Founders

Educate Tomorrow was founded through the sincere and dedicated efforts of five sisters each devoted to the principles of equitable access to education and success through life-long learning.  Born into a family of eight children, the founders, Virginia Emmons (Executive Director), Melanie Emmons Damian, Mary Emmons Dhanji, Melissa Emmons McCarthy and Lucy Emmons Spoerk, understand first-hand the struggles of poverty and abuse.   Together, they realized that the way out of the cycle was education.  With the encouragement of their grandmother and mother, each one went to college and embraced their freedom and path to success. With degrees in various fields, each of these women has established a great career, and they are “paying it forward” by giving back to the community.

VIRGINIA EMMONS, Director of Educate Tomorrow
Virginia Emmons, a development consultant, had been working in the non-profit sector since 1994 with Family Advocate, a shelter for abused women and children in Wisconsin.  She lived in West Africa for three and a half years while working with the United States Peace Corps directing famine relief, and educational initiatives.  Upon her return to the United States she began working as a development consultant for the Miami Rescue Mission.  While already initiating international education programs, she also began to see a direct reflection of homelessness and former foster youth a population that her sister Melanie Emmons Damian was working with.  It has been her dream to begin a non-profit, not only helping those in the poorest country in the world; Niger, but also domestically.  Emmons sought out the strength of her sisters to begin Educate Tomorrow a program that facilitates the educational advancement of disadvantaged youth. Ms. Emmons is the recipient of the Junior League of Miami's 2006 "Women Who Make a Difference Award" and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center's 2007 "Pepsi Everyday Freedom Hero Award".

MELANIE (EMMONS) DAMIAN, Attorney
Melanie Emmons Damian is the senior partner at Damian & Valori LLP , a commercial litigation boutique firm in Miami, specializing in business and employment litigation.  Ms. Damian believes that educational mentoring is the most important component in helping disadvantaged youth to improve their lives. In keeping with her convictions, Ms. Damian is active in child advocacy with Lawyers for Children America and the Guardian Ad Litem program. She received the pro bono award in 2001 for child advocacy from the Miami-Dade County Bar Association and Eleventh Judicial Circuit. Ms. Damian also received the 2005 Florida Bar Association Young Lawyer Division Pro Bono Award and the Lawyers for Children 2005 John Edward Smith Award.  In 2006, Ms. Damian received the Junior League of Miami, Inc. Woman Who Make a Difference award. Additionally, Ms. Damian has recently received the 2007 Pepsi Everyday Freedom Hero Award and The Florida Bar President's 2008 Pro Bono Service Award from the Eleventh Judicial Circuit for her work with Educate Tomorrow.

Ms. Damian is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin (B.A. 1991) and the University of Miami Law School (J.D. cum laude, 1996) where she was a member of the University of Miami Law Review.

MARY (EMMONS) DHANJI, CEO, Mary & Mo Catering
Mary Dhanji is an office administrator for Damian & Valori LLP as well as business owner, Mary & Mo Catering, Inc.  She has graduated from the University of Wisconsin (B.A. 1994), received a graphic design degree from Miami Dade Community College (2000) and a sommelier certificate from Florida International  University (2002).

While working in the hospitality industry for over 15 years, Ms. Dhanji has become a specialist in food and wine pairing. She has started her own catering company that specializes in wine tasting events. Ms. Dhanji has graciously planned and donated her catering expertise for all the fundraising events for Educate Tomorrow.

MELISSA (EMMONS) McCARTHY, Consultant
Melissa Emmons McCarthy is Vice President of Innovative Concepts, a technology company near Washington, D.C.  She has substantial expertise in designing and implementing both internal and external organizational communications and is responsible for developing and managing the company's strategic plan.  Ms. McCarthy serves as the advisor to International Projects and Marketing for Educate Tomorrow.  Since her visit to Niger in 2001, Ms. McCarthy has become especially involved with the International Outreach Program.  She is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point where she obtained a B.S. in Engineering.  She remained in the Army for four years and attained the rank of Captain before joining the private sector.

LUCY (EMMONS) SPOERK, Educator, Parent Trainer
Lucy Emmons Spoerk serves as an advisor and fundraiser for the Educate Tomorrow International Outreach Program.  As an educator, it was her dream to establish an elementary school.  Her sister, Virginia, showed her that just a few thousand dollars could this make this dream a reality.  So, Ms. Spoerk organized the first major fundraiser to support the establishment of a primary school in Kabey Fo.  With the generous support of her community of Muskego, Wisconsin, she raised funding and collected school supplies. When the school was opened in October of 2000, Ms. Spoerk personally delivered the supplies and funds to Kabey Fo.