The Foundation

Who We Are

The San Antonio Young Women’s Leadership Academy Foundation was established in 2012. Our mission is simple: we exist to support the success & well-being of all students, faculty, and staff at YWLA. The Foundation is overseen by a five-member Board of Trustees, who also serve on the broader YWLA Advisory Board. The Advisory Board is comprised of 18 tenacious women from a diverse range of professional and educational backgrounds. All of our advisory board members share the singular ambition to ensure the long-term success of YWLA and its vision to prepare all our students to think critically, lead purposefully, and live healthfully, both in the college environment and beyond.

Our Advisory Board

  • Lynn McBee

    Chief Executive Officer, Young Women’s Preparatory Network - 2008

  • Berta Fogerson

    Chief Academic and Accountability Officer, Young Women’s Preparatory Network - 2008

  • Delia Montelongo, M. Ed.

    Head of Schools, Young Women’s Leadership Academy - 2007 - School Liaison

  • Priscilla Alfaro

    Principal, Young Women’s Leadership Academy - 2024 - School Liaison

  • Amy Grubbs

    Managing Director, EY - 2019
    Finance and Accounting

    Advisory Board Chair
    Foundation Vice Chair

  • Sonia Rodriguez

    Attorney & Partner, Cowen | Rodriguez | Peacock PC - 2010
    Partnerships and Communications

    Foundation Chair

  • Suzanne Wade

    Advisory Board Chair, YWLA - 2009
    Fundraising / Development, Partnerships and Communication

    Foundation Vice Chair

  • Cathy Obriotti Green

    Foundation Chair, Retired - 2015
    Fundraising / Development
    and Governance

    Foundation Secretary

  • Graciela Ciggaroa

    General Counsel, El Centro Del Barrio - 2008
    Fundraising / Development, Partnerships, Communications, Special Events and Nominating

    Foundation Vice Chair

  • Joyce Watson, CPSM

    Principal | Marketing, Cleary Zimmermann Engineers - 2021
    Governance and Communications

    Foundation Treasurer, Governance & Nominations

  • Cassidy Daniels

    Partner, RPSA Attorneys at Law - 2022
    Fundraising & Donor Development

  • Katherine Wadsworth

    Wildflower Practice - 2021 - Communications, Social Media, Outreach and PR

    Secretary, Student Programming & Support

  • Lisa Andrade-Gonima

    CEO, Del Rey Transportation LLC - 2023

    Marketing & Communications

  • Rachel Benavidez 

    Vice President of Strategy and Service Delivery, VIA Metropolitan Transit - 2023 - Strategic Communications/Marketing

    Marketing & Communications

  • Lori Houston

    President & CEO, The CE Group - 2021 - Partnerships

  • Betty Burks

    Volunteer YWLA Advisory Board - 2008 - Public Education Experience

  • Jackie Gorman

    Managing Partner/CEO, Ivy Consulting - 2019
    Partnerships and Nominating

  • Margarita Seaman

    Associate Vice President Strategic Operations, CentroMed - 2017 - Partnerships

  • Wendy L. Martinson

    Retired military officer
    United States Army - 2024
    Leadership,  Organization

  • Allyson Kuper

    Senior Director of Executive Development and Strategy, HEB - 2026

Emeritus Board Members

Jimmie Ruth Evans, Chair Emeritus, Founding Member
Cynthia De Hoyos, Founding Member
Jane Hill, Founding Member
Tina James, Founding Member
Dr. Marie Thurston, Founding Member
Diana Trevino, Founding Member
Mary Beth Williams, Founding Member*

*Deceased

What We Do

It is easy to assume that a school Foundation exists solely to help raise money. However, the SA-YWLA Foundation goes far beyond that. We care deeply about the mission of the Young Women’s Leadership Academy, and we are passionate about supporting and celebrating the success of each young woman who attends our school. We believe in the power of education to transform lives. While fundraising is therefore an important pillar of the work we do at the Foundation, it is more accurately considered a means to an end. Our primary areas of focus are:

  • To support innovative & well-rounded educational programs and activities that contribute directly to successful student outcomes

  • To serve as a strategic advisory committee who counsels & works with the faculty and staff at YWLA to ensure their needs & the needs of the school are recognized and prioritized

  • To partner with the broader San Antonio community to develop relationships & create investments that provide the resources required to empower YWLA to achieve their mission

Contribute today to help us further YWLA’s mission to prepare all our students to think critically, lead purposefully, and live healthfully, both in the college & university environment and beyond.

Donate now