Cynthia first visited Romania in 1993, seeking to understand her husband Hud’s visceral reaction to all that he saw and experienced on his first trip in 1992. 

As she likes to recall, “when he got off the plane in San Francisco in September 1992, one look at his face revealed to me that our life was about to change.” 

Since that time, Cynthia has visited dozens of times and embraced the joys and sorrows of working with special needs kids. Following the incorporation of Chi Rho as a nonprofit in the US, she and a good friend established the Child Sponsorship program, connecting each orphan with a family in the US. She organized Sponsorship trips as well as Youth Ministry trips to Romania in fostering these friendships. The personal, prayerful, and financial support of these relationships has been a blessing for all involved.

Cynthia has also led fundraising efforts for the House of New Life and represented Chi Rho at several church missions’ fairs and local service groups. 

She particularly enjoys supporting the “Mamas” who care for the children living in the House of New Life and in Foster Care. She currently serves as CEO of Chi Rho and Child Sponsorship Director and has been on the Chi Rho Board since 1997. 

Prior to her involvement with Chi Rho, Cynthia engaged in local philanthropic groups, women’s and youth ministries at her church, and her three school age daughters’ activities and sports. Now the proud grandmother of five, she and Hud live in Scottsdale, AZ and enjoy traveling to visit their families in Texas and Washington State.