Helena Jacobson, Executive Director Helena has received recognition for both her volunteer and advocacy work with a number of awards and commendations, including being named the "Outstanding Volunteer of the Year" by the Orange County Chapter of the American Heart Association. As a public speaker, Ms. Jacobson hopes her work will prevent similar tragedies from affecting other families. Helena delivered a healthy baby boy, Anthony Ray following Ray's death and has since left her career in healthcare administration to continue the crusade to save lives. She has served on the Board of Directors for the American Heart Association, the Joyful Child Foundation, Orange County Health Needs Assessment and Operation Heartbeat. She founded The Ray of Life Foundation with the support of the Orange County Board of Supervisors, Sheriff Michael Carona, Fire Chief Chip Prather, Healthcare Agency Director, Julie Poulson and Bruce Haynes, M.D., Medical Director of Emergency Medical Services and Jon Gilwee, Past Vice President of the Hospital Association of Southern California.
Sylvia Simons, Executive Assistant Sylvia worked along side Helena Jacobson at San Clemente Hospital as a member of the Administrative Staff. Sylvia past experience includes working with children for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. She has volunteered her time to many Christian-based groups as well as other non-profit organizations. She currently donates much of her time to Missionary work in Third World countries where she works with impoverished families and in orphanages. Sylvia left in Sept of 2005 to serve a two-year mission working with indigenous people in the mountains of Mexico. She continues to work for the Ray of Life Foundation in the evenings from her small home in Oaxaca, Mexico.
Christina Ruiz, Special Projects and Assistant BLS Instructor Christina was a Cal State Long Beach student majoring in Kinesiology and a personal trainer for 24 Hour Fitness, when she had her own personal experience with heart disease. On December 2, 2003, this 23 year-old young woman was running on the track at LBSU, when suddenly she collapsed, stopped breathing and suffered a cardiac arrest. Her life was saved by an AED. She was one of only 5% of people in this country who survive this type of cardiac event. She is now working with The Ray of Life Foundation on special projects including the placement of AEDs in fitness facilities.
Denise Weinberg R.N.P. Special Projects Coord. & BLS Instructor Denise Weinberg is a registered nurse who has a master's degree as a Nurse Practitioner from UCLA. She has done volunteer medical work at a free clinic and at Cal State, Fullerton Student Health Center. Since the death of her younger brother from sudden cardiac arrest, she has dedicated her efforts to the Ray of Life Foundation. Denise?s primary focus is to place AEDs in school settings. She helps conduct training seminars in the use of AEDs and is a certified instructor.
Amber Craib, Librarian and Special Events Thirteen year-old Amber wants to be a doctor when she grows up. Amber a neighbor and friend of the Jacobson family has spent the past three summers of her time to help out the foundation. Amber committed two days a week of her summer vacation time to set up filing systems, a research library and to compile date. Amber attends all Ray of Life events, volunteering her time to help set up, exhibit and promote our cause to save lives.
Advisory Board
Jim Amormino, Deputy Director of Public Affairs, Orange County Sheriffs Dept
Pamela Austin, President. Orange County Health Needs Assessment Committee
Greg Boswell, Program Manager, Orange County Health Care Agency
Mike Broussard, Lifeguard Captain, California State Dept. of Parks & Recs.
