Volunteer Profile, Mary Ann Loeffler

I grew up in the military, traveling with my three brothers and parents. Moving frequently, I experienced new cultures and adventures at an early age. My husband, Richard and I have continued our adventures over the past 35 years.

Whether it be sailing to remote islands, cruising on a ship to the Baltic, Mediterranean, around South America or to the Amazon and Antarctica, hiking Kilimanjaro or Popocatepetl in Mexico, or the peaks of Colorado and the Colorado Trail, diving in Fiji or Cozumel or just laying on a beach in Florida, paddling the Grand Canyon with our children or jeeping in Utah or Colorado or skiing the slopes of Colorado, I find continuous excitement and adventure with those that I am with.

After 35 years as a recreational therapist and an assistant professor at Metro State College of Denver, I retired four years ago. I continue with the passions that have always been a part of my life… I have taught skiing to the disabled at Winter Park for the past 34 seasons, have served as an official for wheelchair sports for over 25 years and have volunteered for many organizations for individuals with disabilities. I continue to work part time as a challenge course facilitator in Colorado helping teenagers or corporate managers to work more effectively together.

I am excited about working with a team in Vietnam. It is rewarding to experience a new culture, meet new people and leave a part of your hard work behind hopefully to enhance the life of a family and promote good will.

Volunteer Profile, Richard Loeffler, M.D.

My wife, Mary Ann and live in Colorado. We have a son and daughter. I am a former emergency physician now working part-time providing end-of-life care. My practice allows me to balance the routine of work with the excitement of travel to far-away places and exploration of different climates and cultures.

We enjoy physically challenging activites which include climbing many peaks in Colorado, hiking the Colorado Trail and skiing to 10th Mountain System huts in Colorado. I have had the same jeep for 45 years, and explored historic tracks in remote areas throughout the west and Alaska. I have traveled to every continent and many countries. I have trekked in Nepal, New Zealand, Italy and Tanzania. I have climbed Rainier, Kilimanjaro, and Mauna Loa. We have sailed in the Bay of Islands, in the British Virgin Islands and Society Islands. We have cruised along the Antarctic Penisula around South America and up the Amazon.

I find satisfaction in working with my hands. At various times I have projects constructing and demolishing that involved carpentry, plumbing, and electrical work. I look forward to improving my less than skillful techniques on this global village project.

I look forward to working with the other volunteers and hearing their stories. I look forward to living in a foreign country and sampling foods and customs unfamiliar to me. I am excited about the challenge of working in an environment unfamiliar to me. Hopefully the result will be to make the world, at least some small way, and in some small village, a little better for someone I do not know.

Volunteer Profile, Terry Boulton

My name is Terry Boulton. I was raised in Taiwan, attended school and university, and immigrated to the USA in 1980. Lived first in California, then moved to Monmouth Illinois where I had a Chinese Restaurant for five years. Have lived in Waikiki for twenty years, where I do Tai Chi each morning.

Volunteer Profile, George

Hello Team, my name is George Boulton. I was raised on a farm in Iowa, joined the Navy out of high school, and stayed for twenty years. The Navy, in its infinite wisdom, thought fixing John Deere tractors somehow equated to an Avionics Technician, so I worked on airplanes and flew, mostly as a Radioman. Upon retiring from the Navy, I was hired by North Central Airlines, which became Republic, which became Northwest, which is now Delta. I retired from the airlines in 2000 and live in Waikiki where the weather is beautiful every day. I have traveled extensively, however there are many more places to visit.

Volunteer Molly Rhyan

Hello team! My name is Molly Rhyan and I currently reside in Spring, TX which is a suburb of Houston. I relocated here for work a few years ago and the humidity was good training for my trip to Vietnam last March! I am 34 years old and I have traveled extensively. Last March I attended my first Global Village trip in Vietnam (Rach Gia) with 30 other volunteers. We completed three builds from the foundation up. The conditions can be harsh at times but it was the best experience of my life. The Vietnamese people are gracious, hardworking and extremely resourceful. I look forward to returning and working on my “pit” skills! Some of my hobbies include hiking, tennis, soccer and of course…traveling! I look forward to meeting everyone and please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions about the work conditions or packing recommendations.

Volunteer Monica Heliniski

My name is Monica Helinski…I am from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and reside in the city neighborhood of Squirrel Hill. Squirrel Hill was very creatively named in that it has lots of squirrels and lots of hills. I work as a nurse anesthetist in a large teaching hospital affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh. I enjoy my job very much, as well as, teaching. I help as needed with various workshops at the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing and precept students in the operating room.

I am an active person who enjoys working out and anything to do with the outdoors. I routinely run, hike, lift weights, and enjoy the occasional yoga class…and I always enjoy a walk with my dog Molly…who walks me most of the time.

I am very close with my family and friends and they are an intricate part of my spare time…I love a cozy dinner with good company and good convo. I seek to learn and strive to spark my curiosity through experiences and the people intertwined with those experiences…whether during any average day or through travel. One of my personal goals is to expand my vantage point from every angle possible through travel and hopefully being able to give to others while doing so. I feel I have been afforded much opportunity in my life, often made possible by wonderful mentors, teachers, and just plain generous people. I wish to give back and pay it forward.