get to know us at pro deo

Our MIssion

To create pathways for children and youth to flourish

OUR VISION

To close the opportunity gap for under served students by helping them discover their place, passion, and purpose through hard work, business, entrepreneurial training, and mentoring.

OUR VALUES

Pro Deo Foundation operates with a set of core values that influence and drive everything we do. Our core values are:

Christian- At its heart, Pro Deo is founded on Christian principles and lived out by faith of its board and staff.

Collaborative- No one is on their own. We are better together. These statements can become cliches, but that doesn’t mean they are not true. At Pro Deo, we desire to work alongside others who share our same focus.

Entrepreneurial- We don’t want to be stuck with one way of thinking. We value an entrepreneurial spirit that is willing to take chances, do new things, and innovate.

Intergenerational- We want our programs to cross generations. Children and youth need adults of all ages in their lives. Our fellow adult volunteers also benefit from knowing and serving our students.

Humility- We know we don’t have all the answers. Every person we meet offers a chance to learn something new, and without approaching each idea, program, relationship, and interaction with humility, we risk missing valuable opportunities for growth.

OUR BEGINNINGS

In 2002, the founders of Pro Deo Foundation, Henry and Karen Pritchett, formed the Pritchett Foundation with the proceeds of the sale of one of their investment real estate holdings. With gratitude, this foundation was formed with a mission to address the needs of children at risk. The focus was primarily concerned with the needs of poor, destitute and orphaned children through organizations providing a holistic care model, including food, shelter, and education.

From 2012-2018, the founder’s philanthropic interests were primarily overseas. In more recent years, they became aware of a sense of call to also address the needs of children at risk at the local level through programs and partnerships in Southern California. This sense of call led to the formation of the Pro Deo Foundation in 2018. The founders formed this Foundation as an operating foundation to actively participate in the work of helping underserved children locally. In this way, the founders and staff of Pro Deo seek to grow personally and desire to come alongside others to lead productive successful lives.

MEET OUR FOUNDERS

Henry & Karen Pritchett

Henry and Karen Pritchett were married in Wheaton, Illinois in 1976. Shortly thereafter, they decided to pull up roots and move to Southern California. Henry wanted to get into commercial real estate and California gave him the opportunity to realize his goals. Henry launched a successful real estate career with Karen as a very productive partner in the business. In 1979, they welcomed their son Christopher to the family who turned out to be their greatest joy and blessing. Karen and Henry continued to work hard in their business as they began developing self-storage properties. They have been continually blessed and their business which allowed them to fulfill their real desire of sharing what they have received.

Meet the Team

  • kasey@prodeofoundaton.org

    Kasey Myers

    Orange County Director

  • Micah Vernola

    Program Assistant - Orange County

  • Meghan Brennan

    Marketing Assistant- Orange County

MEET OUR BOARD

Founder

Henry Pritchett

Karen Pritchett

Founder

JESSE LUND

Board Chairman

CHRIS PRITCHETT

CEO Emeritus & Board Member

BARB EDMONDS

Board Member

Henry Pritchett has long sensed God’s blessing on his life and fortunes. Having grown up in faith, wandered, and returned to deeper faith, Henry earned a Masters’ Degree in Theology from Fuller Seminary. As a couple, Henry and Karen experience a passion for helping children in difficulties to find their way into flourishing lives. That passion led them to work abroad, where funds from America can have a significant impact. Recently, as needs in America continue to grow, they have felt led to use their resources and gifts closer to home, to help children and youth locally. Personally, Henry is a successful real estate developer, who embraces risk-taking in ministry and relationships, enjoys learning, writes poetry, skis, and hikes frequently with Karen, and plays marginal golf. The most important and satisfying things in his life are family, friendship, spiritual growth, and helping others.

Karen Pritchett was born into a family of 6, 3 boys and one girl (me). Her mother was an orphan and early on Karen developed a passion for helping children who are at risk, orphans and fosters. Karen and Henry have supported many children and orphans in Africa. At some point they realized that there is a great need in the USA to help children who are homeless and those who are living in poor conditions. They operate Pro Deo Foundation in Orange County, California and support kids by doing after school entrepreneurial programs. They have an active Board who work to prosper their ministry according to God’s will and grace.

Chris’ passion and life commitment come from a simple opening line of a Mary Oliver poem: My work is loving the world. A native of Southern California, Chris experienced both the joys and thrills of a playful childhood, and the ongoing redemption of Christ in every aspect of his life. Trained as a Presbyterian Pastor (PCUSA), Chris has served churches in Southern California and Washington, most recently as senior pastor of John Knox Presbyterian Church in Seattle. He is currently serving as senior pastor of Moutn Olympus Presbyterian Church and serving on the board of the Henri Nouwen Society. Chris holds degrees from Westmont College, Fuller and Princeton Seminaries and is currently working on his doctorate in global leadership from Portland Seminary. He is interested in social entrepreneurship and innovation, as well as the practice of institutional leadership as a necessary vehicle for the transformation of lives and the common good of society. Chris met his wife, Devon, at Westmont, and together they enjoy an active lifestyle with their three children, Hannah, Abby, and Lucas. They currently live in Salt Lake City UT. His other pursuits include driving to soccer fields, surfing, hiking, traveling, contemplative practice, enjoying a local craft IPA, making cold-processed artisan soap.

Rev. Jesse Lund is Minister in the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) and a retired corporate executive with Wells Fargo and IBM. He has extensive business management experience and an entrepreneurial background. He is passionate about mentoring the next generation of leaders and working with organizations that seek to provide real help and hope for the hurting, marginalized, and underprivileged.

Barb Edmonds is a CPA and founder of Edmonds & Edmonds LLP in Newport Beach, CA.  She started her career at Price Waterhouse in Chicago and Los Angeles.  She is an active member of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach and loves singing in the choir.  Barb, along with her husband Bob, enjoy spending time with their extended family and spoiling their grandchildren at every opportunity.