Our Founders
Heirs of Salvation was built by a family whose faith turned grief into action. Every program, every classroom, every life changed traces back to their sacrifice and vision.
Rev. Serge R. Espérance and Mireille Valmé Espérance — Founders
Mireille Valmé Espérance
Founder & President
Mireille Valmé Espérance is the founder and President of Heirs of Salvation Inc. — a faith-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit she built from nothing after the 2010 Haiti earthquake. A registered nurse, missionary, and lifelong servant of God, she has devoted her life to the intersection of faith and community service.
Born in Haiti as the eldest daughter of the late Haitian evangelists Fernande and Hyppolite Valmé, Mireille immigrated to the United States in 1969, settling in Brooklyn, New York. She graduated from Long Island University in 1984 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and immediately began weaving her professional skills into her calling — serving communities in New York and making regular mission trips to Haiti.
When the earthquake struck on January 12, 2010, Mireille could not stand still. She gathered friends, family, and supporters, raised funds, and went to work building homes for earthquake survivors in Léogâne. One of those homes went to a family of eight — and the story of that family's wedding, and the "X" on their marriage certificate, became the founding mandate for everything Heirs of Salvation does today.
Background
- Registered Nurse — Long Island University, BSN 1984
- Ordained missionary and community servant since 1969
- Founder of Heirs of Salvation Inc. — 2009
- Haitian-born, Brooklyn, New York-based
- Active in Haiti relief and development since the 2010 earthquake
Rev. Serge R. Espérance
Mission Director & Board Member
Haitian-born Rev. Serge R. Espérance is an ordained minister since 1972 and serves as Mission Director for Heirs of Salvation Inc., overseeing the organization's project sites in Léogâne and Source Corossol, Haiti. He provides spiritual oversight, community liaison, and on-the-ground leadership for all programs at the Joedes Development Center.
Rev. Espérance is the Senior Pastor of the New Creations Church of God in Christ in Brooklyn, New York, and has led his congregation to be an active partner in the mission of Heirs of Salvation. His pastoral presence in both New York and Haiti bridges the diaspora community with the people on the ground in Léogâne.
Background
- Ordained minister — 1972
- Senior Pastor, New Creations Church of God in Christ — Brooklyn, NY
- Mission Director, Heirs of Salvation Inc.
- Oversees project sites in Léogâne and Source Corossol, Haiti
Joed Espérance in Haiti — where the mission began
Joed Espérance
Executive Director
Joed Espérance serves as Executive Director of Heirs of Salvation Inc., leading the organization's strategic growth, fundraising, donor relations, partnerships, and operational rebuilding. He stepped into this role to honor his mother's vision and expand it into something the world can see and trust.
From an early age, Joed was immersed in the mission — accompanying his parents on visits to Haiti, witnessing the need firsthand, and understanding the weight of what his family had committed to. When the organization needed new leadership and renewed momentum, Joed answered the call.
Under his leadership, Heirs of Salvation has achieved its Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency, rebuilt its digital infrastructure, launched active fundraising campaigns, and begun the process of positioning HOS as a globally respected NGO built on trust, stewardship, excellence, and measurable impact.
Focus Areas
- Strategic planning and organizational growth
- Fundraising, donor relations, and grant readiness
- Digital infrastructure and brand development
- Partnership development and community engagement
- Program expansion at the Joedes Development Center
"The need is enormous, but our funds are lacking. However, with your contribution we will definitely be able to make a big difference in the lives of all those impacted by the earthquake — and create a much brighter day, filled with hope, in an area where the future is largely uncertain for the vast majority."
— Mireille Valmé Espérance, Founder
Stand With This Family
Their Mission Is Your Opportunity
The Espérance family has given everything to Haiti. Your gift multiplies their work and carries it forward to the next generation.
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