Meet Our Team
SOBHI BOKTOR, PRESIDENT & CHAIRMAN
Sobhi Boktor, born and raised in Egypt, had a passion for serving others which started at a young age where he would serve in the church and go into the surrounding communities and serve those in the streets. He completed his studies and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting before moving to America in 1996. Throughout his life, he always has a passion for serving God, and that continued even when moving to the United States. Sobhi pursued his studies further in the US by getting a Masters in Accounting and Finance Management from DeVry University. Sobhi worked in an Alcoa as Accounting Manager and Siemens as a Senior Financial Analyst before starting his Accounting Firm in 2003. He met and married his wife Wesam in 2003. He took a Mission trip to Zambia in 2018 and after seeing the needs of the community he served in, Sobhi decided to start this non-profit organization to build schools and orphanages to take care of the needy. Sobhi and his wife Wesam have two beautiful children, Isaiah and Ivana who are now 16 and 14 years old.
RAWAN HANNA, VP & DIRECTOR OF MARKETING
Rawan Hanna was born June 1, 1981, to Iskander and Ensaf Hanna. She arrived from Egypt to the US in 1990 at the age of 9. Rawan had to learn English as she only knew French and Arabic. She later found a love for digital experience and marketing. After her B.A. degree, Rawan went to begin her career. Not before long, Rawan married Carlo Hanna and moved around to 4 different states before finally settling in Atlanta, GA, Rawan's original home. Rawan and Carlo have 2 girls together, Yasmeen (11) and Eva (7) that keep them quite busy. Although Rawan has worked for so many big companies, such as AT&T, Chico's FAS, and American Cancer Society, she felt like a huge part of her was still needing to be fulfilled...it was the need to serve others. That is when she learned about this charity and determined this was the place for her to grow and help others. Long ago she learned that in serving others, she is the one that is constantly learning and receiving happiness vs. the people in need.
MINA SHEHATA, TREASURER
Mina Shehata was born in Alexandria, Egypt, and immigrated to the United States at a young age. He was raised in South Carolina where, eventually, he graduated college at Clemson University. Mina subsequently acquired a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Duke University, and now applies his critical thinking skills to solving complex problems in gene therapy. Outside of science, Mina enjoys learning new skills, playing sports and video games, traveling, trying new foods, and volunteering at local community outreach events. His passion for outreach has led him to be involved in a variety of community service events ranging from performing chemistry demonstrations for children to cooking and serving dinner to the disadvantaged.
FR. ABRAHAM FAM, AFRICAN INITIATIVE DIRECTOR
Fr. Abraham Fam was born in 1976 in New Jersey to Egyptian parents that immigrated to the United States in search of a dream for a better life. He graduated from George Mason University with a Bachelor in Management Information Systems and landed a job as a consultant in a top firm of Accenture. However, he left that all behind to seek a higher calling and was ordained as a priest in 2007. He moved to Africa at the same time with his wife because they felt a call to serve the most vulnerable. They have now lived in Zambia for over 13 years with their two children. They have set up mission churches and schools for orphans and vulnerable children. By his parents immigrating to America from Egypt to give their children an opportunity, Fr. Abraham used that opportunity to give back with his life.
FR. NATHANIEL GUIRGUIS, AMERICAN INITIATIVE DIRECTOR
Fr. Nathanael Guirguis is native to Atlanta, a 2009 graduate from the University of Georgia who then moved to Washington, DC for dental school. While he worked as a dentist and for a local Orthodox church, Fr. Nathanael completed a 3-year Orthodox seminary program at the Antiochian House of Studies. Fr. Nathanael came back to his home city to give back to Atlanta and was ordained into the priesthood in 2017 to help plant St. Mark American Coptic Orthodox Church. From the dentist to priest, Fr. Nate loves to serve others and his city. Fr. Nathanael is a big music fan and an IT nerd at heart. He is married to Sarah and they have a 3-year-old named Ruth.
NANCY MINA, SECRETARY
Nancy Mina was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. Since Nancy was 16 years of age she started serving in the church as a Sunday School teacher and from there she expanded on different activities in the church until she led with 9 other churches a Christ-centered program emphasizing the talents and needs of kids within different ages groups at church. Nancy has 20+ years of experience with various church services – cleaning, organizing various activities and events in the church, and leading Sunday School classes. During the same time serving in the church, Nancy also studied and completed her education in Illinois at Robert Morris University graduating with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration with a focus on Health Care Management. Her heart for serving God and others continues to grow in her dedication to the church and community. Nancy Mina currently lives with her husband, Sameh, in Georgia.
MARINA BESHAY, DIRECTOR
Marina Beshay is an ADA Accommodation Specialist with six years of experience working alongside persons with various disabilities. As an Egyptian immigrant, she established her roots in South Carolina where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the University of South Carolina. She went on to pursue a Master of Science degree from Georgia State University in Rehabilitation Counseling. Her passion is serving others and giving back to the community by providing a wide range of resource to assist underprivileged areas. Aside from being an avid counselor, Marina enjoys being creative through cooking, baking, and interior design.
MINA YOUSSEF, DIRECTOR
Mina Youssef is a board member. He is a general dentist and has been a volunteer in his church for over ten years. He brings versatile experience and enthusiastic ministry to his role at Open Arms for Africa. Mina is a people-person whose love language is football and has recently rekindled his love for pizza. While he lives in Atlanta, Zambia is his second home and he is always planning his next visit. Mina is excited to use his passion for serving children and youth to further the mission of Open Arms for Africa.
VERONICA SALAMA, DIRECTOR
Veronica Salama was born in Cairo, Egypt, and raised in Queens, NY. She is a recent graduate of NYU School of Law and a lifelong volunteer with her home church, St. George Coptic Orthodox Church in Astoria, NY. It was through this small church family that she grew to love serving her community. She has helped organize programs for children of different age groups, led retreats and Sunday School for high school youth, and volunteered in community service events such as Midnight Run. Veronica now lives in Atlanta, Georgia, doing civil rights impact litigation and is a proud member of St. Mark American Coptic Orthodox Church. Veronica has served with Coptic Mission in South Africa and Light for Orphans in Egypt. She is both humbled and excited to be a part of this new mission: Open Arms for Africa.
WESAM BOKTOR, DIRECTOR
Born and raised in Egypt. Starting in elementary throughout high school and beyond; Wesam was actively serving in her church teaching Sunday School to little kids, leading choir practices, and directing plays in the church. Wesam continued her education from high school to college to get a Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering. Just a few years after getting her Bachelors she came to the United States at the age of 24. Wesam then met and married Sobhi Boktor. Few months after marriage she started working for UPS in Atlanta as a Project Electrical Engineer and later promoted to her current position as Automation Control Design Manager. Wesam is also a mother to 2 beautiful kids – Isaiah age 16 and Ivana age 14.