BOARD OF DIRECTORS
A dedicated group of volunteers committed to the mission of building a better world through education. Board members meet on the second Wednesday of the month,
John Grillot - Board President
John is a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Washington, Illinois, who has served for nearly 30
years in various ministries within the parish (Parish Trustee, Finance Council, etc.). John graduated
with a B.S. degree in Engineering from Iowa State University in 1975 and earned an MBA degree from
Bradley University in 1994. John worked at Caterpillar Inc. in various technical and managerial roles for
40 years, retiring in 2012. Throughout his career and retirement, John has traveled extensively all over
the world (including to Uganda). Since his retirement, he has increased his involvement in a number of
volunteer roles within the community, the Church, and the Secular Franciscan Order.
Contact him by phone at: (309) 696-4846 or
email: grilljw@gmail.com
Kay has been a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Washington, Illinois since childhood. Kay
graduated with a B.S. degree in Manufacturing Technology from the University of Illinois and an M.S.
degree in Industrial Operations/Engineering in 1988 from Bradley University, also receiving her private
pilots license in 1980. Following a 32-year career at Caterpillar Inc. in various technical and managerial
roles, traveling the world for Caterpillar and living in the UK for two years, she retired in 2006. During
her retirement, Kay has been active in a number of volunteer roles within the community, the Church
and is also a member of the Board of Directors for the Model A Ford Club of America in California.
Kay Christine Lee - Board Treasurer
Dr. Heather McTaggart - Fundraising Co-Chair
Heather McTaggart graduated with a B.S. in Biology and Chemistry from Illinois State University in
1995. She then went to Purdue University Veterinary School where she graduated with her Doctor of
Veterinary Medicine in 1999. She grew up Methodist but became Catholic in 2006 after the birth of her
second child. Heather’s family have been members at St. Patrick’s Parish since moving to Washington
in 2002. She opened her own business, 4 PAWS Animal Clinic, in June 2004. She was President of the
Washington Chamber of Commerce in 2008.
Fr. Julius Turyatoranwa- Founder
He holds a BA in Philosophy (1994), BA in Theology (1998), a Masters Degree in Educational Administration
from Illinois State University (2010), and is due to complete Doctoral Studies (PhD) in Educational
Administration at Illinois State University in the fall of 2017. He currently serves as the Parochial Vicar
(Assistant Pastor) at St. Patrick Parish in Washington, Illinois in the diocese of Peoria.
Fr. Julius developed the vision at the center of this school project when he was challenged to reach out
beyond his family to help others. He believes that such a school will help to break the generational cycle of
poverty and tap into the potential of these children as future innovators and inventors.
Contact him through email: jturya@gmail.com
John Redlingshafer - Board Vice President and Legal Consultant
John is a shareholder with Mescher Law Offices, in Washington. He graduated with a B.A. in
International Relations from Bradley University in 2001 and received his Juris Doctor from the DePaul
University College of Law in 2004. John handles both litigation and general consultation for units of
local government around the state, and also represents numerous corporate clients on formation,
regulatory, and asset-related transactions. John has served as an elected representative on the
Tazewell County Board since 2013.
Christine Venzon - Board Secretary, Communications Lead
Chris has been a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Washington since she and her husband
moved to Washington, Illinois 38 years ago. She earned an Associate Degree in Graphic Design while
co-raising their three children. Chris has continuously served in a number of ministries within her
parish (Board of Education, Parish Council, Children’s Choir director, Adult Choir
member/accompanist/director, Extraordinary Minister of Communion) and is the chairperson of St.
Patrick’s charitable outreach committee. Chris has volunteered with a number of community groups
over the years, among them the American Cancer Society (city volunteer coordinator), Girl Scouts,
Teens Encounter Christ (musician, weekend leader, Board member), and the Christ Child Society of
Central Illinois. She and her husband enjoy splitting their time between their ministries (his as an
ordained deacon) and their twelve grandchildren’s activities.
Adolph (Arnie) Arnold - Director and Fundraier Co-Chair
Arnie is a member of St. Monica Church in East Peoria, and a member of Monsignor E.L. Grzbowski
Knights of Columbus Council #7580. He grew up in Central Illinois and retired from Caterpillar, Inc.
after 30 years of service. He spends his spare time with his children, their spouses, and his three
grandchildren. Arnie has supported several local charities by conducting various fundraisers over the
years. They include the Sisters of St. Francis of the Immaculate Conception, Sacred Heart Cemetery,
the Nativity display at the Festival of Lights in East Peoria, and the Knights of Columbus. He has
organized several fundraisers for BHIK-U, including Peoria Chiefs games, a bus trip to a Cubs-Cardinals
game, and a wine-tasting/auction and will gladly continue putting his fundraising experience to work
for BHIK-U,
STAY CONNECTED
Address
Email
BHIK-U
P.O. Box 612
Washington, IL USA 61571
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
A dedicated group of volunteers committed to the mission of building a better world through education. Board members meet on the second Wednesday of the month.
