Our Team.
Meet our LOVE Project operations team. They work together to make our annual trips possible. From transporting supplies and donations to Ecuador, to recruiting volunteers and arranging trip itineraries, they make it all possible.
Myrna Fernelius
President
Born and raised in Guayaquil, Ecuador, Myrna resides in Bountiful, Utah, a proud mother of 5 children, 3 boys and 2 girls, who have gifted her with 11 grandchildren and expecting the birth of her 12th grandchild! Myrna has been a Court Interpreter for the past several years. Her husband Cary works in the computer field.
Myrna started this labor of love back in 1999 and has been involved in this project since that time. She has had the great opportunity to meet many wonderful people with big hearts who have helped her to collect many various items to help the children in her home country. She is immensely grateful to these people, as well as everyone else who has contributed in different ways to make this project a reality.
She says "I love children and want to do something for them, especially those in need, such as the ones I see in the rural areas back home, this gives me great satisfaction and a loving and warm feeling in my heart"
Jenny Varas
Vice-President
Jenny is the eldest of the Villamar Lozano sisters, and is an integral part of the yearly project in Ecuador. She lives in Texas, has three children and 4 grandchildren. Along with her sister Ely, both retired employees of Continental Airlines, Jenny is responsible for transporting donations from the U.S. to Ecuador throughout the year. These donations are securely stored in their hometown Guayaquil, where they are kept for volunteers to then sort through and prepare packages for the impoverished areas of Ecuador.
She expresses appreciation for the chance to serve in conjunction with the rest of her sisters, daughters, son, and the many volunteers that have helped embrace this project over the last many years. For Jenny, it has always been a blessing and a terrific opportunity to be able to give back to the children of her native country. She is committed to continuing on with this great work and give a little bit of happiness to the ones in great need.
Dr. Maritza Villamar
Dental Supervisor
The 4th of the Villamar sisters, Maritza, is a dentist. After her childhood in Ecuador, she relocated to NYC, where she received her dental degree from New York University. After many successful years of practice in NYC, where she spent most of her adult life, she has now relocated to Texas.
Despite Maritza’s achievements, she has not forgotten what her mother taught her about selflessness. Charity is the main motivation for Maritza’s life, and something she practices daily. She is highly committed to the outreach program, exclaiming: “It fills my heart with love and gratitude for the rest of the year!”
Maritza looks forward to every November because it is like a working family reunion, where she gets to enjoy family and friends not regularly seen. According to Maritza, this occasion is a blessed one. She urges others to help continue this labor of love.
Elizabeth Villamar
Donation Coordinator
Elizabeth, second to the eldest of the Villamar Lozano sisters, is a retired employee of Continental Airlines. Elizabeth exhibits a very caring, compassionate, and loving nature toward others, and will do anything to help those with whom she comes in contact. She acknowledges what an immense privilege it is to be part of L.O.V.E. and to aid thousands of children living in poverty throughout her home country of Ecuador. She is extremely grateful to her loving parents for setting an example of kindness, compassion, and "to love, care, and help anyone around you".
Khealynn Harris
Dental Director
Khealynn lives in Hawaii with her husband Danny and their three children. Danny and Khealynn have been married for fourteen years. Her husband is a great supporter of Khealynn and her family with this humanitarian project.
Khealynn graduated from BYU with a degree in Physiology and Developmental Biology. She is also a dental school graduate from Roseman University in Utah. She is so excited to be able to travel to Ecuador annually as a dentist to provide dental work for the underprivileged. Khealynn is the Dental Directory of L.O.V.E and has been traveling to Ecuador every year for the past 10 years. 7 years ago, Khealynn and her aunt Maritza started the first humanitarian dental project to Ecuador through the LOVE Project. They have been returning annually to provide dental treatment to those in need. She feels so blessed to be part of this humanitarian effort in the beautiful country that her family is from, and looks forward to the future growth of the LOVE project.
Glen Fernelius
Recruiting/Financial Director
Glen is the youngest son of Myrna Fernelius and has been involved with the LOVE Project for over 9 years. He resides in Arizona and is married and has two young sons. He helps ensure that the LOVE Project has the volunteers it needs and ensures that all donations made to the project are spent prudently.