board members
Board Members
President
Don Larson, Founder & CEO of the Sunshine Nut Company, developed a business model called the Sunshine Approach to develop world class food products in sub-Saharan African countries for the benefit of the entire value chain while providing a market for smallholder farmers. The business model also gives back the majority of shareholder proceeds (through donations) to be used for philanthropic projects targeting orphan care and farming community upliftment.
Don worked for 25 years in the food industry as a seasoned executive for some of the best companies before moving to Africa. Don left corporate life and a lifestyle of material wealth for one of purpose. In 2011, he and his family sold everything and moved to Mozambique, Africa where they have lived the last twelve years. The major theme of the Sunshine Approach business model is value driven business – where values such as dignity, love, and community come together with excellence.
Vice-President
Terri Larson earned a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the Pennsylvania State University and was an elementary teacher for 17 years. Terri moved with her husband, Don, to Mozambique, Africa in July 2011 to implement the Sunshine Approach Business Model.
Terri is the president and director of the social impact arm of the company- the Sunshine Approach Foundation. She spends her days working with the foundation’s Sunshine families and community projects.
Don and Terri are the proud parents of 3 children and grandparents of 5 grandchildren. Now they are known as Papa Don and Mama Terri to the 33 children and 8 mothers in the care of the foundation, as well as the 50+ children the foundation serves in their community projects.
Vice-President
Terri Larson earned a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the Pennsylvania State University and was an elementary teacher for 17 years. Terri moved with her husband, Don, to Mozambique, Africa in July 2011 to implement the Sunshine Approach Business Model.
Terri is the president and director of the social impact arm of the company- the Sunshine Approach Foundation. She spends her days working with the foundation’s Sunshine families and community projects.
Don and Terri are the proud parents of 3 children and grandparents of 5 grandchildren. Now they are known as Papa Don and Mama Terri to the 33 children and 8 mothers in the care of the foundation, as well as the 50+ children the foundation serves in their community projects.
Treasurer
William Larson has a financial and operational background from learning from his father for his
full life. He handles all of the finances and operations for all entities at Sunshine. He has a passion to bring relief to war-torn and impoverished countries all over the world with economic transformation.
William grew up in Mozambique, studied at Syracuse University, and then spent a year in Myanmar training with the Free Burma Rangers. He has been working at Sunshine since 2019.
Secretary
Mr. Ciaverelli is the founder and CEO at New Enterprises, Inc., the Holding Company of businesses that offer outsourced logistics, supply chain and technology solutions worldwide, business leadership consulting and real estate holdings.
He has been a board member and chaired various positions with the Council of Supply Chain Management (DVRT), Transportation Professionals Association (TPA), Delta Nu Alpha Transportation Fraternity, Ann’s Heart and several other organizations that promote humanitarian well-being and ethics in business and non-profit organizations. He has been a featured guest instructor at Temple University’s Fox School of Business and participated in various panels at the Pennsylvania Bar Institute offering as he states, “a working-class Joe’s perspective on the law and logistics”.
He has been involved in managed logistics relationships since the late 1980s and his career spans over 30 years. He is a frequent speaker on the subject of leadership through relationships, is a frequent contributor on LinkedIn on the subject #Relationshipsmatter and is currently authoring his first book titled “The Naked CEO” which discusses the importance of transparency in relationships in all levels of life and business.
Tony is married to his awesome wife of 36 years, Gina, they live in Phoenixville, PA and are the proud parents of 6 boys/men, 5 grandsons and with more on the way.
Secretary
Mr. Ciaverelli is the founder and CEO at New Enterprises, Inc., the Holding Company of businesses that offer outsourced logistics, supply chain and technology solutions worldwide, business leadership consulting and real estate holdings.
He has been a board member and chaired various positions with the Council of Supply Chain Management (DVRT), Transportation Professionals Association (TPA), Delta Nu Alpha Transportation Fraternity, Ann’s Heart and several other organizations that promote humanitarian well-being and ethics in business and non-profit organizations. He has been a featured guest instructor at Temple University’s Fox School of Business and participated in various panels at the Pennsylvania Bar Institute offering as he states, “a working-class Joe’s perspective on the law and logistics”.
He has been involved in managed logistics relationships since the late 1980s and his career spans over 30 years. He is a frequent speaker on the subject of leadership through relationships, is a frequent contributor on LinkedIn on the subject #Relationshipsmatter and is currently authoring his first book titled “The Naked CEO” which discusses the importance of transparency in relationships in all levels of life and business.
Tony is married to his awesome wife of 36 years, Gina, they live in Phoenixville, PA and are the proud parents of 6 boys/men, 5 grandsons and with more on the way.
Ryan Correia has a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and a Bachelor of Arts in Management Information Systems from Villanova University. Ryan is a Certified Public Accountant.. He is also a QuickBooks ProAdvisor and QuickBooks Certified Expert.
