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About Us

Our Story

Project Nova was founded to provide lighting in villages to enable evening education, and increase overnight safety in communities across the DRC. We’re on a mission to raise awareness of the current crisis in the Congo through solar lighting to bring change and a brighter future for the Congolese.

Project Nova is a registered 501©(3) non-profit organization based in Dallas, TX.  Founded in 2021, Project Nova has focused on bringing public awareness to tough living conditions that exist in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and providing aid to help enhance infrastructure to create a better tomorrow. 

Through our partnership with RuK Enterprises, LLC and The Mbenga Foundation, Project Nova is able to manufacture and distribute individual LED Solar lightbulbs that are used in homes, orphanages, and villages throughout rural areas in the DRC. 

In 2020-2021, Project Nova was able to distribute solar lights to thousands of people in various villages outside of Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (“DRC”). 

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Project Nova continues to expand this mission to deliver solar lighting to villages that lack infrastructure for electricity, enabling nighttime education, increased security, and a more comfortable home for impoverished families.  

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Our Journey So Far

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Jon Clark

Co-Founder & CEO, Titan Investments, Ruk and Project Nova

Jon Clark is a seasoned executive business leader and entrepreneur who has demonstrated success in ventures across numerous industry verticals. An intrepid business leader, he is highly experienced in startups, business process, negotiation, sales, strategy and building high-performing teams. As founder and CEO of Titan Investments, he specializes in building businesses and non-profits from start-up to scale and partnering for long-term growth and impact. He and D.J. Mbenga founded Project-Nova with a vision of improving the livelihood for current and future generations of people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Todd Newman

Co-Founder and Treasurer

Todd Newman is the CFO of Ruk and Co-Founder of Project Nova. Todd is a licensed CPA who’s experience as a teenager volunteering with his physician father in Mali inspired him to find a way to give back. Ruk is a line of bags and backpacks that directly supports Project Nova with a 1:1 donation for every purchase made. Learn more about Ruk at www.rukpack.com.

Jillian Turpin

President

With a background in hospitality and customer experience, Jillian Turpin excels at fostering relationships, project management, business development, and client service. Her passion for doing impactful work, especially in the nonprofit sector, coincided perfectly with the founding of Project Nova, where she leads all efforts for the organization from coordinating partnerships to managing contributions and campaigns.

Meet our Board of Directors

DJ Mbenga

Board Member

DJ Mbenga is a 2-time NBA Champion player from Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo and founder of the Mbenga Foundation. The Mbenga Foundation is Project Nova’s partner on the ground through its network of staff and volunteers. DJ is incredibly focused on improving education, safety, and access to healthcare for the people of Congo and works tirelessly through his foundation to create schools and orphanages around the country. Learn more about the Mbenga Foundation at www.mbengafoundation.org.

Jennifer Aiken

Board Member

Jennifer Aiken is the Director, Strategic Accounts at Strive Consulting, LLC in Richardson, Texas. Jennifer joined the board of Project Nova in January 2022 after traveling with Jon Clark and DJ Mbenga to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and learning first-hand the power that solar lighting to bring to villages across the country.

FAQ

Is your organization a 501c3?

Yes, Project Nova is a 501c3 corporation.

What is your organization’s mission?

Project Nova is dedicated to enabling lighting infrastructure innovation for homes, schools, and orphanages in Africa, that currently do not have these resources available.

How can I partner with the organization?

Please contact us here.

How can I donate to your organization?

You can donate through any of the DONATE buttons located throughout the website.

Can I donate if I live outside of the United States?

If you are living in a country where PayPal is available, yes. If not, please contact us here.

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