Friends of Reach Out (FORO) HIV/AIDS Africa Initiative
Reaching Out to Those Left Behind
Since Friends of Reach Out’s HIV/AIDS Africa Initiative Inc. (FORO) was founded in 2007, we have been determined to make an impact for the most vulnerable people.
The core of our efforts is to provide direct support to community-based health programs. We provide funding of holistic medical care—focused on HIV/AIDS and cancer, specifically preventative work for women’s cancers in the form of cervical and breast cancer screening. We seek to fund activities, where other donor support is not easily obtained. Dr. Margrethe Juncker, our founder, offers full-time on-site medical support on a volunteer basis
Board of Directors
Lisa Furmanski
Chair
Lisa Furmanski MD., serves as the Chair of the Board of FORO. Lisa is an internist with a specialty in geriatrics who was trained at Harvard University, Columbia College of Physicians, and the University of California at San Francisco. Lisa is a co-founder of Reach Out Mbuya HIV/AIDS Initiative and worked in Kampala, Uganda from 2001-2004. She is also a co-founder of Friends of Reach Out and has been actively involved with FORO ever since. Lisa is very focused on serving those in rural areas, who have little or no access to health care.
Margrethe Juncker
On-Site Medical Advisor
Margrethe Juncker MD, MPH, & TM, serves as the On-site Medical Adviser for FORO. Originally from Denmark, Margrethe has lived, worked, and volunteered in Africa and Asia for more than 35 years, 12 of those in Uganda. In 2001, Margrethe co-founded Reach Out Mbuya HIV/AIDS Initiative that is presently serving over 8,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in Kampala, Uganda. In 2015 Margrethe and her husband relocated to Jinja, Uganda where she is volunteering with Rays of Hope Hospice Jinja as a full-time doctor and programme development advisor.
Benedicte Vibe Christensen
Treasurer
Benedicte Vibe Christensen serves as the Treasurer of FORO. She has served in her position since 2012 and is very familiar with the organizations supported by FORO from her visit in Uganda. As an economist, Benedicte has worked for nearly 30 years for the IMF. This work included being part of the senior management team for Africa, analyzing the economic problems and helping provide financial resources in the context of economic programs for Sub-Saharan Africa. Benedicte’s experience has given her extensive knowledge of the reality faced by the poorest people in the countries of Sub-Saharan Africa.
Dana L. English
Adviser/Counselor
Rev. Dana L. English serves as Adviser/Counselor for FORO. Rev. Dana is an Anglican priest, currently serving at the United Benefice of Holland Park, London. Rev. Dana has visited Uganda and was very impressed by the work of FORO and the supported programs like Rays of Hope Hospice Jinja. Rev. Dana has extensive experience in pastoral care and is able to share her advice and direction as part of the FORO team, as they work hard to serve those who are suffering from cancer and severe HIV/AIDS.
Ceri Lawley
Adviser/Counselor
Ceri Lawley serves as Adviser/Counselor to FORO. She took on this role in 2022 and is very familiar with the organizations it supports after engaging with them for several years. Ceri is originally from the United Kingdom, spent over a decade living in Australia and is now based in the United States. She is an attorney by training and joined the World Bank Group in 2008 where was initially a member of the legal finance team. More recently she has been working at the International Finance Corporation, the private arm of the World Bank Group, where she works on compliance and risk management to support IFC’s private sector investment and advisory programs in emerging markets. Ceri has a strong commitment to development through her work at the World Bank Group, and at a personal level has become very committed to development programs such as Rays of Hope Hospice in Jinja and other programs related to cancer, HIV/Aids and education in countries in the East Africa region.