Rachel Bervell is a graduate of Harvard University. She has a huge passion for children and women’s issues and is greatly interested in medicine and service. While in high school, she conducted a teddy bear collection drive at her school that provided more than 1,000 stuffed animals for her to distribute to children in hospitals, orphanages, and villages in Ghana—her parent’s home country. After watching children’s’ faces light up as they received their own toy to hug, Rachel was inspired to create Hugs for Ghana. In addition to founding Hugs for Ghana, Rachel is currently a member of the National Youth Council for the March of Dimes, working to improve the health of babies. She is also passionate about student life at Harvard, serving as a member of Harvard’s historical Crimson Key Society.

Joel Bervell is a junior at Yale University. From a very young age, Joel developed a love for volunteering. Whether it was in, or out of school, Joel could always be found helping those that were in need. Through his passion for service, Joel has continued and enriched Hugs for Ghana’s mission. He broadened Hugs for Ghana’s charitable scope by implementing a school supply drive at his high school to collect basic educational necessities for Ghanaian children. Joel was able to collect over 6,000 different types of supplies ranging from backpacks, to pencils and reading books, all of which he personally hand delivered to children at two different schools in Ghana. Joel also introduced “A Ghanaian Night of Culture,” a culturally infused fundraising night. At Yale, Joel is involved in the Leadership Institute, Freshman Class Council, and UNICEF.

Wooseok Yi, or Michael Yi, is currently a senior attending Kamiak High School. As Co-President of Hugs for Ghana, Michael has recently led the organization of the successful fundraiser “Night of Culture,” raising money to send school supplies to Ghana. He has been a part of the Hugs for Ghana community as a volunteer since his freshman year, and he is now excited to lead the Executive Board. In addition to his passion for service, Michael is very active in extracurricular activities at Kamiak; he has been the Co-President of the Math Team for two years and President of the Chess Team for three years. In his free time, he enjoys playing tennis for his school’s Varsity team. Michael looks forward to hand delivering supplies school and medical supplies to Ghana in the summer!

Tyler is currently a senior at Kamiak High School. When he was a freshman, he became part of Hugs for Ghana as a volunteer, and throughout the years he has taken the positions of Group Leader, Junior Board Member, and now Co-President. His most memorable event so far as a member of Hugs for Ghana was helping to lead the fundraiser “Night of Culture” this past year, and he is excited to make an even bigger impact this year. Outside of the organization, Tyler is an active member in his church community, volunteering in multiple events over the year, and he plays tennis on Kamiak’s Varsity team, placing 4th in the last WESCO 4A District Tournament and earning a spot on the All-WESCO Boys’ Tennis Team.

William “Will” Park is currently a senior at Kamiak High School. As the treasurer, he enjoys how he can positively impact his community and ultimately grow his passion in service. Outside of the organization, he is involved in various clubs that offers help to people in his community and across the world such as the Free the Children organization and the Academic Coaching in Kamiak High School. In addition, Will has been a member of the Kamiak Show Band for 4 years as a Euphonium player. Over the summer of 2015, he expanded his marching skills and joined a World Class Drum Corps called the Seattle Cascades.

Jessica Bae is a Junior at Kamiak High School, and has been with the organization since Freshmen year as a Group Leader, Junior Board Project Manager, and currently an Executive Board Secretary. Her life-long passion of volunteering and leadership has led to emerge herself in the community with a clear goal: to serve others. Outside HFG, she is actively involved in Key Club, an international service organization, as a Division 21 Lieutenant Governor of 11 different schools and Chair of Policy and Protocols of Pacific Northwest District. She also works directly with the mayor and council members to represent teen’s voices and make policy recommendations. Her experience working with the Mukilteo School District as a Kamiak Student Director helped her develop a passion for education and she hopes to make a “first-hand” impact by traveling to Ghana in the near future. Jessica is also avid music lover, and can be found playing the saxophone or singing at various jazz gigs.