Learn More About Our Dedicated Leaders

The Home and Foundation’s management teams are key in decision making and are focused on making the best judgments for the Home to ensure a lasting future.

Rich Lapinski, MS, Executive Director/CEO

Rich Lapinski is the Executive Director/CEO of Indiana United Methodist Children’s Home (IUMCH) in Lebanon. Before coming to the Children’s Home in 2010, he served as Executive Director of the Presbyterian Home for Children in Amarillo, Texas. In addition, he and his wife Stephanie were family teachers for five years at Father Flanagan’s Boy’s Town in Omaha, Nebraska. Previously, Rich worked in his family’s construction business, building custom homes in the Chicago area.

In 2017, Rich received the Montrose Wolf Distinguished Contributions Award during the Teaching-Family Association Annual Conference held in Nashville, TN. The award is given to individuals for their exceptional contributions in implementing the Teaching Family Model.

In 2019, Rich was named President-Elect of the Teaching-Family Association (TFA). TFA is an international organization with accredited agencies in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. TFA was founded in 1975 to provide a framework for the quality of care provided by service professionals who use the Teaching Family Model in services for individuals, children and families.

Rich also served three years on the Board of IARCCA – Indiana Association of Resources and Child Advocacy.

Under Rich’s leadership at IUMCH, six new Teaching Family Model Homes have been constructed as well as a new state-of-the-art on-grounds school.

Rich earned two degrees from Bellevue University in Omaha, Nebraska. He holds a bachelor’s degree in human resources management and a master’s degree in human services. He is also a veteran of the United States Navy, having served for three years as an Intelligence Specialist on the U.S.S. Enterprise. He and his wife reside in Cicero and have four sons and one daughter.

Christy Huston, CFRM, IOM, MA, Foundation Executive Director

Christy Huston, IOM, CFRM, MA has more than 25 years of professional work experience, dedicating her career to philanthropic endeavors. Her favorite role is that of fundraiser, where she helps people accomplish their philanthropic vision.

Christy is the executive director of the Indiana United Methodist Children’s Home Foundation, Inc., which financially supports the health, education and spiritual development of youth in the Home’s care. The 17-acre Lebanon campus includes a fully accredited grades 8-12 school, six Teaching Family Model houses, a chapel, a youth recreational facility and an administration building.

Christy previously worked for the Indiana Chamber of Commerce for a combined total of 10 years, most recently serving as the first full-time executive director of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce Foundation. She directed the work of the Foundation to fulfill its pro-jobs economic development mission. This was Christy’s second stint with the Indiana Chamber, having previously lobbied for the organization on small business, international trade and economic development issues.

Christy also served as director of development for the Miller College of Business at Ball State University, working with the president, dean, faculty and foundation on major gift development. She also was the executive director of a local K-12 education foundation and director of development of a statewide nonprofit health care organization. Her additional work experience includes state and federal government victim services grant management. She also served as assistant director of legislative and information services for the Indiana Department of Correction.

Christy holds a master’s degree in philanthropic studies from the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University, having majored in journalism and minored in business. She holds a Certificate in Organization Management (IOM) from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and a Certificate in Fund Raising Management (CFRM) from the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.

Additionally, she was an Indiana Governor’s Fellow. She is also a graduate of both the Richard G. Lugar Excellence in Public Service Series and Leadership Hendricks County. Christy is a member of the Board of Directors for the Morning Dove Therapeutic Riding Center in Zionsville. She and her husband Jim have been married for 33 years, are parents to four sons and live in Brownsburg, Indiana. They are members of Calvary United Methodist Church.