Since 1952, we have been a faith-based organization continuing to keep Louis' torch aflame. 

OUR FOUNDER

LOUIS ZAMPERINI

Louis Zamperini (1917 - 2014) was a U.S. Olympic runner, World War II bombardier, and POW survivor. During the war, his B-24 crashed at sea, leaving him and two other survivors lost at sea aboard a life raft for 47 days. Louis was found by the Japanese, where he was imprisoned and severely tortured for 2 1/2 years. After the war, he returned to the United States to found Victory Boys Camp, a charitable organization for at-risk youth. Louis is the hero of the major motion picture Unbroken, directed by Angelina Jolie, as well as Laura Hillenbrand's bestselling publication of the same name. Louis has authored two books with co-author David Rensin, 2003's Devil at My Heels and a posthumous publication in 2014, entitled Don't Give Up, Don't Give In.

Board of directors

LUKE ZAMPERINI, President & CEO 

Luke Zamperini is the only son of our founder, Louis Zamperini. As a child, Luke accompanied his father on Victory Boys Camp retreats, giving him the knowledge and wisdom to keep Victory Boys Camp true to its original mission.  Luke continues to make himself available for public speaking events where he tells his father’s story and share’s unique perspective on what made Louis the man he was. Luke is a retired Chief Inspector for the City of Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety.

 Clay Zamperini, Board Member

Clay is Louis' only grandchild, and served as Executive Director of The Louis Zamperini Foundation from 2014 - 2016. He had the pleasure of traveling extensively with his grandfather, sharing his message of hope and forgiveness with countless listeners.

DRAKE MORTON, Director

Drake Morton is the CEO and Founder of Drake Morton and Associates, a highly respected marketing and advertising agency serving clients across varied industries. His past and present clients include American Honda, Ducati Motors, GNC Nutrition, Kawai Musical Instruments and Opus One Winery, among others. Drake has a long history of working with nonprofit organizations, having served as Committee Chairman on the Bay Harbor Hospital Board of Directors, and as chaplain of the Palos Verdes Estates Police Department.

Scott Anderholt, board member

Scott Anderholt is Vice-President of Hudson Financial Services, creating and implementing wealth strategies for a prosperous retirement for his clients. Scott and his wife Vicki have shared a Bible Study with Luke and Lisa Zamperini for over 12 years and counting.  He is a graduate of Claremont McKenna College with a degree in Economics and Political Science, and then earned his Master of Business Administration in International Finance from the University of Southern California.  Scott has an extensive corporate background and has traveled and lived overseas for more than 10 years in four different countries.  Scott lives in Calabasas with his wife.  They have 3 daughters and 5 grandchildren.  

Christine Steele, Board Member

Christine Steele, JD, is principal consultant for her own firm – C. Steele & Associates. Christine’s 35 years of nonprofit experience spans the breadth and depth of not-for-profit administration, programs, marketing, and fund development in Santa Barbara and Orange County. She is a capacity building and nonprofit solutions specialist; as such, she worked with OneOC on a major capacity building project for selected small nonprofits. Christine has served nonprofits in the fields of education, youth, art museums, medicine and law. She launched and completed multi-million dollar capital campaigns for two independent schools. During her tenure as Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Clubs Orange County Alliance, she oversaw a $1 million annual budget of programs benefiting the clubs county wide; revamped the Angels RBI Program; created the Readiness on the Road mobile preschool program; and revitalized the Angels Field of Dreams Luncheon featuring players and owner. Most recently, Christine was Executive Director of WomanSage, an organization for women over 50, founded by Jane Glenn Haas. Additionally, Christine was program director and facilitator of the Women in Life Transitions Program for WomanSage. She also has written major fund campaign materials for colleges such as Gordon College in Massachusetts and Trinity Law School in Orange.

Christine earned her Juris Doctorate from Pepperdine University School of Law, specializing in nonprofit regulations, estate planning and planned gifts. She earned her Communications degree with training in marketing and public relations, at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and holds a certificate in Financial Planning and Management of Nonprofits from California State University, Fullerton. Christine is a 20-year member of the Association of Fund Raising Professionals (AFP) and past member of the AFP Orange County board of directors.

KEVIN L. STARK, PHD, ADVISORY Board Member Strategy and Operations

Kevin L. Stark, PhD is a seasoned business executive in biotechnology research & development, global strategy & operations, and mergers & acquisitions.  He received his doctorate from the University of Washington in Molecular Pharmacology and began a 15-year career in basic research, followed by positions of increasing responsibility at Amgen, Inc until 2007.  Subsequently, he was a co-founder and COO of a start-up biotechnology company that raised a $20M initial investment.  In 2011, Kevin had a traumatic spinal cord injury resulting in quadriplegia.  It was his relationship with the Lord that provided hope during some of the darkest days.  Kevin knows firsthand that the Lord ‘saves the crushed in spirit’ (Psalm 34:18) and granted an amazing recovery.  Today, Kevin and his wife Jamie, have dedicated themselves to being of service to the disadvantaged and disabled community.

