A Mission to Improve Lives Globally: Delaware County Christian School Recognizes Alumnus for Work

A Mission to Improve Lives Globally: Delaware County Christian School Recognizes Alumnus for Work

The mission of Delaware County Christian School is “to educate students who will serve God and impact the world through biblical thought and action”, so when it came to selecting the 2016 alumnus of the year, it was not a difficult decision. Chris Tabakin, Class of 1998 and Chester County native, has dedicated his life to that mission and even left a full-time career in our region to share his expertise to support those in need globally.

Tabakin founded In His Image International (iHi International) in late 2014 as a nonprofit 501(c) 3 charitable corporation, with the mission of identifying needs and developing solutions to provide opportunities for VIPs (Vulnerable International People). His formation of the organization was in recognizing that everyone around the world has worth and deserves an opportunity to survive and thrive. iHi works to empower people with disabilities who are especially vulnerable to difficult circumstances such as poor healthcare, limited access to food, war and poverty. iHi focus on identifying needs and working with local communities to build capacity and provide supports to improve the lives of people with disabilities in particular. In doing so, iHi elevates the visibility of VIPs as well as their status within their communities.

Tabakin was recognized as the Delaware County Christian School’s Alumnus of the Year for 2016 at the school’s Annual Fund Dinner and Auction, held at White Manor Country Club in Malvern, Pennsylvania this April. It’s an award Tabakin says he is beyond honored to receive. “My work to support the needs of vulnerable children and adults, both in the United States, and around the world, is something I believe in passionately,” said Tabakin. “It was a difficult decision to leave a full-time job I loved, but the commitment to giving back to those in need worldwide was a chapter that needed more of my time and attention. This stems from many facets of my life growing up, from my wife Melanie’s influence, and our faith,” added Tabakin. “My education during my earliest years at Delaware County Christian School certainly helped build the foundation of my focus on mission-based work. It also helped me overcome difficulties I faced when I was diagnosed with a learning disability in first grade. It was because of the dedicated teachers and staff at DCCS that I was able to learn skills to overcome that struggle. I am forever grateful for the commitment they made to my success. Speaking at the Auction gave me an opportunity to say ‘thank you” to those who impacted me so greatly. I believe it also shaped me early on to have a compassion for those who learn differently or face difficulty. I am so proud to be an alumnus of DCCS and humbled to be recognized with this award.”

Tabakin’s continues to give back to the school as way of paying it forward. “My coach from high school, Dr. McFarland, reached out several years ago and asked if I would come back to coach. I have been thrilled to give back in a small way over the years by assistant coaching the varsity boys and girls track team for the last eight years. I love being able to help shape the young men and women positively, the way I was shaped.”

At the center of all of Tabakin’s work is Delaware County Christian School’s mission: he strives to live out his faith in a real way, not only in concept, but in action. Tabakin loves the quote from Joel Barker that says: “Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world.” He considers himself a social entrepreneur and “connection maker”, by combining risk taking, business principals and entrepreneurial spirit and applying it to social issues. He believes that by introducing and creating relationships in and between organizations and individuals that we maximize not only our impact in helping others, but our connectedness. iHi has used this approach on projects with great impact in countries like Uganda, Malawi and Iraq.

Delaware County Christian School is a Pre-K to 12 interdenominational day school with campuses in Newtown Square and Devon, Pennsylvania. The school has an enrollment of approximately 900 students annually.

Contact:

Michelle Bradsher-McHugh, iHi International Marketing and Communications Advisor

215-519-3519 Michelle_Bradsher@yahoo.com