Natividad Foundation brings people together to enhance and strengthen Natividad, the one place that safeguards the lives and livelihoods of everyone in Monterey County. We are honored to serve our community, and dedicated as agents for positive change. With your support, we’re transforming health care into healing.

Natividad Foundation was founded in 1988 as a 501(c)(3) to philanthropically support and enrich Natividad’s services and improve the health of our community. Our partners fund critical programs, medical equipment, services and modernization projects to enhance the medical center’s health care services.

Natividad, home to the only Level II Trauma Center between San Luis Obispo and San Jose, is dedicated to providing high-quality, compassionate health care to everyone, regardless of ability to pay. Natividad offers a wide range of inpatient, outpatient, emergency, diagnostic and specialty medical care and sees nearly 52,000 Emergency Department visits annually. Every year, thousands of babies are born at Natividad and hundreds of infants — some smaller than one pound — are treated in its accredited Level III NICU.

Natividad Foundation’s donors enhance essential services and improve the health and well-being of our entire community by providing the funding for specialized medical equipment, training and more than a dozen critical programs for the vulnerable and at-risk.

Our Mission

Natividad Foundation brings people together to strengthen Natividad and create a healthier community. Together with our partners, we help Natividad provide high-quality health care and trauma services for everyone in Monterey County, including the vulnerable.

Our Vision

Natividad Foundation is an essential partner to Natividad and provides the financial and program resources it needs to enhance its health care services. Our public-private partnerships transform health care into solutions that heal people and create a healthier community.

Our Values

Transformative

Together with our partners, we enhance and strengthen Monterey County’s public hospital, giving Natividad the tools to provide high-quality health care and trauma services for everyone. Physicians and medical professionals have the equipment and resources they need to unlock their power to heal.

Compassionate

Our public-private partnerships transform health care into healing, ensuring that women, men, children and families receive equal access to health care services regardless of ability to pay. Our innovative and effective programs for the vulnerable and underserved improve the health and well-being of our entire community.

Responsible Stewards

We provide excellent financial management of restricted and unrestricted gifts, consistent communication, and ensure the programs our partners fund achieve positive, measurable outcomes. Natividad trusts us to support specialized medical equipment, advanced technology, training and services to enhance its ability to provide high quality health care.

