Executive Directors

Executive Directors:  Marla Hodes and Melanie Robbins

Marla Hodes with newphew, Mesfin Hodes

Marla Hodes lives in Laguna Beach, CA with her husband, Dan, and 3 children, Dean, Matthew and Carly.  Marla holds a Masters degree in Exercise Physiology from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana.  She began her humanitarian work when moving to the Navajo Indian Reservation for a summer fulfilling an internship for her Public Health Minor.  She traveled with Navajo nurses and helped develop health and nutritional materials.  She also traveled to China with the Citizen Ambassador program sharing health/medical information with the Chinese.  Marla has worked in the health field for 22 years.    She has  worked  as an Exercise Physiologist for the Dr. Dean Ornish program, the University of CA., San Francisco (UCSF) adult and pediatric renal and liver transplant unit and for the Department of Behavioral and Developmental Pediatrics at UCSF in a children’s nutritional/exercise program.  Marla also created and implemented a special self esteem camp “Bring out the Best” for UCSF.  Marla’s passion is children.  She traveled to ET with the goal of creating a pictorial book of her amazing brother in-law Dr. Rick Hodes who has lived and worked in ET for 2 decades saving children’s lives.  She and her partners came back not only with pictures and a film but most importantly a passion to help destitute children and families in the world. Marla is Executive Director along with Melanie Robbins of The Ethiopian Family Fund.  Email is mhodes@mac.com

Melanie Robbins in Ethiopia

Melanie Robbins of Rocky Mount NC has been married to Bill Robbins for 35 years, has two adult children John, and Betsy with a grandchild!  She holds a Masters degree in Speech-Language and Auditory Pathology and has worked for 15 years in public and private schools, private practice as well as providing consultation and contract work with area hospitals. She has held positions on several non-profit boards including Meals-on Wheels, the Human Relations Commission and served for five years as President of the Board of Directors of the women’s abuse shelter, My Sisiter’s House. Under her watch a thrift store was launched and has celebrated 10 years of profitable operations. She is co-founder of the Ethiopian Family Fund along with Marla Hodes, having travelled with her to Addis Ababa in 2006 on a fact-finding and film production mission. Her daughter Betsy Michau  was part of the crew as the still photographer, providing photos for the website, stationary and the dvd “The Girls of Abyssinia”. Melanie will serve on the Board of Directors for the EFF, committed to carrying out the vision to help those in need in Ethiopia.