We are the CARE Foundation...

Formed in 1992, the CARE Foundation enhances the effectiveness of the Capistrano Unified School District by supporting a wide array of programs and services for CUSD’s 51,000+ students.

The mission of the CARE Foundation is to raise money by developing partnerships with businesses and the community to enhance the quality of education for every student in the Capistrano Unified School District.

The CARE Foundation is governed by an all-volunteer Board of Directors. Our Board Members are::

2010 Executive Committee Officers

Enzo Scognamiglio
Owner, Brio Tuscany Grille
CARE Foundation Board President 2010

From owning four national franchises for Subway Restaurants, founding several restaurants to managing several Apartment Complexes in Southern California, Mr. Scognamiglio is an active entrepreneur, philanthropist and an icon in the community he serves. As an entrepreneur, Mr. Scognamiglio has made is mark serving people in the hospitality industry. Since 1993 he has been the owner of Brio Tuscany Grille in Dana Point, California, a popular restaurant, martini bar and nightclub. He also owned Brio Mare in Laguna Beach as well as Brio Tuscany Grille in Corona Del Mar. Prior to opening this local hotspot, he owned the Madison Steakhouse in Long Beach, the largest steakhouse in the US. He has held the Director of Food and Beverage position at the Renaissance Hotel in Long Beach and served as the General Manager of the Arriba Restaurant Group in Los Angeles, California. He also served as the Director of Food and Beverage at the Mayfair Hotel during the Los Angeles Olympics of 1984. Having spent over 5 years in the cruise ship industry he has mastered the art of customer service and appreciation. Born and raised in Napoli, Italy, Mr. Scognamiglio grew up in a large family where he learned the value of relationships and the importance of building a strong business through empowering people. He and is wife Jill raise their two children in Laguna Hills, California where they work together in several business. He holds a degree in Restaurant & Hotel Management from Avellino College in Napoli, Italy.

 

Del Dinger
CARE Foundation Board Treasurer 2010

Del Dinger has three children, two sons and a daughter. Her oldest son is a married adult and her middle child, a son, is a high school freshman in the Capistrano Unified School District. Her youngest child is a third grader also in CUSD. Del has been active with many organizations including the United Way, USA Army Reserve Family Readiness Group, Board of Trustee on homeowner associations, the Mako Foundation, as well as many positions on the PTA Board. Previously, Del’s work experience included over 20 years in the call center at the Southern California Gas Company. Del is happy to be serving as a board member for the CUSD Foundation and looks forward to using her learned skills wherever they are needed to help children throughout the district.

 

2010 General Board Members

Scot Ross
CPA & Entrepreneur

Entrepreneur and independent CPA from July 2007 to present, Mr. Ross works primarily with the founders of early stage technology and manufacturing companies to build business infrastructure and financing to support sustainable growth and profitability. In August 2004 Mr. Ross successfully completed the sale of M-Audio to AVID (NASDQ AVID) for an industry record valuation of $223 million. Mr. Ross was retained by AVID as Vice President of Finance and Business Development for the Audio Division of AVID until he resigned in July 2007. From 2002 to 2004 Ross served as executive vice president, chief financial officer and director of M-Audio/Midiman, Inc., and was primarily responsible for the worldwide finance, administration, legal and strategic planning of this $100 million international manufacturer and distributor of computer centric digital audio solutions for musicians and consumer hobbyists.

After earning his BS degree in Business/Accounting from the University of Southern California, Ross began his career in public accounting as a CPA and later worked for one of his clients, the Severin Group (the worldwide manufacturer and distributor of Gucci Timepieces) as a corporate controller. In 1992 he joined a venture capital financed technology company, CDB Infotek as Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and director before engineering the sale of the business to a division of Equifax Corporation in 1996. From 1997 to 2000 Ross worked as the Vice President and CFO with Fresh Start Bakeries, Inc., (an international contract bakery supplier to McDonald's Corporation) and co-engineered a $160 million LBO from Campbells Soup Company in 1998. Prior to joining M-Audio, Ross served as President and CEO of E-Commerce Exchange from 2000 to 2002 and later sold this business to iPMT Technologies.

