The Venerable Lama Tenzin Dhonden is the Founder and Board Chair of the nonprofit, Friends of the Dalai Lama. Since the year 2000, Lama Tenzin has personally overseen the creation and planning of large-scale and elite events held at public and private venues throughout the United States for His Holiness. He has developed a specific protocol to ensure the proper arrangements for the participation of His Holiness in a variety of events. Based on his extraordinary experience and to fulfill the need for transparent organization of special events, Lama Tenzin has founded Friends of the Dalai Lama to be fully dedicated to assisting His Holiness in sharing his vision and message of peace and compassion with the world.
Kelly Thornton Smith the Founder and Board Chair for the Center for Living Peace. an organization she started in 2010, that encourages local community members to find their inner peace and unique talents, and share them with their neighbors. Her community involvement extends as a member of the Orange County Community Foundation Board of Directors and the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Program Ubuntu Council. Kelly is a mother of two.