Our Story

In 2018, Cristian Johnston returned to the Aldea Infantil Virgin del Pilar Orphanage --- his home before his adoption in 2000 --- to began a personal quest to enrich the lives of children at the orphanage. The Peruvian Outreach Project (POP) was soon launched and was supported and encouraged by the Orchard Park Friends' Meeting in Orchard Park, NY. Positive results from the work done by Cristian and others at the Aldea Orphanage led to the incorporation in 2020 of the Peruvian Outreach Project (POP) as a non-profit organization in New York State.

Executive Board

President

Cristian Johnston

Cristian was inspired to create the Peruvian Outreach Project, Inc. after a brief visit in 2018 to the orphanage from which he was adopted as a young child. He spent months volunteering at Aldea Infantil Virgen del Pilar in Tarapoto, Peru. He is well loved by the children and staff for his hard work and devotion on their behalf. Currently, Cristian is completing an Associate’s Degree in Human Services focusing on non-profit development. At home in Corfu, New York, Cristian works for the New York State Office of People with Developmental Disabilities.

Vice President

Julie Christiano

Julie lives in Buffalo, New York. She was a teacher with the Buffalo Public School System for over 35 years and retired in 2015. She has worked with several non-profits before and since retirement (Food Shuttle of WNY and PFLAG Buffalo/Niagara). She worked with Peruvian Outreach Project on its fundraising committee this past year. She has been supporting POP since its inception and looks forward to working with POP in the future and seeing its impact grow.

Secretary

Rosita Waltz-Rieber

Rosita is currently an undergraduate at University at Buffalo studying accounting and hopes to get her CPA. She is a board member on the Peruvian Outreach Project as of 2022. She was born in Bolivia but was adopted and raised in the States. She looks forward in being involved and helping the Peruvian Outreach Project achieve their goals of helping the younger generation in Peru.

Treasurer

Kathleen Houlihan

Kathleen holds a MS in Education of Culturally and Linguistically Different Students and has taught all levels of Bilingual Special Education and English as a New Language in public schools in Buffalo, New York for 32 years. Kathleen chaired a Bilingual Committee on Special Education and Student Support; she has spent her career working with immigrant and refugee children and their families. Kathleen’s connection with Peru began in 1978 as an exchange student in the city of Trujillo. She and her family have traveled extensively in South America--especially in Peru--and both of her children were adopted from Peru. Kathy finds great reward in utilizing relationships built over many years to benefit the children and youth of Peru.

Board Members

Mary Klaus

Mary supported the formation of POP in 2018 and joined the Peruvian Outreach Project board in 2020. She is a retired Special Education teacher of 30 years. Her personal goal is to keep the ‘attitude of gratitude’ growing and to work with a community of donors to provide basic needs and education for the children at Aldea Infantil Virgen del Pilar in Tarapoto, Peru.

Barbara Delano

Barbara lives in Marietta, Georgia with her husband Craig. Craig and Kathy Houlihan’s husband Dan met in college, allowing Barbara the pleasure of watching Cristian and Gabriel grow up. Barbara’s love for them and her passion for the education of young women propelled her to support POP as a board member. Barbara earned a Master of Science in Technical and Professional Communication. She worked for twenty-five years in corporate education for large organizations and has served on non-profit boards for several years.

Eric Pfalzer

Eric is a student at Marist College, New York. During the summer of 2019, He traveled to Antique, Guatemala and volunteered at an orphanage. His experience sparked his interest in service work in Central and South America; he joined the Peruvian Outreach Project (POP) in 2020. Eric looks forward to seeing POP grow.

Rosita Johnston Alvan

Rosita is a board member and a native of Tarapoto, Peru and the manager of the Hogar Hermelinda Home for Young Women project. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the National University of Peru in Tarapoto. She has an extensive history with the Aldea Infantil Virgen del Pilar and has many valuable connections in Tarapoto. She is an integral part of our team in Peru as well as here in the United States.

Andrea Vogler

Andrea is a partner in the Galaxie 3, Inc. which offers services in accounting, trust and estate administration and small business support. Her skills are vital to the smooth running of our organization. She has been an avid supporter of the Peruvian outreach project since its inception. Andrea has served on the Board of Directors for the Corfu Community. She is a proud parent and loves gardening.

Charlotte Tahk

Charlotte is a retired Science teacher with a PhD in Chemistry and a Masters degree in Elementary Education. She grew up in an internationally oriented family and has long had an interest in helping young people in other countries. She has been on the Board of Crossroads Springs Africa, a nonprofit assisting students in Western Kenya, since its founding in 2004. She understands the importance of education and care for young people and believes that the next generation will change the world.

Diana Reding

Diana is the current director of a small rural library in WNY and joined the POP board in 2024. She is planning to use the skills gained during her years at the library and with other community-based organizations to promote POP’s mission and ensure the sustainability of POP’s work in Peru.

Our Team in Peru

Dr. Tedy Arevalo Rojas

Dr. Tedy Arevalo Rojas was named as the Director of the Hogar Hermelinda in January 2022. In January 2023 he was also named by the regional government as the director of the Aldea Infantil Virgen del Pilar Orphanage. This opens up many opportunities between our two projects. Dr. Tedy Arévalo Rojas has extensive experience in education and administration. He began his career as the principal of a rural school in Sauce and then moved to become the assistant principal of the “Virgen Doloroso” Primary School in Tarapoto. In 1995, Dr. Avévalo became the principal of the Jose Antonio Ramirez Arevalo school. He was invited by the Regional Government of San Martin to be the Director of the Aldea Infantil Virgen del Pilar Orphanage for 2 terms or 10 years. In 2015, Dr Arévalo returned to be the principal of the Jose Antonio Ramirez Arevalo school. He holds a bachelor's degree in Education from the Normal College of Tarapoto, Peru. He also holds a masters degree in Educational Administration and a Doctorate in Education. We are extremely pleased that he has joined our team in Tarapoto.

Dr. Liliana Carranza Trigozo

We are fortunate that, along with Dr. Arévalo’s skills, we can count on the collaboration of his talented wife, Dr. Liliana Carranza Trigozo. She started her career in education as a principal in the Las Palmas District. From 1990 -2009, Dr. Trigozo taught in a primary classroom in the “Virgen Doloroso” Primary School and in 2010 Dr. Trigozo became the assistant principal in the same school. She worked tirelessly with her husband while he was the director of the Aldea Infantil Virgen del Pilar Orphanage to support the children and staff with dedication and love. She holds a bachelor's degree in Education from the Normal College of Tarapoto, Peru. She also holds a master’s degree in Educational Administration and a Doctorate in Education. We are extremely pleased that she has joined our team in Tarapoto.