Meet Our Team

director and chairman

Sylvia Mader, a native of San Francisco, Ca. resided in Hawaii and received her BBA Degree in Business Administration from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu. Sylvia worked in the hospitality industry for 22 years as the Director of Catering with Westin and Four Season’s Hotels. Currently, Sylvia works in the Real Estate Industry. Sylvia learned about the plight of Moldova’s Orphans from a Moldovan friend. On Sylvia’s first visit to Moldova she met a young orphan, Mihaela, at the Straseni Orphanage and decided to sponsor her and her orphanage. Since then, Sylvia visits Moldova yearly. Sylvia and her team of volunteers work with orphanages, transitional homes, social orphans, and villages with extreme poverty.

director and vice chairman

Roch Turco, a native of St. Louis, Missouri. Roch received his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Albany in New York and his Master’s Degree from the George Washington University in Washington D.C. Mr. Turco has worked in various Information Technology managerial positions for the United States Government for over 30 years, with positions at the Department of Justice and the Federal Judiciary. Roch has made regular visits to Moldova with his wife Sylvia to learn the culture, understand the people and the plight of Moldova’s Orphans. He and Sylvia have sponsored an orphan named Mihaela Croitor for 11 years. Roch successfully got Mihaela released from the orphanage to the safety of Pastor Vasile and his wife Lucia’s transitional home with other orphans.

secretary and treasurer

Roger Tweed, from Arlington, Virginia, received his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Chicago, and his Master’s Degree from the George Washington University. Roger worked for the United States Government for 33 years, with positions in the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Department of Justice. He has also served as a financial consultant and published an investment newsletter for 19 years. Roger is a long-time supporter of Save the Orphans, and helped create our successful application for 501 (c) 3 (tax exempt) status.

Director and Chief information officer

Rodney Velasquez, a resident of Arlington, Virginia. Rodney received his Bachelor’s Degree in Information Systems and Operations Management at George Mason University. Rodney has worked in management and currently works in the Information Technology field. Rodney has been a constant supporter of Save the Orphans for many years. Rodney is looking forward to visiting Moldova for the first time in the near future.

local director of orphan care and protection

Diana Todica, a native of Cricova Town in the Republic of Moldova. Diana received her Bachelor’s Degree in Information Technology and Modern Applied Languages and her Master’s Degree is in Spiritual Counseling from the Theological University ‘Divitia Gratiae.’ Diana began the project ‘Love and Hope Moldova’ to help children and the elderly with the support from Sylvia and her team of ‘Save the Orphans Moldova’ from the USA. Diana is now our local Director of Orphan Care and Protection. Due to Diana’s alliances with orphanage directors, hospital administrators, transitional homes and ‘Youth for Christ’ we are able to expand our visitations and programs. Diana is a gifted and talented leader. We are fortunate to have Diana, her supportive husband Vasile and her very special mother Dominica who is invaluable to our programs. She assembles our Orphan Outreach Program (800 orphan’s gifts), and food bags for each of the families in our Orphan Food Bag Programs in distinct villages.