About

The Foundation makes grants each, in support of our mission, to programs and services at local hospitals, clinics and community-based organizations. Funds for our annual grant making come from charitable remainder trusts gifts and bequests of generous individuals and families, who want their charitable giving to improve the health of Orange County residents. In addition, a significant proportion of our grant making draws on the proceeds of the sale of United Western Medical Centers to Tenet, and is intended to continue the charitable legacy of those hospitals in central Orange County, California.

Board of Directors

Michael Ruane is the Executive Vice President of National CORE Mr. Ruane is responsible for overseeing the operations of National CORE, one of the nation’s largest nonprofit affordable housing developers. He leads the development of National CORE’s program and business strategies as well as oversees the communication of National CORE’s mission to internal and external stakeholders. Prior to this position, Mr. Ruane served as Interim Chief Operating Officer and Chief of Strategy and Public Affairs for CalOptima, the community health plan for Orange County.

He has more than 20 years of experience working for the County of Orange in various positions, including as Assistant County Executive Officer for Strategic and Intergovernmental Affairs, and as Executive Director of the Children and Families Commission of Orange County. Mr. Ruane is the immediate past Chair of the Orange County/Inland Empire District Council of the Urban Land Institute. He holds a Master’s Degree in Architecture and Urban Planning from UCLA and is an Adjunct Lecturer in the Department of Policy, Planning and Design at UC Irvine. Mr. Ruane serves on the Grants Committee, served as Vice Chairman from 2016 – 2018 and currently serves as Chairman of the Board.

Mark A. Refowitz has a professional history with more than 30 years of top management experience in public sector healthcare and social services, including experience in state and county government as well as private managed care. He recently retired from the County of Orange Health Care Agency where he served as Director from February 2012 until April 2017. The Health Care Agency has approximately 2700 full-time employees and an annual budget in excess of $620 million. He was appointed to the CalOptima Board of Directors in February 2012, and elected Chairman in May of that year. He served on the CalOptima Board from February 2012 until April 2017. Under his leadership, the National Committee for Quality Assurance rated CalOptima as its top Medicaid health plan in California for three years in a row during his tenure. He is a Board Governance Fellow from the National Association of Corporate Directors.

Mr. Refowitz’s experiences include the positions of Senior Vice President of Development with For Health, Inc. in Costa Mesa, California, Chief Clinical Officer with the Community Care Behavioral Health Organization in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Assistant Commissioner for Managed Care with the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health in Boston, Massachusetts. Mr. Refowitz currently serves on the Grants Committee and currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors

J. Fernando Niebla is the founder and Managing Partner of International Technology Partners, LLC (ITP) a business and technology consulting firm serving both the U.S. and Latin American markets. Prior to ITP, Mr. Niebla founded Infotec Development Incorporated (IDI) in 1979, an IT services organization serving primarily the defense industry, and was its CEO through 1996. He obtained a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Arizona and a Master of Science from the University of Southern California. He and his wife, Olga, are recipients of the "Giving is Living" Award (2002) from the Volunteer Center of Orange County, for their many charitable efforts in the community since 1962. Mr. Niebla has served on corporate boards of large organizations including Union Bank of California, Pacific Life Insurance Company, Integrated healthcare Holdings Inc. and Granite Construction, Inc. As well as in various entrepreneurial start-up companies. He is a founding member of the Hispanic Education Endowment Fund (HEEF) of Orange County and continues to serve on its Advisory Board. He previously served as Secretary of the Foundation Board from 2004-2006 and serves on the Finance and Investment and Audit Committees. Mr. Niebla currently serves as Chief Financial Officer.

