Meet Our Board

View our current Board of Directors below:

Board Chair

Rita De la Fuente
Principal & Co-Founder, Evolution Affairs

Vice Chair

Sabrina Falquier Montgrain, MD, CCMS
Culinary Medicine Physician, Consultant

Sensations Salud, LLC, Founder & CEO

Secretary

Angela Elo-Rivera
Manager of Communications, UCSD Sanford Institute for Empathy and Compassion

Board Vice Chair

Blanca Meléndrez
Executive Director, UCSD Center for Community Health Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute

Board Treasurer

Krupa Asher
Business Strategy, Calbright College; Former Google

Board Member

Nancy Sasaki
President & CEO;
United Way of San Diego County

Board Member

Amelia Porras
Kitchenista & Former San Diego County Office of Education Early Childhood Interventionist

Board Member

Marisa Aurora Quiroz
President & CEO, International Community Foundation

Board Member

Garry Rollins
Founder & CEO, Six One Nine Group

Jr Consultant, Site Acquisition Specialist, ChargePoint

Board Member

Rachel Helmer
Founder & Chief Creative Officer,

Shine Blume Creative

Board Member

Marnie Baird
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®

American Money Management, LLC

View our current Board of Directors below:

Board Chair

Rita De la Fuente
Principal & Co-Founder, Evolution Affairs

Vice Chair

Sabrina Falquier Montgrain, MD, CCMS
Culinary Medicine Physician, Consultant

Sensations Salud, LLC, Founder & CEO

Secretary

Angela Elo-Rivera
Manager of Communications, UCSD Sanford Institute for Empathy and Compassion

Board Vice Chair

Blanca Meléndrez
Executive Director, UCSD Center for Community Health Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute

Board Treasurer

Krupa Asher
Business Strategy, Calbright College; Former Google

Board Member

Nancy Sasaki
President & CEO;
United Way of San Diego County

Board Member

Amelia Porras
Kitchenista & Former San Diego County Office of Education Early Childhood Interventionist