Our Staff

	Jennifer L. Williams-Carpenter, M.A., CFRE President & CEO Ms. Williams joined the Foundation staff as Director of Development in 2002. Born and raised in Ohio, she graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics from Youngstown State University, Youngstown, OH, as well as a Master of Arts in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, CA. Read More Ms. Williams has worked in hospital settings since the age of 15 when she first joined the Volunteer Auxiliary at her local city hospital. She has written, secured and managed more than $10 million in federal and state grants for Natividad, including 15 consecutive years of federal funding for the hospital’s Natividad Immunology Division, Outpatient (NIDO) Clinic. She has worked with more than 100 foundations that have donated millions of dollars to support critical programs at the hospital. Ms. Williams also has extensive experience in nonprofit management and governance. Ms. Williams is the former President of the Board of Directors for the Central Coast Center for Independent Living and previously served as Vice President of Communications for the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Monterey Bay Chapter.
	Hillary Hollingsworth Fish Director of Annual Programs Hillary Fish was born and raised in Monterey County and joins us after a 14-year agricultural marketing career working for foundation donors Matsui Nursery and Earthbound Farm. Read more Ms. Fish attended Salinas High School and Hartnell College before receiving her bachelor’s degree in journalism with a focus in public relations. She brings a wide range of skills to the foundation, including developing innovative, effective marketing programs, communications and events. An active and engaged member of our community, Ms. Fish’s volunteer work is centered on organizations committed to providing young people with opportunities and learning experiences. She was a board member for Ag Against Hunger for six years, a nonprofit that works with the local ag industry to collect fresh produce to distribute it to people in need. Ms. Fish served as co-chair for the Women’s Education Leadership Initiative (WELI) at Hartnell College, helping raise money to provide women with much-needed scholarships and mentoring. She is also communications director for the Parent-Teacher Organization at Dual Immersion Academy of Salinas, a magnet public school that teaches students — including her daughters — in Spanish for the majority of the day.
	Dr. Dana Kent Medical Director for Health Promotion and Education Dr. Kent received her M.D. degree from Harvard Medical School and completed her family medicine residency at Natividad, where she was co-chief resident. Prior to medical school, Dr. Kent was a registered nurse at Natividad in labor and delivery and the nursery. Read more Her two daughters were born at Natividad, so connections with the hospital are deep. Dr. Kent has worked as a family physician in Monterey County’s safety-net clinic system for her entire clinical career, both at Natividad’s clinics and the Monterey County Health Department clinics, where she was medical director for 6 years at the Seaside Family Health Center. Dr. Kent joined Natividad Foundation in 2010, initially teaching community medicine to the family medicine residents. She then co-developed a nutrition and physical activity promotion curriculum for the Foundation’s Local Food and Nutrition Education (LFNE) grant. Since 2012, with grant funds from the Community Foundation for Monterey County, Dr. Kent has served as the Medical Director for a modified LFNE curriculum that specifically focuses on diabetes, called 5 Steps to Prevent Diabetes. She also provides professional mentoring and guidance for the American Association of Diabetes Educators-accredited Diabetes Education Center at Natividad, the first and only center of its kind in Monterey County focusing on the underserved. Dr. Kent is fluent in Spanish and has worked in public health in Chiapas, Mexico.
	Lisa Rico, MPH Grant Programs & Evaluation Director Ms. Rico is responsible for managing all grants and providing health education in the community for Natividad Foundation’s programs. She received her Master of Public Health from California State University, Fullerton and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from University of California, Davis. Read more Born at Natividad, Ms. Rico is a native of Monterey County. She has worked with Natividad Foundation since 2014 in various roles, including as Health Educator for our 5 Steps to Prevent Diabetes^© program. She began her career with Natividad in 2006 as Health Educator and then as Outpatient Services Manger until 2014. Ms. Rico is a proven project manager with experience in program management, implementation, progress reporting and fiscal management.
	Judith Pacheco Indigenous Interpreting+ Coordinator Ms. Pacheco joined the Foundation in 2013 as the Indigenous Interpreting+^®coordinator. She helps people identify the language they need and assists with scheduling interpreting and consulting services. Read more Ms. Pacheco holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social and Behavioral Science from California State University, Monterey Bay. Born and raised in Monterey County, she has a history of community service and involvement in non-profit organizations which promote health and education. Ms. Pacheco is very passionate about making a difference in her community through direct involvement. She supports, and is a strong believer, in Natividad’s mission to “provide healthcare access to all patients, regardless of their ability to pay.” Ms. Pacheco enjoys the outdoors and spending time with her son.
	Lori Grimes Bookkeeper Ms. Grimes joined Natividad Foundation in 2011. She brings more than 20 years of experience in bookkeeping and accounting working with various organizations. Ms. Grimes has sat on several non-profit boards including the Anzar High School Booster’s Club and the San Juan Aromas Little League. Read more She dedicates each fall to organizing the Fist Bumps, a Monterey ALS Walk Team that supports the ALS Association. Ms. Grimes enjoys photography and lives in Aromas with her husband and 2 sons.
	Pam Powell Executive Assistant to Philanthropy Ms. Powell joined the staff of Natividad Foundation in 2015. She was born in Santa Cruz and moved to Hollister in 2014. Ms. Powell has 28 years of experience working with nonprofits. She attended Blackbaud University to receive certification in Raiser’s Edge — the industry leader in constituent relationship management software. Read more Ms. Powell serves as the Foundation’s Donor Database Administrator and is responsible for integrity, and security of donor and prospect information systems to support donor cultivation and prospect research. Beginning at the age of 13, Ms. Powell started volunteering and has continued over the years from candy striper in a convalescent home to foster care parenting, Catholic Charities as a driver for seniors, Birthright in Santa Cruz, Secretary of PTA for her children’s schools, Girl Scout Leader, to NorCal Boxer Rescue and, currently, she is a hospice volunteer with the Central Coast Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice. In her spare time, Ms. Powell enjoys riding her motorcycle and spending time with her grandchildren.