 

KAREN KEIGH
REALTOR, SOUTH OC REAL ESTATE

 

Arne DeWitt
Principal, The DeWitt Group RE/MAX

He and his wife Debbie of 23 years have 2 wonderful boys and live in Laguna Niguel. Arne has been in local real estate sales for the past 20 years. Handling a variety of transactions from over five million dollars to condos under $300K. Arne primarily focuses on residential sales in the South Orange County and offers his services to thousands of clients in the Orange County area. During his tenure with Re/AMX Arne has racked up an impressive display of sales production awards, 100% Club, Platinum Club, and the prestigious Hall of Fame award. The Lifetime Achievement award recognizes RE/MAX sales associates who have helped at least 1,000 families buy or sell homes during their careers with RE/MAX. Platinum Club was the highest annual award in the RE/MAX network until recently when the Chairman's Club became the highest honor. Prior to his work as a South Orange County real estate broker, Arne graduated from California State University, Northridge with a BS degree in Business Administration. Arne likes to unwind by participating in sports such as golf, fishing, and hockey. He also enjoys coaching boys' sports and spending time with his sons, Wesley and Matthew. He is active in his church and donates time and income to individual charities.

 

FEYZI FATEHI
CEO, CORENT TECHNOLOGY

Feyzi has over twenty years of experience in building high-performance businesses including multiple business units at HP and four innovative software companies in Silicon Valley and in Southern California. He was elected to the board of the Technology Council of Southern California in 2007 and the Chairman of its Orange County chapter in 2008.

Feyzi is an avid education fan. After graduating from Norman High as a national honor society member, he went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Solar Engineering, a master’s degree in Computer Science and an MBA in International Management. He also received his Director Certification from UCLA and is a graduate of Anderson School of Management’s M&A program.

Feyzi has been a published author of several leading edge business and management articles and has been a keynote speaker around the globe including speaking at Harvard Business School, Stanford, Wharton, Pepperdine, and UCLA Anderson School of Management. Feyzi currently serves on the Leadership Council at Henry Samueli School of Engineering at UCI. He lives in Laguna Niguel with his wife and two daughters both of whom are students within the CUSD.

 

John Stephens
Senior Vice President, keenan and associates

John has been in the Insurance and Risk Management industry for nearly 18 years.  John began his career with Arthur J. Gallagher & Co, the 3rd largest insurance broker in the U.S. as part of their National College Internship Program and for the past 11 years, has worked with Keenan & Associates, a niche broker that works exclusively with California Public Agencies, Hospitals and Joint Powers Authorities, and  the largest privately held insurance brokerage firm in California. John is a Senior Vice President and Property & Casualty Practice Leader for Keenan and oversees the Property & Liability and Workers’ Compensation services for Keenan’s Public Agency programs, which includes approximately 600 California Public Agencies and 40 Joint Powers Authorities. 

 

Victoria Jakovich
Valtoria Insurance & Financial Services, Inc.