Board Member

Marisa Aurora Quiroz
President & CEO, International Community Foundation

Board Member

Garry Rollins
Founder & CEO, Six One Nine Group

Jr Consultant, Site Acquisition Specialist, ChargePoint

Upcoming Events

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Family Cooking Class Summer Series: Grilled Veggie Pizzas - Sold Out
Thursday, August 06, 2026    
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Our family cooking classes are back! Join us for the first class of our family cooking class summer series. In this class, we'll be making dough, homemade sauce and chopping garden veggies to create delicious veggie pizzas on the grill together. Join us to connect as a family and learn a new recipe together in the kitchen for hands-on dinner experience! Each ticket includes one adult and one child (K-6th grade).
Talls & Smalls / Altos y Pequeños (8/7/26)
Friday, August 07, 2026    
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Come join us for a morning in the garden exploring plants, bugs and more. Our outdoor adventure will include story time, a farm-to-table snack and exploration on our 8-acre garden property. Join us to spend quality time in nature with your little one while building a love for our environment and adventurous eating habits. Ven a pasar una mañana con nosotros en el jardín descubriendo plantas, insectos y mucho más. Nuestra aventura al aire libre incluirá un rato de cuentos, una merienda con productos de la huerta y un recorrido por nuestro jardín de 8 acres. Acompáñanos para disfrutar de un rato especial en la naturaleza con tu pequeño, al tiempo que fomentas el amor por el medio ambiente y unos hábitos alimenticios aventureros.
Garden Explorers August: Petal Power!
Saturday, August 08, 2026    
9:30 am - 11:30 am
Welcome all K-6th graders to Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center! Join us for a very special Garden Explorers to make crafts and learn about the power of flowers! Bring your curiosity and excitement to prepare for our time in the gardens! Saturday August 8th 9:30am-11:30am, Sign up today!
Chefcitos (August 8th, 2026 - 10AM)
Saturday, August 08, 2026    
10:00 am - 11:30 am
Join us this month for a colorful and flavor-packed snack favorite at Olivewood Gardens, Rainbow Nachos with homemade guacamole and pico de gallo. Children in grades K-6 are invited to join us in the teaching kitchen to build skills, confidence, and adventurous eating habits! Register for your spot today. Acompáñanos este mes en Olivewood Gardens para disfrutar de un tentempié muy colorido y lleno de sabor: los nachos arcoíris con guacamole casero y pico de gallo. ¡Invitamos a los niños de grados K-6 de primaria a que se unan a nosotros en la cocina didáctica para desarrollar sus habilidades, su confianza y unos hábitos alimenticios más atrevidos! Reserva tu plaza hoy mismo.
Chefcitos (August 8th, 2026 - 1PM) - CANCELLED
Saturday, August 08, 2026    
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Join us this month for a colorful and flavor-packed snack favorite at Olivewood Gardens, Rainbow Nachos with homemade guacamole and pico de gallo. Children in grades K-6 are invited to join us in the teaching kitchen to build skills, confidence, and adventurous eating habits! Register for your spot today. Acompáñanos este mes en Olivewood Gardens para disfrutar de un tentempié muy colorido y lleno de sabor: los nachos arcoíris con guacamole casero y pico de gallo. ¡Invitamos a los niños de grados K-6 de primaria a que se unan a nosotros en la cocina didáctica para desarrollar sus habilidades, su confianza y unos hábitos alimenticios más atrevidos! Reserva tu plaza hoy mismo.
13 Aug
Thursday, August 13, 2026    
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Our family cooking classes are back! Join us in the second class of our summer series. In this class, we'll explore a fun way to include many different veggies on your plate - vegetable fritters with a dip! These are hands-on and often a crowd-pleaser for those who don't always prefer vegetables. This class is an opportunity to connect as a family and learn together in the kitchen while building skills, confidence and adventurous eating habits - plus you'll make a delicious dinner! Each ticket includes one adult and one child (K-6th grade). National City resident price available (must have 91950 zip code).
Open Gardens
Saturday, August 15, 2026    
10:00 am - 12:30 pm
Join us for our monthly Open Gardens and Property Tour! You’ll learn about the history of the property, Olivewood programming, and more! This tour takes place on natural surfaces such as dirt and mulch so please wear appropriate shoes. Tours at 10:15AM & 11:15AM. No registration required.
August Garden at Dusk Dinner
Saturday, August 15, 2026    
5:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Featuring Chef Adrian Villarreal of Tahona Bar, San Diego Join us for our August Garden at Dusk Dinner at Olivewood Gardens, an unforgettable outdoor dining experience under the stars. This special evening will feature Chef Adrian Villareal of Tahona Bar (San Diego), known for his bold, soulful approach to Mexican cuisine and deep respect for regional flavors and ingredients. Guests will enjoy a thoughtfully curated, garden-inspired menu paired with refreshing beverages, live music, and the magic of dining outdoors in the heart of Olivewood Gardens. This intimate community dinner brings together food lovers, local chefs, and supporters of food justice for a night of connection, culture, and purpose. Tickets are limited and expected to sell out. Reserve your seat early for this one-night-only culinary experience.
Family Cooking Class Summer Series: Veggie Sushi - Sold Out
Thursday, August 20, 2026    
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Our family cooking classes are back! Join us in the third class of our summer series. In this class, we'll make veggie sushi with cucumber salad and edamame! These recipes will be fully hands-on and result in a delicious dinner to enjoy together. This class is an opportunity to connect as a family and learn together in the kitchen while building skills, confidence and adventurous eating habits - plus you'll make a delicious dinner! Each ticket includes one adult and one child (K-6th grade). National City resident price available (must have 91950 zip code).
Family Cooking Class Summer Series: Veggie Dumplings & Happy Rice - Sold Out
Thursday, August 27, 2026    
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Our family cooking classes are back! Join us for the final class of our summer series. We'll be making an Olivewood famous recipe - Happy Rice along with vegetable dumplings. Happy Rice is my #1 trick for introducing kids to new vegetables, or re-introducing them to vegetables that they previously haven't liked. It's an easy week-night staple dinner recipe, along with dumplings, which are hands-on and a great thing to prep now and cook later. This class will be a fun way to connect as a family and learn together in the kitchen, building skills and confidence while practicing adventurous eating habits - plus you'll make yourself a delicious dinner! Each ticket includes one adult and one child (K-6th grade).
Talls & Smalls / Altos y Pequeños (9/4/26)
Friday, September 04, 2026    
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Come join us for a morning in the garden exploring plants, bugs and more. Our outdoor adventure will include story time, a farm-to-table snack and exploration on our 8-acre garden property. Join us to spend quality time in nature with your little one while building a love for our environment and adventurous eating habits. Ven a pasar una mañana con nosotros en el jardín descubriendo plantas, insectos y mucho más. Nuestra aventura al aire libre incluirá un rato de cuentos, una merienda con productos de la huerta y un recorrido por nuestro jardín de 8 acres. Acompáñanos para disfrutar de un rato especial en la naturaleza con tu pequeño, al tiempo que fomentas el amor por el medio ambiente y unos hábitos alimenticios aventureros.
Events on Thursday, August 06, 2026
Events on Friday, August 07, 2026
Events on Thursday, August 13, 2026
Events on Saturday, August 15, 2026
Open Gardens
15 Aug 26
National City
Events on Thursday, August 20, 2026
Events on Friday, September 04, 2026