Damita Curry
Executive Director
Damita Curry is a mission‑driven nonprofit leader whose career has been shaped by a deep belief in the power of education and community to transform lives. As Executive Director of E3 Africa, she brings a steady, values‑driven approach to advancing the organization’s mission to educate, enrich, and empower vulnerable children in Uganda. Damita leads donor engagement, strengthens mission visibility, and oversees fundraising, communications —ensuring that every story shared and every partnership built brings supporters closer to the students whose futures they help shape. She manages day-to-day operations, supports Board governance, and collaborates closely with the Executive Director – Uganda to align programs, reporting, and student support systems.
Before joining E3 Africa, Damita built a 20‑year career guiding nonprofits and community organizations through strategic planning, capacity building, and narrative development. She has directed development teams, expanded donor pipelines, and built organizational infrastructure that increased funding stability and program reach. Her experience includes managing high‑visibility campaigns with government, business, and philanthropic partners and leading inclusive, data‑informed communication strategies across complex organizations. Known for cultivating strong relationships and crafting narratives that inspire action, Damita is committed to ensuring every child served by E3 Africa has access to quality education, holistic support, and the opportunity to thrive.
Karen Shepard
Executive Administrative Assistant
Karen is a seasoned leader of non-profit organizations. With over 30 years of experience, she has served in long-term health care with the Arizona Health Care Association, a scholarship organization, Catholic Education Arizona and a process improvement organization, Southwest Alliance for Excellence. She is currently working part-time at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish in Tempe as a Nullity Minister & Advocate assisting those requesting an annulment, and in Pastoral Care of the Homebound & those in the Hospital. She volunteers at the Diocese of Phoenix Office of Canonical Services & Tribunal and loves taking care of her granddaughter. Karen has a passion for mission driven work. She now wants to serve in a part-time capacity where she can best help to facilitate communication, business organization & improvement and use the talents God gave her to make the world a better place.
Peggy Schumacher
Program and Events Coordinator
Peggy holds a Bachelor's Degree from DePaul University in Chicago. As a recent “empty nester,” her home is not filled with as much activity as it used to be, leaving her with time to utilize her gifts in a new way. While raising children, she has been involved in various volunteer activities in their schools (they have been in Catholic education since preschool) and parish (Blessed Sacrament in Scottsdale). Some of these volunteer activities include: Committees involving fundraising events, Welcome Ministry, RCIA team, Extraordinary Minister of Care, and more recently, she had led two consecutive sessions of a women's bible study while concurrently co-chairing our parish's Cabinet for the Juntos Sigamos Adelante, Together Let Us Go Forth Campaign, and serving with her husband on Bishop Olmsted's Cabinet for the Diocesan successful 100 million dollar Campaign. More recently, she and her husband served as the co-chairs for the 2020 Charity and Development Appeal.
In her spare time, in addition to spending time with her family, she enjoys hiking, baking and reading historical fiction.
Kimberly Schroeder
Bookkeeper
Kimberly is the bookkeeper for E3 Africa and is responsible for the day to day books for the charitable organization which she has been doing since October 2018. She finds her job very rewarding knowing that she contributes to the education of children in Uganda by making sure that the books are accurate for the Board to make financial decisions. In her spare time she crochets and donates the items to a retirement home in her community.