Our Team
The Cedar Foundation is managed by a
Mark and Penny O’Sullivan
Mark and Penny O’Sullivan have been in Bulgaria for 6 years.
Mark O’Sullivan is a trained youth worker and has significant experience in this field. He holds a Theological degree from London’s Spurgeon’s College.
Penny O’Sullivan holds a Communications and Computers degree from the University of East London. They live in Sofia where they are raising their three children
Francis Ma
Francis Ma volunteers as a strategic advisor for The Cedar Foundation and was instrumental in the de-institutionalisation of England. Francis is well respected within the learning disabilities services in Hertfordshire, East London, Essex and Anglia areas for his works in the de-institutionalisation and reprovision process of services to community settings and closure of long stay institutions such as Harperbury Hospital, South Ockendon, Turner Village, Bridge and Little Highwood Hospitals. Has personally project-managed to resettle over 300 people to successfully live in the community. He was instrumental in the development of services for community health care, residential and community supports in the local areas effecting collaborative efforts from multi-agencies.
Vasya Dimitrova and Hugh Fraser
Vasya Dimitrova is a volunteer to the Cedar Foundation engaged with working with the children at the Home of Gorna Koznitsa. She has a degree in European Studies from the Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski".
Hugh Fraser comes from New Zealand and has been living and working in Bulgaria for the last 3 years. Currently he is involved in the property business and also works as a board member of The Cedar Foundation. He holds a British degree in Journalism. They have two sons and live in Sofia.
Ella Kobets
Ella was born in Ukraine. She began working with The Cedar Foundation as one of the volunteers in charge of transporting Foundation personnel to the various locations where we work. She now is head of our Kazanlak office and is the key contact regarding our work in St. Maria Luisa Orphanage in Buzovgrad. She holds a degree in Economics and Accountancy from Ukraine.
Sally O’Brien
Sally O'Brien comes from New Zealand and has lived in Bulgaria for more two years. She began working as a volunteer for the Foundation and is now a member of the Board of Directors. Sally is a qualified lawyer and is married with two young children
Lindsay Saltsgiver
Lindsay Saltsgiver is the Cedar Foundation's project manager and focuses her work on the deinstitutionalization plan for the home in Gorna Koznitza. She holds degrees in secondary education and history from
Lincoln Frager
Lincoln Frager works primarily in marketing and fundraising for The Cedar Foundation. Originally from Colorado in the USA, he has been living in Bulgaria since April, 2005. Lincoln has degrees in both journalism and history from the University of Colorado and has significant volunteer work experience.
Toni Stoykova
Toni Stoykova is in has a degree in International Relations from Sofia University "Saint Kliment Ohridski". Originally from Bourgas, a lovely sea town in Bulgaria, she came to Sofia to study and started working for Cedar in the spring of 2008. She is the administrative assistant in the Foundation's office in Sofia and is interested in the social services and languages.
Zheni Petrova
Zheni Petrova is an International Relations graduate and was at first involved with the Cedar Foundation as a volunteer. She is very interested in psychology and works mostly on the execution of the Gorna Koznitsa Project. Together with this she assists in all aspects of the organization of the Cedar Foundation work. As a young Bulgarian she wants to see beneficial changes happening in her home country.
Volunteers
The heart and soul of The Cedar Foundation is its volunteers. These are young people who dedicate their time and their emotional energy in working, playing and engaging with children whether at the Maglizh orphanage/school, the disabled club, or at the St. Maria Luiza hospital/orphanage in Buzovgrad. They ensure that every child that they come across knows that someone sees them and cares for them enough to spend quality and fun-filled time with them. These volunteers are a clear example of how The Cedar Foundation facilitates and enables the people of Bulgaria to meet the needs of their own communities.