Sheila Carlson, Ed.D., Advisory Board Member

Dr. Sheila Carlson is a former principal and Director of Staff Development and Grants with the Conejo Valley Unified School District, and Vice-President of the Conejo Schools Foundation. Sheila earned her doctorate at UCLA in Administration, Curriculum, and Teaching Studies, with a specialization in Entrepreneurship Education. Now semi-retired, she continues to pursue her passion of teaching others effective educational practices leading to success for all through work with the University of La Verne Teacher Education program and CVUSD. A published author in research-based journals and texts, Sheila has served as a national consultant in the areas of research, educational leadership, curriculum writing, grants, standards, assessments, and program development for many agencies, including the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and American College Testing. She has created programs for the national dissemination of research-based curricula and conducted staff development in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Education. Sheila and her husband, Brent, are active members of Bethany Church on the Hill in Thousand Oaks, California.

Lance Quinn, D.Min., ADVISORY Board member with his wife Beth

Lance Quinn grew up in Arkansas and came to faith in Jesus Christ as a freshman at Arkansas State University, graduating in 1982 with a degree in Communications. It was during the summer of that year when Lance came to the settled decision that the Lord was leading him to go to seminary in order to be trained for pastoral ministry. He attended Talbot Theological Seminary in La Mirada, California, from 1983 - 86, ultimately receiving his Master of Divinity, Master of Theology and Doctor Of Ministry degrees from The Master's Seminary.  Lance has been in pastoral ministry for 30 years, 20 of those years as a Senior Pastor. After his first ten years of pastoral ministry in California, he became the Senior Pastor of The Bible Church of Little Rock, Arkansas, where he served for 15 years. His hobbies include playing golf and relaxing by watching sports on television. His ultimate pastime however is reading books that have to do with understanding the Bible and Christianity.

Timothy Philen, Advisory Board Member

After graduating cum laude from Loyola University of Los Angeles, Timothy Philen went on to a 38-year career in the arts as an advertising creative director, author and songwriter. He also served for 15 years as a ruling elder of the Presbyterian Church in America. Today Mr. Philen is President of the Los Angeles Philanthropic Foundation, which has awarded private college and university scholarships to exceptional students from disadvantaged backgrounds and underserved communities in                                                     Southern California since 1951.

Jacob Matchak, advisory board member

Jacob Matchak has worked in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation – Division of Juvenile Justice (CDCR-DJJ) for the past 17 years. As a pastor, Jacob is employed full-time as a State Chaplain at the Ventura Youth Correctional Facility in Camarillo, CA which houses a population of 200 youthful offenders in state custody. Jacob’s pastoral approach to correctional chaplaincy has allowed him to build meaningful relationships with both youth and correctional staff and to establish a thriving chapel program that partners with churches, para-church organizations, Christian colleges and universities, and seminaries from all over the Southern California region. One of the highlights of Jacob’s chaplaincy is seeing the outside church connect with the youth on the inside that are seeking to know God and have a genuine walk of faith with Him. Jacob has had the privilege of seeing the lives of many youthful offenders be transformed by the power of the Gospel as they receive new hope in Christ Jesus for the future. Jacob is married to his wife Dena and they have one daughter, Gia.

Cecilia Santini, Advisory Committee Member for the UNBROKEN CURRICULUM

Cecilia Santini combines extensive experience serving students as a Professional School Counselor with United Independent School District for over 16 years. Cecilia is currently working with students at the Residential Facilities and Juvenile Detention Center. Her working familiarity includes procedures that involve assisting students with their overall educational, career, and personal goals.

Cecilia is a Licensed Professional Counselor, her knowledge in theories and practices have afforded her a seat at the table alongside multi-disciplinary teams who aim to break the cycle of abuse. She previously served children as a Registered Play Therapist at the Webb County Children’s Advocacy Center in Laredo.

Cecilia continuously uses her skill-set to provide students the opportunity to acquire the mechanisms and tools to sharpen their coping skills and in so doing she strives to offer them opportunities to be better prepared in overcoming life’s greatest obstacles. She believes there is nothing more uplifting and edifying for a family and a community than a young person who understands their purpose in life and who works towards developing their God-given gifts and talents to be a help to others.

Cecilia loves doing life with her husband, Richard, and their 3 children.