About
Friends
Friends are donors, volunteers, educators, students, alumni, artists, activists, and allies who believe in the power of arts-based learning — a research-proven educational model that supports diversity in learning, inspires innovation, and enhances creativity and cognition across all subjects. Be a friend.
Board of Directors
Jen Burke / Vice President (Fun)
Visual designer, fun grammarian, Asawa SOTA alumni parent (World Music 2022, Orchestra 2015)
Suz Dehne / Treasurer
Architect, rainbow painter, Asawa SOTA alumni parent (Band 2020)
Don Fontowitz
Artist / educator, rebel farmer, Asawa SOTA Visual Arts director + English teacher (2001–Present)
Cheryl Kapchan / Secretary
Outlier educator, low-key collager, Asawa SOTA college counselor (2023–Present) + alumni parent (Visual Arts 2021)
Leslie Lum
Teacher / paraeducator / tutor for special + general ed, yoga yogi, Asawa SOTA Special / General Ed educator + Capstone mentor (2016–Present)
Adam Maggio
Theater producer, awkward dancer, Asawa SOTA Theater teaching artist (2021–2023) + alumni (Vocal 2010)
Anne Yanow / President
Insolvency accountant, friendraiser, Asawa SOTA alumni parent (Dance 2005)
Advisory Council
Anna Bukareva
Nonprofit executive director, girl power activist, Asawa SOTA Capstone mentor (2022–Present) + alumni sibling (Technical Theater 2009)
Josh Davidson
Chef, Christmas enthusiast, Head of McAteer Culinary Center for SFUSD Student Nutrition Services
Rachel Friedland
Accountant, urban wanderer, Asawa SOTA alumni parent (Band 2022, Vocal 2019)
Liz Jaroslow
Progressive educator, circus dog wrangler, Asawa SOTA alumni parent (Musical Theater 2023, Technical Theater 2023, Architecture + Design 2020)
Khafre Jay
Executive director / nonprofit strategist, dope MC, Asawa SOTA alumni (Visual Arts 2000)
Melecio Magdaluyo
Musician / educator, martial artist, Asawa SOTA Jazz Band Artist in Residence (1990–2022) + SFJAZZ Center teaching artist
Amy Wilson Morris
Conservation and parks planner, pelican enthusiast, Asawa SOTA current parent (Vocal 2027, Musical Theater 2025)
Andy Padlo
Musician / retired educator, mountain man, Asawa SOTA English, Russian, and PE teacher (2001–2021) + alumni parent (Technical Theater 2009)
Michael Palladino
Hospitality entrepreneur, top-ish chef, Asawa SOTA alumni parent (Vocal 2007)
Alfredo Vergara-Lobo
Organizational consultant / coach, cycling nerd, Asawa SOTA alumni parent (World Music 2023)
Shellie Wiener
School admin assistant / facilitator, compulsive genealogist, Asawa SOTA alumni parent (Band 2017)
Jason Wong
Investor / education advisor, travel enthusiast, Asawa SOTA alumni (Theatre 2006)
Members Emeritus
Colleen Ivie / Executive Director Emeritus
Financial services consultant, kite flyer, alumni parent (Band 2012)
Ron McCan / Director Emeritus
Costume designer / educator, Asawa SOTA Musical Theater director + Theatre Artist in Residence (2011–2020) + alumni (Technical Theater 1995)
Help Us Grow
We’re growing our board of directors and advisory committees. If you’re passionate about arts education and arts-based learning, check out our board nomination form or connect with us at friends@fosota.org for more information.
Together we are mighty.
Allies + Angels (2019–2024)
Adam Seligman
Aileen A Furukawa
Amy Morris
Andi Wong
Anne + Danny Yanow
Annette Ribeiro
Anonymous
Armin Haken
Ashley Walker
Aunt Debbie
Ava Soifer
Avrum Shepard
Beverly Chalmers
Big Leap Collective
Brad & Renee Wolf
Burke Family
Carole Denola + Joe McGuire
Colleen Ivie
Cristina Miyar
Dan Hook
Dave Fortescue
David Angel
Debra Safer
Dehne-Wrigley Family
Devon Shipp
Dexter Reid
Dolorico-Francoeur Family
Donna De Santis Buoymaster
Donna Shea
Doug and Kim Cline
Dr. John Calloway
Elvia Marta Emily del Real
Erika Carmona
Estate of Dr. Robert Squeri
Foodwise
Friedland + Associates
Galileo Robotics
Garry Spanner
Gelest Inc.
Gunilla Bergensten
Heidi Alletzhauser Photography
Her Idea
Hip Hop for Change
Howard Goldberg
In Gratitude to Natascha Leddy
Irvin and Pamela Reid
Janet Yieh
Janice Evans + Brady Bruce
Jay Kunzler
Jeff + Toneh Thompson
Jeff Seaman
Jeffrey & Dawn Linhardt
Jennifer White
Jerry Pannone
Jessica Kravin
Joe + Carrie Pentasuglio
Joe Hannon
John Fox
Jordan Park
Jose Lara
Josh Davidson
Judith Clarke
Julie Glantz
Kaiser Permanente
Kathleen Linhardt
Kent Anderson
Kevin & Judy Cline
Kirkland Jue
Laroque-Calot Family
Lillian Dehne
Lisa Marie Anaya
Lucho's
Marich Family
Marina Iofina
Marina McClay
Marty & Mary Pat Maloney
Mary James
Medical First Aid for Youth
Michelle Gillern
Monina Sen Cervone
Nadine Wei
Nico Berry
One Voice Mentors
Patti and Mark Boitano
Paul Kwapy
Persistent Planet
Phillip Rayher
Poets in the Schools
Project Smile
Rick & Mary Anne Schieb
Robert Cave
Rolling Arts
Roman
Romy Barbato
Ruth Asawa School of the Arts
Ruth Asawa School of the Arts PTSA
San Francisco Arts Commission
San Francisco Parks Alliance
Sara Park
School Yard Rap
SF BATCO
SF Foundation on Behalf of Gerard Gleason Fund
SFUSD Arts Department
SFUSD Student Nutrition Services
SHARP SF
Shellie Wiener + Alan Geist
SOTA Cyberdragons
SOTA stories
Stacy Family
Stella Kim
Stokes Family
Sue Schechter
Susan and Joe Schieb-Cunningham
Susan Langlands
Susan Terence
Tara Siegel
Terri Lin
The Evergreen Project
The McAteer Campus Community Farm
The SOTA Cyberdragons
Thermo Fisher Scientific
Tim Streb in memory of Caren Streb
Tristan Arnold
Urban Sprouts
USDA – The Patrick Leahy Farm to School Program
Vergara-Lobo Associates
Vincent Leddy
Vora / Pamnani Family
Walter van Riel
Youth Bike America
Youth Empowerment Fund
Yuko Tsuchiya
Yurkevich Family
Yvonne McClung
Zachary Lipsett
And You!
Header image: Revelers at Phat Sunday 2017. The FOSOTA-sponsored fundraiser hosted 1500+ guests from 31 cities enjoying over 2000 pounds of crawfish, craft beer, and bon temps elixirs. Photo by Heidi Alletzhauser Photography