Los Angeles, CA (Jan. 30, 2019) – The board of directors of The California Wellness Foundation has elected Joseph M. Lumarda as chair, Pamela Simms-Mackey, MD as treasurer, and Isabel Becerra as secretary. In addition to electing new officers, the board approved a new leadership structure to better align its governance responsibilities with the foundation’s mission and strategic initiatives. The officers assumed their new positions on January 1, 2019 and will serve a two-year term.
Lumarda is senior vice president and investment counselor for Capital Group Private Client Services and a vice president of Capital Guardian Trust Company. Simms-Mackey is the director of Graduate Medical Education at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland, as well as an attending physician in the hospital’s Primary Care Center. Becerra is the chief executive officer of the Coalition of Orange County Community Health Centers, which represents 26 community health center organizations providing services throughout the county.
“This is a strong, diverse leadership team,” said Judy Belk, Cal Wellness president and CEO. “They possess the skills and perspectives to advance the foundation’s vision and mission.”
Lumarda joined the foundation’s board in September 2014 and served as vice chair from 2017-2018. Prior to joining Capital, he spent 16 years at the California Community Foundation in the roles of program officer, vice president for development, executive vice president and chief operating officer. His full biography can be found here.
“I am honored to serve as board chair,” Lumarda said. “I look forward to helping the board and staff engage boldly and creatively to improve the health and wellness of the people of California and to balance stewardship and risk-taking to advance our mission.”
Simms-Mackey joined the board in September 2015. In her role as treasurer, she also chairs the board’s finance committee, the first time a woman of color has held this position at Cal Wellness. She also holds an appointment as a clinical professor of Pediatrics with University of California, San Francisco’s School of Medicine, where she educates medical student as well as pediatric residents on the Oakland campus. Her full bio can be found here.
“We’ll be engaging in serious conversations on investment policy, how much money we move into communities, and our mission-related investing strategy,” said Dr. Simms-Mackey. “Each of these topics will help set the stage for the foundation’s next 25 years, and I’m excited to help lead this work.”
Becerra has served on the board for 10 years and was vice chair in 2015-2016. She brings 25 years of experience in executive leadership, human resources, program planning, operations, health policy and development activities for community health centers in San Diego, Seattle and Orange County. Her full biography can be found here.
“It's a privilege to serve again in a leadership role on the foundation’s board,” Becerra said. “Cal Wellness plays a vital role in supporting the people and organizations who are creating opportunities for all Californians to enjoy good health and experience wellness.”
About The California Wellness Foundation
The California Wellness Foundation’s mission is to protect and improve the health and wellness of the people of California by increasing access to health care, quality education, good jobs, healthy environments and safe neighborhoods. Since its founding in 1992, Cal Wellness has awarded more than $1 billion in charitable contributions and 9,229 grants.