Following school, Ryan went to work in public accounting for KPMG, LLP in the attestation and audit practice; after 6 years he became Audit manager for one of the largest accounts in the Philadelphia office. After KPMG, Ryan served as Plant Controller for a large manufacturing public company and focused on month-end closes, cost accounting and managerial accounting responsibilities.
In his spare time, Ryan began working with small businesses as a part-time Controller. He preferred working with small business owners and went out on his own as a sole proprietor in 2007, whereby he focused his attention on accounting and tax services for his clients.
By 2009, Ryan co-founded Foresight Business Solutions, with its mission to implement integrated financial, payroll, taxation and accounting service solutions for small businesses. Since 2009, Ryan has worked with hundreds of small business owners from various industries and has helped grow Foresight’s team, reputation and overall client base.
Fun Fact: Enjoys quality time with his wife and three boys. Ryan also enjoys sports, especially basketball.
Caroline is an experienced leadership coach, mentor and business consultant having been in leadership herself since she was 13. She has worked in business and the voluntary sector and is highly valued for her wisdom and insight, as well as her ability to get to the heart of even the most challenging of issues and help chart strategic and practical steps forward.
She understands the pain and the joy of leadership. Caroline, and her late husband Peter, were co-directors of Restoring the Foundations UK & Europe and for 8 years they were church pastors. She is now on the advisory board of Christians in Government.
She has two children and 6 grandchildren and enjoys travel, textile and thread crafts, cooking and the great outdoors.
Caroline is an experienced leadership coach, mentor and business consultant having been in leadership herself since she was 13. She has worked in business and the voluntary sector and is highly valued for her wisdom and insight, as well as her ability to get to the heart of even the most challenging of issues and help chart strategic and practical steps forward.
She understands the pain and the joy of leadership. Caroline, and her late husband Peter, were co-directors of Restoring the Foundations UK & Europe and for 8 years they were church pastors. She is now on the advisory board of Christians in Government.
She has two children and 6 grandchildren and enjoys travel, textile and thread crafts, cooking and the great outdoors.
Jessica has been practicing law in Pennsylvania since 2007 and currently serves as General Counsel for PAM Health, a post-acute care hospital system providing healthcare services to medically complex and rehabilitation patients. Her focus is hospital development, commercial leasing and construction and supports hospital operations in multiple states. She is also a member of the planning commission for her resident township.
Jessica met Don Larson in 2012 and instantly admired his vision for Sunshine Nut Company and Sunshine Approach Foundation. She kept in touch with Don and Terri and was able to travel to Mozambique in 2015 to witness the impact Sunshine Approach has there. She has been a board member of Sunshine Approach Foundation since its formation. Jessica’s favorite cashew flavor is Handful of Herbs, although it is hard to choose, and she really appreciates that the production is peanut free for those in her family with food allergies!
Jessica, her husband and three children live in Central Pennsylvania on a 40-acre farm raising chickens, turkeys, rabbits and sheep. She dreams of someday working her land full time and is open to any opportunity God gives to provide for those in need in her community.
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The Role of Sunshine Nut Co.
Unlike traditional for-profit businesses, The Sunshine Nut Company’s core mission is for social impact. The primary role is to serve as a sustainable financial engine that funds the Sunshine Approach Foundation’s community-focused projects and philanthropic initiatives, helping to uplift the lives of people in Mozambique and create lasting positive change.
Through the sales of premium cashew nut products, Sunshine Nut Co. donates 90% of distributed profits (after covering debts, expenses and future investments) to the Sunshine Approach Foundation, which then channels these funds to transform communities through the 3 pillar projects: Sunshine Homes, Sunshine Villages and Sunshine Employment.
Financial contribution
The Sunshine Approach Foundation partners with individual donors and for-profit companies to accept funds and materials. We invite you to join us in our mission. You can set up a one-time or monthly recurring donation.
We have two on-line giving platforms:
PayPal (listed on our company website)
AND
Continue to Give
Checks made Payable to “Sunshine Approach Foundation” can be mailed to:
Foresight Business Solutions, 10120 Valley Forge Circle, Suite 120, King of Prussia, PA 19406
Every amount helps makes a difference.
Purchasing our cashews and nut butters
Available in major retailers in the United States, South Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and United Kingdom or order online at www.sunshinenuts.com or on Amazon.com.
Every purchase made benefits those with whom we work with and serve in Mozambique.
Visit our blog:
Sunshine in Africa
Sunshine in Africa has been shining for over a decade, sharing stories of hope, purpose, and transformation. What began with a dream to bring opportunity to Africa is now a thriving journey.
Come be part of the adventure -discover the heart behind the mission.
"This means the purchase of scads and scads of uniforms, book bags, shoes, belts, socks, school supplies, and text books. The list is as endless as the number of children for whom we must buy. "
"When we put out requests for donations for such causes, we truly are overwhelmed by the goodness that pours out of people."
" It has brought the meaning of our work into a new perspective for me. We not only are bringing children out of a hopeless past; we are saving them from a hopeless future. "
