Board of Directors
Called to serve the human personLEO OKONKWO
VICE PRESIDENT & FOUNDER
Deacon Leo is a servant and a scholar, earning his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy at Gregorian University in Rome, and Master of Arts in Theology at Holy Apostles College & Seminary in Cromwell, CT. He obtained his Post Graduate Diploma in Education at Imo State University Owerri (IMSU). He founded Water For Life Mission in Nigeria in 1997 and HEAL in the USA in 2013 to provide critical services for poor and marginalized orphans and widows. He founded the Compassionate Companions of the Poor Missionaries in 1997, as well as the Messengers of Justice Congregation in Africa in 2013.
Nick hails from Chicago and worked in sales for many years before dedicating himself to HEAL. Nick and Deacon Leo were seminary classmates in Maryland back in 1998. Since then, Nick has been a supporter of the mission and became President of HEAL in 2013. He earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance at the University of Notre Dame.
Anastasia has co-directed HEAL’s Nigerian partner, Water for Life Mission, since 2002. She is the junior sister of HEAL Founder, Deacon Leo, and has worked hard to promote the mission and ministry of her brother and serves as the secretary of HEAL. Anastasia earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition at Imo State Polytechnic in Nigeria.
RICHARD PORTIS
DIRECTOR
Richard is an entrepreneurial investor with a special interest in helping people realize their human dignity in God’s eyes through prayer, charity, sanctifying work, and entrepreneurship as a self-sustaining form of charity. Richard earned his Master of Business Administration and Master of Project Management at the DeVry University Keller Graduate School of Management.