Larry Burbridge M.D. Chief Emergency Medicine, Saddleback San Clemente Hospital
Steve Cullen M.D. Chief of Medicine, Saddleback San Clemente Hospital
Daniel Lamont M.D. Dept of Cardiology, Saddleback Memorial Hospital`
Tammy Fogarty M.D. Fountain Valley Womens Health Center
Arturo Fontanes M.D. Chief of Cardiology, Saddleback San Clemente Hospital
Regina Faison CFP, Merrill Lynch & President, Derrick Faison Foundation
Jay Geer, President Miller, Geer Arimendez
Robert Greenberg, Principal Greenberg and Graham Advisors LLC
Larry Grihalva J.D. MICP, EMS Coordinator, Costa Mesa Fire Department
Daniel LaMont M.D. Dept of Cardiology, Saddleback Memorial Hospital
Rich Pena, Sergeant Buena Park Police Department
Julie Poulson R.N. Director, Orange County Health Care Agency
Chip Prather, Chief Orange County Fire Authority
Kelly Rivera, Senior Contracts Director, PHFE Management Solutions
BJ Snell R.N. Ph.D C.N.M., Faculty Cal State Fullerton Nursing School
Bruce Haynes M.D. Orange County Medical Center EMS Medical Director
Jim Sperber M.D. San Clemente Saddleback Hospital
Daniel Tam M.D. Dept of Cardiology, Saddleback San Clemente Hospital
James Troung M.D., President of Society of Orange County Emergency Physicians
Ed Valdez Chief Executive Officer, National Protection & Safety Consulting
Denise Weinberg R.N.P. Community Clinics, Costa Mesa
Volunteers
Volunteers
Alison Hawley Bobbi Lawson Brianna Lauro Brianne Smith Carmen Saneiminia Cathy Cullen Cathy Vlad Christina Ruiz Daysi Wright Debra Waggoneer Denise Weinberg Ed Valdez Frances Outhwaite Frank Poliofico Ginnie Whyte Janet Dunford Janine Masumoto Jody Haynes Kevin Ogrady Larry Grihalva Laura Fergusun Linda Gordon Linda Pierce Liz Miller Lynn Fuller Nadine Deitrich Nancy Hamilton Nancy Swanson Nancy Swanson Nathalie Lauro Paulette Mizes Sylvia Beanes Sylvia Simons Tammy Watson Trey Hunt Val Santo Vanessa Hayes Wai Gordon
Site Medical Directors
Art Fontanes Bruce Haynes Dan Lamont Dan Tam James Sperber James Troung Pat Brotman Steve Cullen Tammy Fogarty
Teenage Volunteers
Amber Craib Amanda Vlad Spencer Lauro
PHFE Management Solutions Inc.
The Ray of Life Foundation is managed by PHFE management Solutions (formerly known as Public Health Foundation Enterprises) a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation. With 35 years experience, PHFE provides Management services for over 170 public health programs. PHFE takes pride in improving the health and well being of people and communities by providing quality management services. www.phfe.org
PFHE Advisory Board
C. Ross Mossler, Chairperson Vice President, City National Bank
Ellen DiGiampaolo, RD, Treasurer Director of Food and Nutrition Services, Morrison Health Care Inc., Harbor - UCLA Medical Center
Joseph A. McCormack, Secretary Managing Partner, McCormack & Associates
Dorothy McVann, MD, MPH, Past Chairperson Medical Director, SGVHC, Department of Health Services, County of Los Angeles (retired)
Gerald R. Solomon, JD, President/CEO PHFE Management Solutions
Richard Barnes, PhD Director, Public Health Laboratories, Department of Health Services, County of Los Angeles (retired)
Frank Collins, MBA Chief Financial Officer, Chem Tech Systems (retired)
Annette T. Drake Office Administrator, The California Wellness Foundation (retired)
Barbara Johnson, PHN, MS District Nursing Director, Northeast Health Center - East Area,
Health Services, County of Los Angeles (retired)
Marlene M. Lugg, DrPH Immunization Coordinator, Kaiser Permanente
John Miyabe, MA, MPH, LMFT Director of Program Development, Ettie Lee Homes William J. Murin Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, Huntington Memorial Hospital
Azhar K. Qureshi, MPH, MD, DrPH Vice President, Department of Clinical Quality, Saint Joseph Health System Charles M. Spear, Dr PH Chairman of the Board, Spear Inc. Bernard S. Weintraub, MPH, Past Chairperson Special Assistant to the Director, Department of Health Services, County of Los Angeles (retired) Robert D. Westfall Vice President, International Banking Group, Security Bank (retired); Consultant, Executive Service Corps of Southern California (current)
