Our Staff
Elisabet “Lisa” Iparrea
Executive Director
Elisabet “Lisa” Iparrea is our new executive director. Her responsibilities include programs, development, community partnerships and relations, staff and operational management. Formerly the Chief Program Officer at West Houston Assistance Ministries (WHAM), Lisa has served in leadership and advocacy roles at the Houston Food Bank, Texas Business Hall of Fame Foundation, and the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.
She is an alumna of the University of Houston-Downtown (B.S. in Psychology and an M.A. in Nonprofit Management). She has participated as the board secretary with Fellowship in Him Ministries, a board member with Westchase Community Fund, an advisory board member and committee member with the University of Houston-Downtown, and as a board member with WHAM.
In her free time, Lisa enjoys volunteering, singing, trying new restaurants and foods, walking, and spending family time with her husband and two beautiful daughters.
Contact Lisa at elisabet@hisgracefoundation.org.
Sarah Langston
Director of Programs and Volunteer Experience
Sarah Langston holds a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies of Education from Texas A&M University. During her student teaching semester, she participated in the LTICS (Learning to Teach in Inner-City Schools) Program and went on to teach first and second grades at Title 1 schools. Driven by her passion for leadership and education, Sarah earned her Master’s in Educational Leadership during her third year of teaching, graduating with a 4.0 GPA.
After the birth of her first child, Sarah transitioned from teaching in public schools to focus on raising her children, especially in light of her husband’s demanding travel schedule. In 2018, when her youngest son, Owen, entered survivorship care for brain cancer, Sarah began volunteering with His Grace Foundation and JoyRide Therapeutic Horsemanship Center—two organizations that deeply impacted her family during their time of need.
Over the past six years, Sarah has dedicated herself to serving with these nonprofits, using her educational background to create enrichment activities for children and assist individuals with physical and mental challenges during therapy sessions. Through this work, she has rediscovered her love for teaching while giving back to her community.
Balancing her roles as a mother and volunteer during her family’s health crisis has taught Sarah resilience, strength, and the importance of faith. She is passionate about helping others and finds joy in witnessing the transformative impact of her efforts, believing that God creates beauty even in the most challenging circumstances.
Sarah G Flores
Communications Intern
Sarah Flores is the communications intern for His Grace Foundation. She is a student at the
University of Houston, where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in strategic communication with
a concentration in public relations and a minor in public health. She is expected to graduate in
spring 2026.
Sarah is passionate about health communication and the impact it can have on patient care and
community well-being. She hopes to build a career in strategic communication, public relations,
and marketing within the health care field.
She is a member of the Public Relations Student Society of America at the University of
Houston, where she serves as secretary. In her free time, she enjoys volunteering and spending
time with family and friends.
Katie Clancy
Accountant
Katie is an independent accountant and owner of EmPowered Business Solutions, a business that specializes in small business accounting and consulting. She is a Summa Cum Laude alumna of the University of Houston Downtown and honored as an Outstanding Accounting Graduate of 2011.
Board of Directors
Rebecca Gentry
Board Chair
Rebecca is the Associate Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at the University of Houston (UH).
Previously, she was Assistant Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at UH, overseeing campaign strategy, communications, donor relations, events and volunteer programs in the office of University Advancement. In other roles, she held advancement leadership positions in museums, historic homes, and foundations in Washington, DC and Miami.
A graduate of Wake Forest University, Rebecca is an active volunteer with the Junior League, Houston Symphony, Salvation Army Guild, Alpha Delta Pi Sorority, and others.
Val Anderson
Board Member
Val Anderson has been involved with HGF since its inception, working at the grassroots level to help the organization take flight as the best friend and supporter of Erin Kiltz, HGF Founder.
Val served as HGF’s Executive Director for 17 years, where her administrative, fundraising and people skills expanded HGF to double its program services.
Kiran Ali
Board Member
Kiran became involved with His Grace Foundation after learning about the organization when her daughter received a double Bone Marrow Transplant in 2021 at Texas Children’s Hospital. She felt deeply connected to give back and volunteer with HGF, and was eager to make a direct impact on the same unit her daughter was treated.
Kiran is the Director of Admission and Enrollment Management at The Regis School of the Sacred Heart and has previously worked at Good Reason Houston, Teach for America, and Barclays Capital.
Kiran received her Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Vanderbilt University and an MBA from Rice University.
