What This Year Has Shown Us | December 2020 Newsletter

Our work is about seeing inequity in the lives of children and families and trying to do something about it. The events of 2020 have shown us the critical importance of this, now more than ever.

We have been honored to play a role in San Mateo County’s efforts to support vulnerable children, families, and businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, and bolstered by the commitment to this work shown by all of our partners. Across the county, we have seen partners quickly change course to get critical supplies, resources, and information to families and child care providers, as well as find entirely new ways of providing their existing services.

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Headshot of Kitty Lopez

Kitty Lopez has served as the Executive Director of First 5 San Mateo County since 2012, focusing on policy, advocacy and communications development. Additionally, she is the Chair of First 5 Association of California. Kitty previously served as the Executive Director of Samaritan House, one of the leading safety-net nonprofit agencies serving low-income families and individuals in San Mateo County with food, shelter, clothing, health care, counseling, education classes, and holiday assistance from 2002 to 2012.

Kitty taught kindergarten, second grade, and high school in the Bay Area and in Santa Barbara, and was a consultant in schools with children who have autism and special needs. Additionally, Kitty worked in a residential substance abuse treatment center in San Francisco and psychiatric hospital in San Diego.

She attended University of California Santa Barbara earning a California Teaching Credential and B.A in Psychology. Kitty is active in her community serving on several community boards including HEART (Housing Endowment and Regional Trust of San Mateo County), STEP (Success Through Education Program), and Past President and Current Member of the San Mateo Rotary Club.