About IMA

History

IMA’s Medical Outreach (1983-1992)

In 1983, a young Newport Beach mother of two, Tina Sechrist Randy, was watching a documentary about birthing practices in Africa. Her heart was moved as she compared her Westernized birth experiences to that of African mothers, who were dying of preventable diseases and infections during childbirth. Equipped with a determined heart and a basic knowledge of Lamaze and instrument sterilization procedures, Tina—along with her sister Sheri Ciotti and friend Mary Ann Heaps—planned a trip to Nigeria.

Later that year, IMA’s first operation outside of the United States, a birthing clinic, was established in Abak, Cross Rivers State, Nigeria. In 1983, a medical outreach program was initiated in India. Both efforts served to reduce the number of needless deaths and improve health care among women in those regions.

IMA’s School in Guatemala (1993-present)

After devoting nine years to the Nigerian project, and feeling a new tug on their hearts for the war-torn country of Guatemala, the founders of IMA handed over the birthing clinic operations to the people of Abak. Mary Anne Heaps left behind family and friends to prepare the way for the next IMA project, learning the culture, language and geography of the organization’s next place of focus, Guatemala City.

Mary Anne discovered that while Guatemalans had access to basic health care, only the very wealthy were receiving a proper education. She was also shocked to learn that while giving up a son to an orphanage was considered an act of mercy, daughters were kept home and expected to generate income through begging, child labor or prostitution. In accordance with IMA’s mission to help females wherever their programs existed, it was clear to the founders that their next project needed to be a school for girls that could help break this cycle of poverty and exploitation. IMA began educating impoverished girls in Guatemala in 1993 and added a grade each year until a full elementary school was established in 1999.

IMA partners with a Guatemalan family

When the original founders of IMA made the decision to move their ministry to Guatemala, unbeknownst to them, another story had been forming that would forever change the history of the organization. A Guatemalan woman named Haydee Del Cid Abel, who had recently moved to California, was searching for ways to give back to the country in which she was born. As part of this search, she had contacted the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala to see about securing medical donations from the United States. Shortly after this, IMA had also contacted the Embassy with questions about the need for charity work in Guatemala. The Embassy, seeing that IMA, International Medical Assistance, Inc., was looking for opportunities to provide medical care in the country, put them in touch with Haydee. This contact would open a new chapter in IMA’s story that would be driven by the life, leadership and influence of Haydee Abel and her Guatemalan family.

Haydee, her four sisters and older brother had grown up in one of the roughest, most violent neighborhoods in Guatemala city, an area called Zone Six. Guatemala City, as with many cities in Guatemala, is divided up into Zones, similar to American Burroughs or Parishes. Zone Six, then as it is now, was notoriously dangerous. Her father and mother, however, were devoted to God. And they believed in family and education. Despite the violence around them, their single-room home was filled with love and high expectations. Their mother understood that education was going to change the course of their futures.

Haydee was driven, smart and strategic. From the age of seven she had been buying and selling produce to make money all on her own. She learned the value of hard work and how to hustle. She also learned how to run a business. This entrepreneurial drive continued into her time in college where at the same time she was studying engineering she was also buying and selling real estate. These years of experience she had taught Haydee how to make money and by the time she reached out to the U.S. Embassy she was looking for ways to give back.

Haydee and the founders of IMA made an immediate connection. In addition to the shared vision of empowering women and educating girls, both parties were also committed to serving in Guatemala. In the first year of operations for IMA in Guatemala, IMA sponsored a class of kindergarten girls to go to school in zone one of Guatemala City. After that first year Haydee suggested starting their own school using her family’s original home in Zone Six where there was a huge need for education, especially for girls. IMA followed Haydee’s recommendation and at the same time hired Haydee’s sister, Cesiah Del Cid Barrera, who would later become the organization’s executive director in Guatemala and administrative lead for the newly-founded school. A few years later, IMA brought on another of Haydee’s sisters, Bessie Del Cid Contreras, to join the leadership at the school and serve in many capacities as needs arose.

Haydee’s leadership and vision led to IMA expanding its programs through the sixth grade. They also started an adult school for the mothers of the girls when they saw there was a need for their own education. When the school began to outgrow its Zone Six location, Haydee funded and built a beautiful new campus on a hill outside the city to make room for more classes and to provide a place for the students to exercise, play and grow food. With this new facility, she was able to partner with another private Guatemalan Christian school to share expenses and resources.