Grace Lopez
Board Member
Grace became involved with His Grace Foundation after being treated for leukemia at Texas
Children’s Hospital, where she underwent chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant in 2015.
Her personal experience inspired a lasting connection to the mission of HGF and a desire to
give back to the patients and families walking a similar journey.Grace received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Stephen F. Austin State University,
graduating in 2024. She is now a Registered Nurse and will be joining Texas Children’s Hospital
as a Pediatric Hematology/Oncology nurse. Her combination of professional training and
personal experience gives her a unique perspective and deep empathy for the children and
families she serves.In addition to her work with HGF, Grace is an active advocate for the National Marrow Donor
Program, the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center, and Blood Cancer United, where she continues
to raise awareness and support for patients and donors alike.
Shannon Ramirez
Board Member
Shannon became involved with His Grace Foundation through the National Charity League Heart of Texas Chapter she joined with her daughter. Having a cousin who suffered from leukemia as a child, and was the recipient of a bone marrow transplant from his brother, she felt immediately drawn to the mission and purpose of HGF.Shannon is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and South Texas College of Law. She is a former civil litigator with a practice focused on personal injury and business dispute claims. She has recently transitioned to mediations, using the skills she has honed from over 30 years of practice to conflict resolution.Shannon and her husband John are the parents of 4 children- Jack, Reid, Burke & Ramsey. They are members of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church.
Sarah Pollard
Board Member
Sarah learned about His Grace Foundation when her son Joseph received a bone
marrow transplant at Texas Children’s Hospital in 2021. After personally experiencing
all of the blessings that His Grace Foundation provides for families going through the
transplant process, she wanted to become involved with the organization to be able to
make an impact on those families.Sarah is the owner and managing partner of The Pollard Firm, PLLC, a Houston-area
family law firm. Sarah attended Baylor University for her undergraduate degree and
attended South Texas College of Law for her law degree.
Meagan Hanson
Outside Board Representative, Junior League of Houston
Meagan is a dynamic change management professional who currently works as the Enterprise Services Cybersecurity Awareness Manager for RTX, leading initiatives to strengthen cyber hygiene and reduce risk across the organization. She holds an MBA with a focus in Data Analytics from Louisiana State University and a bachelors in Public Relations and Advertising with a Minor in Spanish from the University of Houston.A passionate community advocate, Meagan has been an active member of the Junior League of Houston for over 10 years and currently serves as the Health and Wellbeing Project Chairman. She also serves on the Black Heritage Committee for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and is Co-Chair for Camp Hope—Allies in Hope, a camp for children impacted by HIV and AIDS.
Outside of work, Meagan enjoys exploring new cultures and creating lasting memories through global travel.
Erin Kiltz
Founder/Ex-Officio
Erin co-founded His Grace Foundation with her husband, John, in 1997, and co-founded Wheels of Fun, a company that creates custom spoke guard covers for wheelchairs, in 2006.
Each of these endeavors was inspired by the youngest of the Kiltz’ three children, Gracie (the namesake of His Grace Foundation) who was born with Down Syndrome, battled leukemia, and suffered complications from treatment that resulted in a severe brain injury.
Erin is now the Executive Director of Brookwood in Georgetown, a vocational community for adults with disabilities.
John Kiltz
Founder/Ex-Officio
John is a Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Stonelake Capital Partners. He directs the firm’s institutional investment and acquisition program. In 1997, John co-founded His Grace Foundation with his wife, Erin.
He received an undergraduate degree in Marketing from the University of Wisconsin and a Master’s of Business Administration from the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin.
John currently serves as a Board Member of Brookwood in Georgetown.
Hunter Sage
Legal Counsel/Ex-Officio
Mr. Sage is Managing Director and General Counsel of Stonelake Capital Partners, LLC, a fully-integrated private equity real estate firm. Prior to joining Stonelake in 2012, Mr. Sage practiced law in the Houston office of Locke Lord LLP from 2004 until 2012.
While at Locke Lord, Mr. Sage represented institutional lenders, regional lenders and investment funds in connection with lending matters, workouts and foreclosures.
Mr. Sage also serves as Secretary and General Counsel of Post Oak Little League and is a member of St. Michael Catholic Church. Mr. Sage received his Bachelor of General Studies Degree, summa cum laude, from Louisiana State University and his Juris Doctor, with honors, from the University of Texas School of Law.