Our Board of Directors


	Minerva Perez-Lopez, M.D. Chair of Natividad Foundation, Family Medicine Physician, Natividad Medical Group With an Ivy League education that includes the Pre-Medical Program at Bryn Mawr College and a Brown University School of Medicine Medical Degree, Dr. Minerva Perez-Lopez returned to her Salinas roots as a family physician at Natividad Medical Group. Read more Dr. Perez-Lopez completed the Natividad Family Medicine Residency Program in 2006, followed by an Obstetrical Fellowship at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San Jose. She graduated from Alisal High School, and her education is distinguished with honors, scholarships and academic recognitions. Dr. Perez-Lopez says her educational background offered outstanding opportunities, but her goal was always to return to the community she knows and loves.
	Emmett Linder Vice Chair of Natividad Foundation, Director, Community and Grower Relations, Driscoll Strawberry Associates, Inc. Mr. Linder was born and raised in Salinas, California, and attended both Palma High School and Hartnell College. He graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a degree in Agricultural Business Management. Mr. Linder has been employed at Driscoll’s for more than 30 years holding various positions in the areas of cooling, shipping, supply chain, product quality and food safety. Read more His board experience includes Ag Against Hunger, Grower-Shipper Association, Grower-Shipper Foundation, Hartnell College Foundation. Mr. Linder has two children. Matthew attends UC Davis and Catherine attends Boise State.
	Craig A. Walls, M.D., PhD, FACEP Secretary of Natividad Foundation, Chief Medical Officer, Natividad, Assistant Clinical Professor, UCSF Specializing in emergency medicine, Dr. Walls treats patients suffering from a wide range of acute illnesses and injuries at Natividad’s Emergency Department. Read more He earned his medical degree in 2001 at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign before completing a residency in emergency medicine at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Dr. Walls also has a BA in History and Political Science. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Monterey County Medical Society.
	Maria Boisvert, AWM Treasurer of Natividad Foundation and Senior Vice President-Financial Advisor, RBC Wealth Management Ms. Boisvert is a Senior Vice President, Financial Advisor with RBC Wealth Management in the San Jose office for over 35 years, where she helps affluent individuals and their families achieve their financial goals by creating and implementing comprehensive wealth management strategies. Read more In addition to her series licenses, Ms. Boisvert is a Registered Investment Advisor and is an Accredited Wealth Manager with RBC Wealth Management. She also developed her interest for drawing and painting at an early age. Ms. Boisvert received her Bachelors of Arts Degree in Sculpture and Sociology at Plattsburg State University of New York in 1979. Her works currently can be seen at the Gallerie Amsterdam of Fine Art in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. In Ms. Boisvert’s spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Don Woo, hiking, cooking and traveling.
	John D'Arrigo President, CEO and Chairman of the Board, D'Arrigo California Mr. D’Arrigo is the President, CEO and Chairman of the Board of D’Arrigo California, a vertically integrated grower, packer and shipper of fresh fruits and vegetables in California and Arizona. Read more He began his farming career cutting and packing lettuce, loading celery and planting fields during the turbulent labor strikes of the 1970s in the Salinas Valley. Mr. D’Arrigo received his Bachelor’s of Science degree in Agricultural Economics and Business Management from the University of California at Davis. An avid supporter of the agriculture industry and actively participates in various agricultural organizations, Mr. D’Arrigo is a former chairman of both the Grower-Shipper Association and Western Growers. He is the founder of The Agricultural Leadership Council (TALC), a collective of more than 170 agricultural and community leaders dedicated to funding necessary medical equipment and services for the hospital. Mr. D’Arrigo is also a member of the Kinship Center board and supports numerous other nonprofit organizations. He is married to Sandy and they have three sons: Christopher, Michael and Matthew.
	Stephen W. Goldman Principal, SSB Construction Mr. Goldman has spent the last 28 years in the construction industry, and works in every aspect of the business. As a young man growing up in Salinas around the construction business, he understood the importance of developing long-term relationships with clients, and says it’s one of the things that make his job rewarding. Read more Because of Mr. Goldman’s long history in construction, he has learned the importance of focusing on the needs of the client and utilizing the trends of the industry. He is a graduate of Virginia Polytechnic Institute. In addition to spending time with his wife and son, he enjoys reading, journaling, practicing and teaching yoga, and traveling to third world countries to learn more about different cultures.
	Peter Chandler, M.D. Director of Obstetrics & Gynecology Services, Natividad Dr. Chandler is the Assistant Chief of Staff and Obstetrics & Gynecology Service Director at Natividad. Prior to joining Natividad’s Medical Staff, he practiced in Vancouver, Washington, and was active in outpatient gynecology resident education. Read more Dr. Chandler grew up in Stockton, California, and earned his Master’s of Public Health in Epidemiology from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1989. He attended Northwestern Medical School and completed his Obstetrics/Gynecology (OB/GYN) Residency at Ohio State University. Following his residency, Dr. Chandler joined the United States Air Force where he served on the teaching staff of the Family Practice Residency Program at Andrews Air Force Base from 1997 to 2001. During this time, he was an Assistant Clinical Professor at the Uniformed Services Health Sciences University and was part of the Bethesda-Walter Reed OB/GYN residency teaching staff.
	Gary Gray, D.O. Chief Executive Officer, Natividad Dr. Gray is the Chief Executive Officer at Natividad. Dr. Gray’s previous roles at the hospital were Chief of Medical Staff and Director of the Family Medicine Residency Program. Dr. Gray is certified by the American Board of Family Practice and was formerly Assistant Professor and Director of Pre-Doctoral Education for the Department of Family Medicine at Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C. Read more Dr. Gray received a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from the University of Osteopathic Medicine and Health Sciences in Des Moines, Iowa and completed a residency and internship in Family Medicine at Womack Army Medical Center in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was previously a staff physician at the former Fort Ord and in private practice in Denver, Colorado.