Staff & Board of Directors
The following names and faces are the people who make things happen, either behind the scenes or out in the spotlight. We are a mixture of corporate executives, prosthetists, managers, amputees, housewives, and accountants, but one thing unites us all…we are all driven towards the same purpose: to help restore the life of an amputee. We have a very active board and would never be the same without their contributions both in service and monetary donations.
Helping amputees is not just a good cause, it hits close to home. Our Executive Director, Craig Gavras, and board member Doug Brooks, are both above-knee amputees.
| STAFF | |
Craig Gavras
Executive Director
|
Seeing the necessity to help amputees in need, Craig Gabras co-founded the Limbs for Life Foundation in 1995. Limbs for Life purchases limbs for individuals who are unable to afford them and provides a nation-wide network of physical and occupational therapist for amputees in need. The Foundation also operates a worldwide limb bank, which collects and distributes used prostheses for use in developing countries. Two of the worldwide clinics the Foundation supports with prosthetic componentry include Lima, Peru, and Diyarbakir, Turkey. As part of his service to the amputee community, Craig gives motivational and educational speeches to corporations, colleges, churches, and schools both domestically and internationally. Because of his humanitarian efforts, he was recently awarded an honorary Doctorate degree in prosthetics from Dicle University in Diyarbakir, Turkey. To date the Foundation has assisted over 10,000 amputees since it was founded in 1995. Craig is married and the father of 3 children. |
|
|
|
|
Quint Anderson Office Administrator |
Quint Anderson, Limbs for Life's Office Administrator, grew up in Edmond, Oklahoma and graduated from Oklahoma State University in 2006. With a Degree in General Business, Marketing and Management he moved back to Oklahoma City to continue his career in preforming arts. Wanting to share his love of music and people, Quint developed a concert series called "Rock the Body". The event took place in the spring of 2007 with the purpose of connecting local bands and Limbs for Life. Using the shows as a way to raise money and awareness for the foundation, the event resulted in an exciting weekend for the first annual concert series. Motivated to stay involved, Quint began working for Limbs for Life in May 2007. As a professional bass player he spends over 180 days a year on the road playing music. He enjoys sharing life with people in his home of Oklahoma City, traveling, songwriting, and playing paintball with his team. |
|
|
|
|
Ryan McGhee |
Ryan McGhee, Limbs for Life's Public Relations Director, joined the foundation in December 2007 after spending six years in baseball media relations. He was a media relations staff assistant for the Texas Rangers in 2007. He spent the previous five years with the Oklahoma RedHawks, including the final three as their baseball media relations contact. Ryan was raised in Edmond, Okla., and graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 2006. He enjoys travel, golf and following Virginia Tech Hokie athletics. |
|
|
|
Pam Timmons
Director of Development
|
Pam joined Limbs for Life Foundation in March 2010 and oversees its fundraising activities, including major gifts, planned giving, endowment, grant writing, direct mail and capital expansion. Prior to joining Limbs for Life Foundation, she was responsible for development operations at Ally’s House, Infant Crisis Services, Inc. (ICS), Hearts for Hearing Foundation and NBA Oklahoma Christian Retirement Community (now know as Bradford Village). The highlight of her career was being a recipient of a grant from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation totaling $4.9 million to construct a new facility for ICS and a matching $1 million for a building reserve account. She comes with over 20 years of fundraising experience. Pam is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, First Christian Church of Edmond, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), American Morgan Horse Association, Sooner State Morgan Horse Association, and Morgans-N-More Riding Club. She has served on the boards for the Association of Fundraising Professionals and Edmond Historical Society. Pam attended University of Central Oklahoma and served on committees for Arts Connect for the City of Edmond, Oklahoma Planned Giving Council and numerous community volunteer activities. Pam is married to John with two sons, Corey and Andy, two daughter-in-laws, Brittany and Tanya, a grandson, Asher and a granddaughter, Shaelyn. |
| BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
|
|
|
Jerry Isbell became involved with the foundation several years ago after Executive Director, Craig Gavras traveled 500 miles round trip to counsel his close friend and amputee who was injured in a car wreck. Craig's gesture had an indelible impact on Jerry. "Craig's compassion and desire to help others caused me to look at my life and realize I wanted to put forth more effort to support this extraordinary cause. It's an honor to be a member of the board of directors and Craig Gavras has not only become one of my best friends, but a hero for what he's overcome, how he lives his life and the way he cares for others. We have lofty goals at Limbs For Life, all geared toward reaching out to those who need prosthetics across the globe." Jerry is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma and has nearly 20 years experience in corporate sales and marketing. He and his wife Sherri own www.BeaversBendVacations.com, a luxury vacation rental operation near Beavers Bend State Park and Broken Bow Lake in Southeastern Oklahoma . |
|
|
|
|
|