IMA has been tightly integrated with Haydee’s family, the Del Cid family, during its entire time in Guatemala. IMA’s history wouldn’t be complete without their stories, commitment and sacrifice. Besides Haydee, Cesiah and Bessie, many Del Cid family members have worked, volunteered and cheered on this vision that Haydee championed.

Volunteer Staff

Jamie Randy

Jamie Randy

IMA President

Jamie took her first volunteer trip to Guatemala in 2003 and fell in love with the mission of IMA. She began volunteering with IMA and joined the board of directors specifically to grow IMA’s educational philosophy and teaching practices. She stepped into the role of president of IMA in 2010. She is an educator and mother of four little girls which helps fuel her passion to help the girls at IMA. Jamie is an advocate for girls’ rights, social justice and education. She leads IMA’s team in the U.S., with her husband, Jason Randy, and dedicated volunteer staff.
Pam Capone

Pam Capone

Sponsorship Coordinator

Pam is a long time supporter of IMA’s work in Guatemala. She was first introduced to IMA through co-founder, Tina Randy, and took her first trip to the school in 2008, promptly falling in love. She then stepped into the role as sponsorship coordinator and matches students with sponsors.  Pam is an intricate part of IMA’s communication between sponsors, donors, and the work in Guatemala. She is the author of three books, the backbone of our email blasts and contributes to social media updates. She takes annual trips to the school, in which she updates all student information and distributes profiles, photos, videos and student work to sponsors throughout the year. Pam is a mother to two grown children, a grandma, an author, an actor, an avid mountain biker and a passionate advocate for IMA.
Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee

Volunteer and Trips Coordinator / Board Member

Sandy and her family were first introduced to IMA through a short term missions trip with Jamie and Jason Randy. At the time, her two young children were oohed and awed over by the IMA girls. Now her two pre-teen children are also getting involved with IMA. Hudson has volunteered on three trips and Sayanna has helped with the newsletter, led fundraising projects, in addition to volunteering on a number of trips.

Sandy joined the board of directors and then stepped into the needed role of missions trip coordinator. She has led and participated in many trips to the school and has bridged a relationship with Mosaic in Los Angeles. Sandy is a pediatrician who offers a health perspective to the board in making decisions for the school. Sandy is passionate about serving others, specifically in times of great need, and has traveled to different parts of the world for disaster relief. She has involved her kids in this passion through authoring children’s books of her experiences and aiding them in finding their own ways to serve others.

John Capone

John Capone

Technology Director / Board Member

John was introduced to IMA through co-founder Tina Randy and his wife, Pam Capone’s, enthusiasm. He joined the board of directors in 2009 in order to offer business insight and advice to the organization. He then began volunteering as IMA’s technology director in 2010 in order to support IMA’s student database and has since taken on many of website and scheduling responsibilities. John is the father to two adult children. His relationship with his daughter is what prompted him to invest in IMA’s mission to provide a better life to young girls living in poverty. John loves to travel and surf and has been integral in helping IMA form professional fundraising relationships.
Jason Randy

Jason Randy

Business Manager / Board Member - Chairman of the Board

Jason’s first trip to Guatemala was a gift given to him by his aunt, co-founder Tina Randy. He was 19 years old and excited to travel. Little did he know, this trip promising fun and adventure would change the course of his life. Jason shortly took a follow-up trip and began leading teams to the school to volunteer. He joined the board of directors and then moved into the role as business manager. Jason is a father of four little girls and works in the Silicon Valley as an engineer at Tesla. He is passionate about education, music, and growing in community.
Michelle Lepak

Michelle Lepak

Board Member

Michelle was introduced to IMA by co-worker, Jamie Randy. Her husband joined a volunteer trip soon after and both have been committed to IMA’s mission since. Michelle joined the board of directors in 2012. Michelle is a school psychologist and educator who provides educational expertise to the board of directors. She has provided important feedback to the board regarding educational practices, organization, and structure in schools. Michelle is a mother of both a young and grown daughter and a new grandmother. She is passionate about education and IMA’s mission in Guatemala.
In addition to our directors and board members, IMA is grateful for the committed and passionate volunteers who keep IMA running in various capacities: Sue Clineff, Jessica Morrissey, Sandy Capone, Frank Ciotti, Lydia Knowles, Henry Ha, Suzanne Piskadlo, Kelsey Gooden, Jessie Yarborough, Jamie Albert, Roberta Schuller, and Omar Padilla.