict and an MFA in creative writing from Hamline University. She has spent more than 15 years working in the field of K–12 educational publishing, and she has volunteered as a reading tutor in Minneapolis public schools.
Beth was first introduced to Uganda Rural Fund in 2006 when she spent a month in Uganda on an educational and service trip. Beth’s experiences in Uganda had a lasting impact on her view of the world and the uneven distribution of resources across the globe. Beth has been inspired by the progress of Hope Academy in the more than 15 years since her visit. She is thrilled at the opportunity to extend her love of education in support of Hope Academy by serving on the URF board of directors.
