Meet our Founder

About the founder 

David's story is marked with legal troubles, residential care, foster care, and homelessness.  At 17 years old he once again found himself in the legal trouble, thankfully, his attorney negotiated a deal that required him to earn his GED as a condition for dismissing the charges.  

Seizing the opportunity - and the benefits of being emancipated - David pursued higher education and eventually earned a bachelor’s degree from Niagara University, committed to a using his life experience and now education to serve and help people in need. His professional journey began as a youth counselor at a residential treatment facility, followed by roles as a disability rights advocate and then a child protection caseworker with the local Department of Social Services. In this role, he investigated child welfare cases, worked closely with the courts, and ensured the safety of children in daycares, foster homes, and family settings.  David later stepped into leadership roles, managing a Transitional Living Program with over 54 units. There he developed and implemented program policies and provided case management for individuals. While doing so, he had the freedom to incorporate the spiritual component, giving people repeated opportunities to hear, see and respond to the Gospel.  

As David continued to serve in this space, he recognized a void where the Church could be stepping in—and the vision for a Christ-centered social service organization that would unify the broader Church to serve together was born. That vision began gaining momentum in 2021 when David sought partnership with an established outreach ministry operating under a church’s nonprofit. He proposed forming a standalone nonprofit—not directly tied to a single church—in order to expand capacity, pursue grants, and serve the community more effectively. The outreach leader brought the concept to his church’s leadership, but ultimately informed David that his church was not interested in moving forward at that time.

In early 2022, after hearing the encouraging words from his church leadership—"You can do it, and we want to help!"—David shared this vision of providing Christ-centered solutions in the Niagara Frontier region, focused on housing, healthcare, education, and employment all under one nonprofit.  With their support, Align Western New York obtained its 501(c)(3) status, laying the foundation for the work being done today. This pivotal moment helped bring David’s vision to life—transforming lives, restoring hope, and offering lasting solutions, beginning in his hometown of Niagara Falls.

In addition to the work with Align in WNY, David and his wife, Shiena, are also involved in ministry in Shiena's home country, the Philippines.  They have partnered with MissionGo to support the work God is doing both in WNY and in the Philippines.  

Click on their MissionGO link below to learn more