Meet Our Staff

Doug Sauder, M.S.
President, 4KIDS of South Florida, Inc.

Doug Sauder has had a heart for adoption that he can trace back to his days in college, when he earned his Master of Science degree in Special Education from Florida International University. It was during that time that Doug had an opportunity to spend two summers volunteering at an orphanage. He and his wife Suzanne have adopted twice—once through a private agency and once through foster care. Their sons, Jackson, Kaden, and Kennedy remind them daily that having a family is not something anyone should take for granted—it is truly a gift from God. (Psalm 127:3) (photo)

Thomas (Tom) L. Lukasik
Executive Director, 4KIDS of South Florida, Inc.

In the late 1980’s, Tom and his wife, Linda, became involved in the area of adoption through their church by volunteering with a crisis pregnancy center in Buffalo, NY. Tom always believed that there had to be more to being “pro-life” than just holding up a sign. Adoption made sense because he knew that in addition to educating people about the truth of abortion, protection and provision had to be found for that child.

Since 1994, Tom’s focus on finding more permanent solutions for children born as a result of a crisis pregnancy changed from volunteer work to a career. Tom’s life purpose is to inform, educate, and involve the church community in finding loving families for all the children that need a home.

Ava Thompson, M.S.W., L.C.S.W.
Director, Adoption 4KIDS

Ava Thompson has had a passion for working with families and adoption for the past twenty years. She graduated from Florida International University with her master’s degree in Social Work and subsequently obtained her Clinical Social Work license with the state of Florida. Married for over thirty-five years, Ava and her family have been touched personally by adoption, and by the joys and fulfillment the adoption experience can bring. As director, Ava works closely with birth parents who are considering adoption as an option to an unplanned pregnancy, as well as with Christian married couples looking to adoption as a means of building their families.

Suzanne Sauder, M.S.W.
Social Worker
Suzanne graduated with her master’s degree in Social Work from Florida International University, and has worked in the field for approximately ten years. She and her husband are the parents of three young boys ranging in age from 3 to 7 years old. Two of their children joined the family through the adoption process. Suzanne’s role with Adoption 4KIDS is primarily that of counseling prospective adoptive couples through the home study process, and in helping them to prepare their hearts and homes for this precious addition. Having experienced the home study and adoption processes herself, Suzanne’s work is truly a calling, as well as a labor of love.

Jami Thornsberry, B.A.
Adoption Counselor

Jami graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. While working as a substitute teacher with at-risk students, her love for helping children and families increased. Jami then spent the next four years as a family counselor, mentor, and ministry assistant at Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale, as well as a volunteer in Children’s and Youth ministries. She presently works as a birth parent and adoptive parent counselor, as well as a home study preparer. Jami also presents the adoptive parent education and training sessions for our prospective adoptive couples.

Peggy Quitoni
Administrative Assistant

Peggy has spent the last twenty years reaching out to serve young women and families in crisis. For many of those years Peggy served as the backbone of the His Caring Place maternity home ministry, not only overseeing the operations of the office, but by being available to mentor the young women in the home. Peggy’s current responsibilities encompass oversight of record keeping and organizational details for Adoption 4KIDS. Peggy always has a willing heart to reach out to those who are hurting.

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