The Forgotten Children is a registered non-profit foundation which serves orphaned, impoverished and homeless children in M'bour Senegal, West Africa. Our mission established a boarding school that would provide safe housing, nourishment and education for these children in dire need.
BOARD MEMBERS
Elhadj Ndoye (Executive Director)
Elhadj was born and raised in Senegal, West Africa. Back in 1995, he relocated to the United States. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a degree in Operations Management from the University of Arizona. He has served as a volunteer at Casas De Los Ninos, a not-for-profit shelter for children in abusive households. He also volunteered at Big Brothers and Sisters. He is very active in his community and currently has affiliations with the Greater Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce as Past Chairman. In 2010 Elhadj created The Forgotten Children, a non-profit geared towards helping the street children in Senegal by achieving goals of self-sufficiency.
Adja Thiouf
Originally from Senegal, west Africa Adja received her undergraduate degree in health sciences from the University of Arizona. As a certified laboratory medical technologist, she worked for many years in clinical laboratories before getting her masters in Public Health with emphasis on Community Health from Walden University.
Adja spent many years working with developing countries in Africa and Central Asia helping them build capacity of their clinical laboratories through the Implementation of Laboratory Quality Management Systems (QMS). She has assisted laboratories in demonstrating measurable progress toward compliance and eventual achievement of accreditation by providing consulting and training expertise geared toward improving the quality and sustainability of laboratory systems.
Adja is fluent in English, French and other African dialects. She has a great passion for mission work and makes time to participate in medical mission trips and volunteers for organizations with initiatives that advocate for the welfare of women and children.
Maricela Perez (Treasurer)
Maricela was born in San Manuel, Arizona then at the age of 10; her family relocated to Tucson where she grew up and graduated from Tucson High Magnet School. She has been working in banking for 25 years and is currently a Commercial/Consumer Loan Processor at Western Alliance Bank. In 2010 while working at National Bank of Arizona with Elhadj, she learned about The Forgotten Children and has been an active supporter ever since. Maricela is a firm believer in community outreach and participates in many benefit events filling in different roles. From 2003 to 2016 she volunteered for Danza Cultura Mexicana (DCM), a nonprofit organization that helps to support and keep Mexican Folklorico traditions alive in Arizona. While with DCM she served on the board in various roles such as President, Vice-President and Treasurer. Maricela also volunteers her time with the Devereux Foundation, a nonprofit behavioral health organization that works with children and adults. She is also a board member of The Esperanza Dance Project, a nonprofit arts service organization that is raising awareness about childhood sexual violence. Most recently Maricela was the Producer of 2019 Stand-up for Humanity, a benefit event that helped raise money for The Esperanza Dance Project and The Forgotten Children. She believes in helping those in need, spreading love and is grateful to have the opportunity to do so through these great organizations.
Russ Granillo
Russ was born and raised in Tucson, AZ. He attended Amphitheater and Flowing Wells schools. He attended college at Pima Community College and Prescott College. He earned a B.A. in Secondary Music Education. He has served for the last 23 years mostly in the Amphitheater and Flowing Wells School Districts teaching marching band, concert band, choir, orchestra and general music. His greatest passion is sharing music with children and using it as a vehicle for growing their character.
Russ has enjoyed playing and singing in many music groups over the years including Pima Community College Choirs, Arizona Opera Choir, as a soloist for community events and also in several local bands.
Russ raised his daughter and now has two granddaughters who are the center of his life. He loves to spend time with them as often as possible. He would like to be a positive example to them by living a life of service.
Suzie Agrillo
Suzie Agrillo practiced law in Arizona for 35 years. She was employed as a prosecutor for the City of Tucson and Pima County as well as the Town Magistrate for Oro Valley. She received numerous awards for her work, including the State Bar of Arizona Award of Special Merit, as well as the Mothers Against Drunk Drivers Prosecutor of the Year Award.
In addition to her legal work, Suzie is the founder of Comedy for Charity (CFC), a nonprofit which uses comedy shows to raise money to prevent violence, to assist victims of violence, and to raise awareness about violence. Over the last 12 years, CFC has raised funds for Emerge! Center Against Domestic Abuse; Youth on Their Own (YOTO); Our Family Services; Gospel Rescue Mission; La Frontera-Rally Point; Dancing in the Streets AZ; YWCA of Southern Arizona; Ben’s Bells; Esperanza Dance Project; and many other local nonprofits. In 2020, at the height of COVID, NBC’s The Funny Dance Show awarded CFC $10,000 to fund its mission.
In 2022 Suzie attended The Forgotten Children’s annual fundraiser, and she was inspired by Elijah’s commitment to provide aid to needy children in Senegal. She was heartened to see a small organization making such a big impact on the lives of children halfway around the world. When he asked her to be a Board member, she said “yes”-- because she knew she wanted to make The Forgotten Children a part of her legacy.
Suzie’s favorite quote is by Ghandhi: “Be the change you want to see in the world.”
Alexander Folk
Alexander was born in Los Angeles, California in May of 1946, he is an Actor / Author he was bitten by the Acting Bug after receiving a standing ovation following his performance in a play at the age of tender age of 12. He went on to study Drama at Fremont High School in Los Angeles, where he was inducted into The High School Hall of Fame. He then went on to studied Theatre Arts at Los Angeles City College, (Clint Eastwood’s alma mater) and at various Acting Workshops. He has been seen in over 150 films, TV Commercials and television Shows. He was Jennifer Hudson’s Father in her Oscar Winning Role in the film Dreamgirls. He was also the Chief Swat Officer at the end of the film, Nation Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, who had the famous line, “That’s Pretty Low Mister, If I had a Rubber Hose I Would Beat You…” Now that line, along with his picture is on T-Shirts, Caps, Mugs, Aprons, Bed Spreads, Shower Curtains, Etc. Etc. on-line. He also wrote two short Books, “Go Home - A Guide To Achieving Your Goals While Dealing With Life’s Inconveniences” and “Women - God’s Second Greatest Gift to Humanity” which are also on-lone. He was been in a number Television Commercials, like “Chic-Film-A, MacDonalds, Discover Card, Target, Mazda, Imodium AD, Coca Cola, T-Mobil, Campbell Soup, Dodge, US Postal Service and United Airlines, just to name a few. In addition to the above, I have been to over 40 countries in the world and God willing, I’m not finished yet. But I have to say I believe the Biggest highlight of my life is to be a part Elijah’s vision to provide children the shelter, the food and the guidance they need to become productive citizens of this world until GOD moves them and all of us on to the next adventure He has in store for us.
Dr. Akin Akinbile
Name: Mufutau Akin Akinbile
Married with 2 children
Profession: pediatric critical care physician
Works at Tucson Medical Center
Originally from Lagos, Nigeria though consider myself a global citizen, enjoys traveling, sports, politics and a philanthropist. Leadership roles in many social and medical organizations.
Philosophy: The truth and a given heart are the most powerful weapons against most socioeconomic problems. We are the world and we are out of many one people. We must all be accountable to humanity.
Past Board Members
Modu Seye
Katie Reynolds
Richard Noel
Omer Kreso
Simon Brown
Rene Valdez
Denise Piazza
Kathleen Benyak
Board Member - Andi Smith