FCS Director of Development
Jerry Kitchel serves as Director of Development, bringing over 25 years of marketing and communication experience in Christian ministry.
As director, Jerry serves alongside parent volunteers, grandparents, faculty, alumni and community leaders to help broaden awareness for the school throughout Southern California, as well as garner support for the Annual Fund through events that include the Annual Fund Dinner, Spring Jog-A-Thon, and Golf Charity Classic. Other scheduled events and activities include Grandparent’s Day, “Christmas Week’ in December, Foothill’s Car Donation Program, Business Directory, and corporate giving programs.
The Office of Development provides administrative oversight for gifts made to the school through the United Way, Edison International, Northrop-Grumman, 3-M Foundation, Wells Fargo, Target Stores and Johnson and Johnson.
Prior to joining Foothill Christian School in 2007, Jerry’s global career in the Christian nonprofit world took him to over 40 countries, which included key communication assignments Rwanda, Somalia, Bosnia and Kosovo. He has also served as Director of Church Relations for Union Rescue Mission in Los Angeles, during which time he was presented the prestigious Martin Luther King, Jr. “Faith Beyond Walls” award by the Los Angeles Baptist Minister’s Conference in 2007. Jerry formerly served as a deacon on the Board of Foothill Church, and currently serves on the board of the EYE-DAS Foundation (Eye Diseases Are Serious). His affiliation with FCS began in 1976 along with his wife, Carolyn, who serves as Foothill’s Vice-principal. Jerry can be reached directly at: jkitchel@foothillchristian.org or by calling (626) 914-1849, extension 1163.
Development and Marketing Specialist
Alina Rietze (formerly Uyboco) – a 2002 FCS alumna – will serve as the Development Department’s Marketing and Communication Specialist. Responsibilities include overseeing the involvement of the school’s parent volunteer corp. Alina and her husband, Kevin, live in Monrovia and attend Glendora’s Foothill Church, the parent ministry of Foothill Christian School. After graduating from Glendora High School in 2006, Alina studied at Cal Poly Pomona where she earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Hospitality Management in 2010. She previously worked at Grace Church of Glendora as special events coordinator, and most recently as student activities coordinator at the Western Regional Office of ACSI (Association of Christian Schools, International).
She is looking forward to embarking on numerous responsibilities that will embrace event planning, social media networking, graphic design projects and strategic communications. “Alina’s wonderful skill-set will provide energy and expertise to our school’s fundraising and enrollment campaigns,” commented Bo Gutzwiller, Superintendent. Major scheduled events include this year’s Annual Fund dinner banquet/campaign in November, the March Jog-A-Thon, and the Annual Charity Golf Classic, which takes place in May.