Victoria Jakovich started her career selling high end staffing solutions to Fortune 100 & 500 organizations in the US.   In a one year time frame Victoria and the Major Accounts sales team went from 8 on-site contracts to 40 on-site contracts totaling an increase over $80 Million in revenue.  During the time Victoria started the first complete on-site implementation and technology team for Adecco, North America.   The team not only standardized the process for implementation of all major accounts nationwide, but also developed operations, technology and, account measurement systems.   Later Victoria was promoted to the Western Division VP of Operations managing six states the West Coast totaling $750Million in revenue and 120 branch offices. 
After retiring from the industry Victoria started her second career in the Financial Industry.  Victoria put her talents to work helping people develop business and personal strategies for their financial future.   Victoria believes that one of the keys to a happy life is having a sound financial picture.  Victoria has assisted hundreds of people create financial stability andt happiness through structured goal setting and formal written financial plans. 
After working for a national planning firm Victoria decided to start up her own Insurance and Planning Firm , Valtoria Insurance & Financial Service, Inc. with her partner Valerie Acevez.   The firm focuses on Wealth Management for all levels of financial health.  So often those that need it most do not seek out assistance as they think they don’t have enough money.  Victoria and Valerie would like to change that because the best strategy for anyone looking for financial health is to seek affordable help.   “From my own experience, I met with a planner at the age of 28 and it changed the course of my life.  I want to give that back to others….”  It is her hope that one day Valtoria can provide non-profit counseling for those in financial need.   Valtoria also recently added Property and Casualty to its business line in order to provide a one stop shop for all their clients. 
Victoria has an MBA from Pepperdine University and a BS in Psychology from Iowa State University.  Victoria is also working on a PhD in Educational Technology from Pepperdine University
She has been involved in a number of charities through the years, but now dedicates her time to Valiant Women of the Mission Hospital Foundation and the Social Justice Committee at Saint Edwards Church in Dana Point. 

 

 

Larney fowler

ATTORNEY, PRIVATE PRACTICE

  A native New Yorker and a graduate of Princeton University and Fordham Law School, Larney moved to Orange County in 1983.  Since graduation from law school in 1979, Larney spent over 15 years with some of the nation’s leading law firms before going into business for himself.  Larney’s practice combines general business and transactional law with estate planning and asset protection.  Typical clients for Larney include small to medium sized businesses where he handles all business law matters as well as the estate planning for the business principals, and individuals and couples in Orange County looking to preserve their wealth and pass it on to their loved ones with the least expense and court involvement.

Larney has also owned several businesses in telecommunications and import/export. This gives him practical hands on appreciation for his clients’ everyday needs. 

Larney is single and has raised his daughter by himself since she was 8 years old. He considers his daughter, age 22 and a Junior at Columbia University in NYC, as his greatest accomplishment.

Larney loves the theatre, movies, reading, tennis, golf, dancing to rock ‘n roll, and singing at open-mike nights.

 

Advisory Board Members

CHARLIE WARE
DIRECTOR, RANCHO MISSION VIEJO COMPANY

Charlie has lived in Laguna Niguel with his wife and three children for over 30 years and a South Orange County resident since 1965. All three children have attended CUSD schools and his daughter is currently pursuing a Masters Degree and teaching credentials with hopes of teaching in the district one day. He has been employed by the Rancho Mission Viejo Co. as the Director of Governmental and Community Relations for over 15 years and represent the company to the CUSD Foundation Board as well as several other local community service organizations. He enjoy volunteering in my community as well as traveling and boating with family and friends.

Staff

SHEILA SHARIFI
FOUNDATION MANAGER

Sheila has been an education advocate for her entire adult life. She conducted summer camps for students in Massachusetts when her college was in recess and volunteered as tutor in multiple local schools when she worked in Silicon Valley.  She has been assisting the CUSD Foundation for the past few years after she and her family moved to SoCal. Sheila graduated from Sacred Hearts in Newton, MA with honors and earned a BS and MS in Electrical Engineering from Boston University. She worked as an Engineer and Manager for GTE, Apple Computer and HP.  Sheila and her husband live in CUSD where their two daughters attend CUSD schools.

 

Jamie Buongiorno
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Jamie has worked with children for many years as a tutor and camp counselor.  She also has experience working in non-profit organizations, and has volunteered with many other philanthropic organizations throughout Orange County.  Jamie grew up in Rancho Santa Margarita and attended all CUSD schools.  After graduating from Tesoro High School,  she attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo where she received her B.S. in psychology.  Jamie is passionate about education and supporting the schools and teachers that help students succeed. 

 

BETH WEBER
CPA

A long-time CPA, Beth has been self employed for almost 20 years.  She and her husband, Tom have been Laguna Niguel residents for 15 years where their both of their children were educated at CUSD schools.  An advocate of community involvement in education, she is also a school volunteer and active PTA member.  She specializes in income tax preparation and accounting assistance to individuals, small businesses and tax exempt organizations.