John has been on the board of directors for the past five years and is serving his first as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors. John’s friendship with Craig Gavras introduced the challenges of the foundation and instantly wanted to be part of the organization. With the help of the board of director’s, he hopes to grow the foundation internationally to help people around the world that need the physical and spiritual benefits of a prosthetic limb. John currently serves as the Executive Director of the Oklahoma RedHawks, the Triple-A professional baseball team of the Texas Rangers. He has worked with the franchise since 1995 and was named the Pacific Coast League Executive of the Year in 2005 and Top 40 under 40 Business person in the state of Oklahoma that same year. He is an adjunct professor in the Price School of Business at the University of Oklahoma and also serves as President of the Bricktown Association in downtown Oklahoma City. John is in his first year on the board of directors for United Way. |
|
|
|
 Doug Brooks
|
My involvement with the Limbs for Life Foundation was a result of losing my left leg above the knee in a jogging accident in Plano, Texas in July of 1998. After my amputation, and during my recovery from the injuries, I got a phone call from Craig Gavras wanting to meet me. Craig had heard about my accident and was reaching out to see how I was doing coping with the reality of losing a limb. At first I wasn’t excited about talking with a complete stranger about my very personal situation. Being a “guy” I wasn’t comfortable acting like I need help, when the reality of the situation was that I was going through a very tough time getting used to the idea of living the rest of my life with only one leg. Craig and I talked on the phone and I reluctantly agreed to meet him at my office the next week. Craig drove over 200 miles from Oklahoma City to Dallas for the appointment. It was so amazing that the moment he walked into my office with his above knee prosthesis showing under his shorts I felt a comfort talking with him. There had been so many questions and so much confusion in my life for the previous couple of months. I wasn’t sure how to do so many little things and more importantly, I wasn’t sure what limitations were going to be put on my life in the future. Craig not only had all of the answers to the current questions, he was so optimistic about my future. He filled me with confidence and hope about what my life could be life, even missing one leg. It was at that moment that I realized how much help an amputee can provide for others. Craig’s experience was invaluable to me and I knew that I could serve that role for others in the future. Also, I was blessed with a good job and lots of supportive family and friends who could also help. In later conversations Craig asked my wife Holly and I to join the Limbs for Life Board of Directors. Craig had met Holly and found out what a big role she played in my recovery and my positive state of mind after my amputation. Craig wanted to make sure that the Board representation included someone who understood the impact that an amputation has on the family of an amputee. Holly and I have really enjoyed our time on the Limbs for Life Board of Directors. We have been able to help the Foundation raise money to benefit hundreds of amputees and we have been able to raise awareness about the plight of amputees without a prosthesis. Over the last 8 years we’ve participated in bike rides, golf tournaments, 5K runs and many other events to support the mission of the Foundation. I’ve also been able to either talk on the phone or meet amputees like myself who are looking for answers like I was when Craig came to my office. I feel good that I’ve helped them get ready for a new life as an amputee armed with new information about the present, but also hopeful about their future. The most exciting project that Holly and I have been involved in is our Annual Benefit and Fundraiser in Dallas. This year will mark our 6th event and we are very excited about “Limb-A-Go-Go” to be held on February 24th. The themed event will take you back to the 60’s and 70’s with bell bottoms, Go-Go boots and all of the music of that day. More importantly, our goal that night is to raise enough money to help 200 amputees. Holly and I have been very fortunate to have some great family members and friends who have helped us with the benefit over the years. From the moment I became an amputee our “friends” have taken an incredible interest in helping the amputee community. Thanks to all of them and to the Limbs for Life Foundation. |
|
|
|
 Holly Brooks
|
|
|
|
|
 David Johnson, CPA
|
|
|
|
|
 Denielle Taylor
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amy Gallegos
|
I earned my bachelor’s degree in Community Health from the University of Central Oklahoma in 1997. I attended graduate school in 1998 where I obtained a Master’s degree in gerontology. My love of prosthetics began through an internship I had at NovaCare Sabolich. I knew instantly that helping amputees was where my heart was. In 1999 I completed prosthetics school at Northwestern University in Chicago and received my certification in 2000. After school I returned to Oklahoma City to work at Scott Sabolich Prosthetics and Research Center. Through my work at SSPRC I had the opportunity to work with people from across the United States and around the world. I also had the privilege of working with many Limbs for Life recipients. At that time my eyes were opened to the actual impact that Limbs for Life has on not only the amputee’s life but also their family’s lives. After starting a family in 2001 and making the decision to stay at home with my kids, I was asked to join the board at Limbs for Life. I can now bring my love of amputees and my knowledge in the field of prosthetics together to continue to help change the lives of amputees around the world. We have an amazing board of people with all different backgrounds which makes us very unique. The events we host all over the country are the result of a lot of people who truly want to make a difference in an amputee’s life. I have loved being a part of the board for the past 7 years. I have met many amazing people and have heard stories that have forever changed my life. The friendships I have made and experiences I have had with Limbs for Life are absolutely incredible. |
|
|
|
|
Joe Carter
|
|
| FOUNDING AND EMERITUS MEMBER | |
 John Sabolich
|
|