He holds a BA Philosophy (1994), BA in Theology (1998), a Masters
Degree in Educational Administration from Illinois State University
(2010), and is due to complete Doctoral Studies (PhD) in
Educational Administration at Illinois State University in the fall of
2017. He currently serves as the Parochial Vicar (Assistant Pastor)
at St. Patrick Parish in Washington, Illinois in the diocese of Peoria.
Fr. Julius developed the vision at the center of this school project
when he was challenged to reach out beyond his family to help
others. He believes that such a school will help to break the
generational cycle of poverty and tap into the potential of these
children as future innovators and inventors.
Contact him through email: jturya@gmail.com
Julius Turyatoranwa - Founder
Fr. Julius is a Roman Catholic Priest of
the diocese of Kabale in Uganda since
his ordination in 1998. He served as
Assistant Pastor, Pastor, and Vicar
General of his diocese in Kabale before
coming to the United States for
Graduate Studies in November 2007.
John graduated with a B.S. degree in Engineering from Iowa State
University in 1975 and earned an MBA degree from Bradley
University in 1994. John worked at Caterpillar Inc. in various
technical and managerial roles for 40 years, retiring in 2012.
Throughout his career and retirement, John has traveled
extensively all over the world (including to Uganda). Since his
retirement, he has increased his involvement in a number of
volunteer roles within the community, the Church, and the Secular
Franciscan Order.
Contact him through email: grilljw@gmail.com
phone: (309) 696-4846
John Grillot - Board President
John is a member of St. Patrick
Catholic Church in Washington,
Illinois, who has served for nearly 30
years in various ministries within the
parish (Parish Trustee, Finance
Council, etc.).
Kay Christine Lee - Board
Treasurer
Kay has been a member of St. Patrick
Catholic Church in Washington, Illinois
since childhood. Kay graduated with a B.S.
degree in Manufacturing Technology from
the University of Illinois and an M.S. degree
Christine Venzon - Board
Secretary, Communications Lead
Chris has been a member of St. Patrick
Catholic Church in Washington since she
and her husband moved to Washington,
Illinois 38 years ago. She earned an
Associate Degree in Graphic Design while
Dr. Heather McTaggart - Fundraiser
Co-Chair
Heather McTaggart graduated with a B.S. in
Biology and Chemistry from Illinois State
University in 1995. She then went to Purdue
University Veterinary School where she
graduated with her Doctor of Veterinary
Medicine in 1999. She grew up Methodist
NAVIGATION
SOCIAL
in Industrial Operations/Engineering in 1988 from Bradley
University, also receiving her private pilots license in 1980.
Following a 32-year career at Caterpillar Inc. in various technical
and managerial roles, traveling the world for Caterpillar and living
in the UK for two years, she retired in 2006. During her retirement,
Kay has been active in a number of volunteer roles within the
community, the Church and is also a member of the Board of
Directors for the Model A Ford Club of America in California.
but became Catholic in 2006 after the birth of her second child.
Heather’s family have been members at St. Patrick’s Parish since
moving to Washington in 2002. She opened her own business, 4
PAWS Animal Clinic, in June 2004. She was President of the
Washington Chamber of Commerce in 2008.
Contact her through email: petmd99@hotmail.com
John Redlingshafer - Legal
Consultant
John is a shareholder with Mescher Law
Offices, in Washington. He graduated
with a B.A. in International Relations from
Bradley University in 2001 and received
Adolph (Arnie) Arnold - Director and Fundraiser
Co-Chair
Arnie is a member of St. Monica Church in East Peoria, and a
member of Monsignor E.L. Grzbowski Knights of Columbus Council
#7580. He grew up in Central Illinois and retired from Caterpillar,
Inc. after 30 years of service. He spends his spare time with his
children, their spouses, and his three grandchildren. Arnie has
supported several local charities by conducting various fundraisers
over the years. They include the Sisters of St. Francis of the
Immaculate Conception, Sacred Heart Cemetery, the Nativity
display at the Festival of Lights in East Peoria, and the Knights of
Columbus. He has organized several fundraisers for BHIK-U,
including Peoria Chiefs games, a bus trip to a Cubs-Cardinals
game, and a wine-tasting/auction and will gladly continue putting
his fundraising experience to work for BHIK-U,
his Juris Doctor from the DePaul University College of Law in 2004.
John handles both litigation and general consultation for units of
local government around the state, and also represents numerous
corporate clients on formation, regulatory, and asset-related
transactions. John has served as an elected representative on the
Tazewell County Board since 2013.
co-raising their three children. Chris has continuously served in a
number of ministries within her parish (Board of Education, Parish
Council, Children’s Choir director, Adult Choir
member/accompanist/director, Extraordinary Minister of
Communion) and is the chairperson of St. Patrick’s charitable
outreach committee. Chris has volunteered with a number of
community groups over the years, among them the American Cancer
Society (city volunteer coordinator), Girl Scouts, Teens Encounter
Christ (musician, weekend leader, Board member), and the Christ
Child Society of Central Illinois. She and her husband enjoy splitting
their time between their ministries (his as an ordained deacon) and
their twelve grandchildren’s activities.
STAY CONNECTED
Address
Email
BHIK-U
P.O. Box 612
Washington, IL USA 61571
STAY CONNECTED
