Serving with integrity.
Unbreakable Kids is guided by a volunteer Board of Directors providing strategic leadership, governance, financial oversight, and long-term vision. Each member brings unique professional experience and a deep commitment to the children and families we serve.
James Rice-Peña
President & Board Chair
Entrepreneur • Founder of FL Cleanup • Community Leader • Foster Care Advocate
James is the Founder, President, and Board Chair of Unbreakable Kids. Having experienced foster care as a child, he understands firsthand the lasting impact that encouragement, stability, and positive role models can have on a young person's life.
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As a successful entrepreneur and founder of multiple businesses, including FL Cleanup, James has built organizations centered on leadership, service, and community impact. His experience in business development, strategic planning, team leadership, and corporate partnerships provides the foundation for leading Unbreakable Kids with accountability, transparency, and long-term vision.
Driven by both professional experience and personal purpose, James founded Unbreakable Kids to ensure foster children and youth facing adversity have access to mentorship, essential resources, educational opportunities, and a supportive community that believes in their future. Under his leadership, the organization is committed to building meaningful partnerships with donors, businesses, volunteers, and community leaders to create lasting opportunities for children across South Florida.
Lazaro De La Noval
Chair of Legal Affairs & Corporate Governance
Attorney • Legal & Governance Leader • Policy Compliance Advocate • Foster Care Advocate
Lazaro oversees legal affairs, organizational governance, and policy compliance for Unbreakable Kids. He works closely with the Board to ensure the organization operates with integrity, transparency, and accountability while supporting long-term sustainability and responsible growth. His leadership helps establish strong governance practices that protect the organization and strengthen public trust.
Jeanette Jolis
Chair of Finance & Operations
Nonprofit Leader • Operations Professional • Foster Care Advocate
Jeanette oversees the organization's financial planning, budgeting, operational strategy, and day-to-day business management, ensuring every donation is managed with transparency, accountability, and purpose.
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Jeanette earned her Bachelor's degree in Business Finance from Florida International University, where she developed a strong foundation in financial analysis, accounting, and business strategy. Since 2005, she has built a diverse career across multiple industries, giving her extensive experience in finance, operations, and organizational leadership.
For more than 20 years, Jeanette has dedicated her time to volunteering with nonprofit organizations and giving back to her community. Her passion has always been rooted in helping children and families overcome obstacles and create brighter futures. She believes that our youth are the future, and that every child deserves the opportunity to succeed, someone who believes in them, and the support they need to reach their full potential.
Henessys Gaitan
Chair of Development & Youth Advocacy
Youth Advocate • Foster Care Advocate • Community Engagement Leader • Child Welfare Champion
Henessys helps lead fundraising initiatives, strengthen relationships with donors, volunteers, and community partners, and support the growth of the organization's mission. As a youth advocate, she is dedicated to ensuring children in foster care feel heard, valued, and empowered.
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For Henessys, this work is deeply personal. Having experienced foster care herself as a child, she understands the importance of having someone show up, offer support, and remind a child that they matter. Her own journey shaped her passion for advocacy and inspired her commitment to making sure children in foster care know they are not alone and that their futures are full of possibility.
Henessys believes every child deserves to feel safe, supported, and empowered to dream beyond their circumstances. Through her role with Unbreakable Kids, she uses her personal experiences and passion for advocacy to inspire others, strengthen community involvement, and help create lasting change for children and families impacted by foster care.
Rafael A. Cerna Jr.
Chair of Community Outreach & Strategic Partnerships
Community Engagement Leader • Strategic Partnerships Builder • Youth Support Champion
Rafael leads community outreach efforts and strategic partnerships throughout South Florida. He works to strengthen relationships with businesses, schools, nonprofit organizations, faith-based communities, and civic leaders to expand the organization's impact. His leadership helps create collaborative opportunities that support children and strengthen neighborhoods.
What our board stands for
Governance
Providing strategic leadership and oversight.
Financial Stewardship
Managing resources responsibly and transparently.
Community Leadership
Building partnerships that strengthen our mission.
Strategic Planning
Creating long-term opportunities for growth and impact.
Advocacy
Supporting children, families, and communities through leadership and awareness.
Accountability
Ensuring every decision reflects the mission and values of Unbreakable Kids.
Every decision begins with one question
"How does this help children build brighter futures?"
As leaders of Unbreakable Kids, we are committed to responsible stewardship, ethical leadership, and creating opportunities that empower children and strengthen communities. We recognize that trust is earned through action, transparency, and service. Our commitment is to honor that trust every day.
Together, we can build brighter futures.
Every conversation has the potential to create hope, opportunity, and lasting change for a child.