About Us Vision & Mission Statements About the Executive Director, Sharon Svihel (aka Momma Chol) Sharon Svihel (aka Momma Chol) felt a strong calling to help refugees in 1997 when the Svihels invited Chol Ajang into their family. Relocating to America, Chol was a Lost Boy from Sudan - the name given to more than 27,000 boys who were displaced and/or orphaned during the Second Sudanese Civil War. Through this experience, God guided Sharon to become actively involved in Sudanese resettlement - helping Chol provide assistance to the Lost Boys arriving to Jacksonville in 2001. Her volunteer efforts consisted of ministry through music and benevolence at Christ's Church of Mandarin and coordinating the Lost Boy resettlement process through Lutheran Social Services (LSS) in 2001 & early 2002. Sharon’s work expanded in refugee resettlement and  as volunteer coordinator at World Relief from 2002-2007. Also serving as Jacksonville Ambassador for Lutheran Immigration Refugee Services (LIRS) in Baltimore, Maryland, she was a counselor at Sudanese reunions sponsored by the Ethiopian Community Development Counsel. Her Business Administration skills in Corporate America have given her the talents needed to direct a nonprofit organization here. Having traveled to the Sudan, Sharon knows first-hand how war has devastated this country and its people. When she was in Sudan for the first time, her heart sank as she saw how much there was to do in the way of rebuilding lives and villages.  All of these things tie directly to the 2000 Millennium Development Goals that were established to eradicate hunger, thirst and poverty by the year 2015. The Sudanese are in desperate need of clean water, medical assistance, counseling, churches, schools, teacher training and pastor training. Her contacts throughout Sudan and in the states are many - vital to doing local and international work. Sharon served voluntarily as Aid Sudan’s Jacksonville Director from 2002 until recently. Aid Sudan certainly fulfilled the primary efforts for international missions in six of the regions of southern Sudan, but other areas of Sudan also need aid. As well, the Sudanese residing in Jacksonville were limited to the help that could be provided. Teaming with Social and Behavioral Sciences Dr. Tina Jaeckle, Sharon launched Bridges to Sudan to ‘bridge’ the gaps to meet local critical needs in Jacksonville and to enlarge the territories we serve internationally. Bridges to Sudan seeks God's leading in good faith, with humility, and for no recognition or financial gain. Sharon lives in Jacksonville with her husband David. They have five American children, 3 international children, (1 from Korea and 2 from Sudan) and many grandchildren. Board of Directors Dr. Tina Jaeckle, Chair Anthony Akech Maria Zarakhovich Dr. Miriam Mikhail Dr. Francios Lette Nhial Kou Elizabeth Magnano Eleanor Hughes Chris Sarver Amy Houser Bobbi Warford Thanks to Board Member Alyssa Zamora Alyssa recently resigned from the Board because she is embarking on a new adventure at Duke University. We are excited for her new opportunity but already miss her presence and contributions to the Board.  Good luck, Alyssa! Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."