Brian Van Marter has been practicing law in Southern California for over 25 years, and focuses his practice on Advanced Estate Planning, Probate and Trust Administration at the Law Firm of Larsen & Risley in Costa Mesa where he is a partner. Previously, Mr. Van Marter founded Weber • Van Marter LLP where he was the managing partner in an estate planning and probate practice. Prior to starting his firm, Mr. Van Marter was a partner at Cooksey, Toolen, Gage, Duffy & Woog (formerly known as Cooksey, Howard, Martin & Toolen). Additionally, Mr. Van Marter has been an Adjunct Professor at Trinity Law School where he has taught Wills, Trusts and Estates. Mr. Van Marter obtained his law degree (cum laude) from Whittier College School of Law in 1993 where he was the Executive Editor of the Whittier Law Review and the recipient of the Dean’s Merit Scholarship. He is currently pursuing his LL.M in Taxation from Chapman University School of Law. Mr. Van Marter obtained his undergraduate degree from California State University at Fullerton (B.A., American Studies) in 1990. He is admitted to practice in all State Courts of California and the United States District Court (Central District). Mr. Van Marter has served on the Grants Committee, is a current member of the Finance Committee; and currently serves as the Secretary to the Board.

David Dobos retired from Santa Ana College in 2011 after 38 years during which time he served as the department chair of Anthropology, Sociology and Women’s Studies, the Assistant Dean of Physical Education, the Dean of Students, and the Dean of Exercise Science, Health and Athletics. He earned an M.A. Degree in Sociology from San Diego State University. Prior to coming to the college, he worked with female wards of the court at the Boys and Girls Aid Society, Cottonwood Academy in San Diego. In addition to his faculty and administrative duties at Santa Ana College Mr. Dobos was on the board for the Friends of Santa Ana Parks, Recreation and Community Services, the board of the Friends of the Santa Ana Zoo, and the Youth Council for the City of Santa Ana Work Force Investment Board. He coordinated the Multi-Ethnic Institute for the United Way of Orange County and taught multi-cultural awareness at the Orange County Sheriff’s Academy and the Orange County Probation Department. Mr. Dobos served in a variety of volunteer capacities in such activities as the Santa Ana Youth Expo, the Annual Santa Ana Children’s Holiday Celebration, the Santa Ana Black History Parade, that city’s Jazz and Mariachi Festivals, the Cultural Affairs Committee for the City of Irvine, and the American Cancer Society Relay for Life for the city of Santa Ana. Mr. Dobos currently serves as the Chair of the Grants Committee.

Quynh Kieu, M.D. has been a pediatrician in private practice since 1979. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and a past Chairman of the Academy as well as an Assistant Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the University of California, Irvine. Dr. Kieu completed her residency in Pediatrics at UCI in 1976–78. She is active in the committee structure of the Orange County Medical Association, and serves on the CalOPTIMA Provider Advisory Board. She has served as Chair of the Vietnamese American Coalition for Citizen Rights and Director of the Children's Advocacy Institute. Dr. Kieu is dedicated to "Project Vietnam", a missions program serving children in need of specialized medical services or surgery in Vietnam.

Anthony M. Magno is the Division Vice President of Education & Training for Comprehensive Pharmacy Services (CPS). He oversees training operations for hospital pharmacies and corporate staff in locations across the United States. He’s also an executive coach for Lee Hecht Harrison (LHH) where he provides 1:1 career consultation for senior level candidates and facilitates numerous professional development workshops. In addition, Anthony brings a diverse managerial and leadership background with him. Prior to LHH, he was vice president of human resources for UnitedAg, an agricultural trade association. He also founded the corporate university for Western Growers, an Irvine-based organization.

In his spare time, Anthony teaches at Santiago Canyon College. He presently designs and teaches courses on social media, mobile communications and business applications. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, San Diego and Master’s degree from Pepperdine University. Anthony was Chairman of the Board for HFOC from 2016-2018 and currently serves on the Grants Committee.

Lilia M. Tanakeyowma, Ed.D retired as Dean of Student Affairs for Santa Ana College at the end of 2017, now the Principal Consultant with Tanakeyowma & Associates. Her prior service has included the positions of Executive Assistant, Fourth Supervisorial District, County of Orange; Program Director, California State University, Fullerton, Education Talent Search; Executive Director, Orange County Coalition for Immigrant Rights and Responsibilities. She has been an active volunteer, including serving as Red Cross Chairman of the Pacific Region (Alaska, Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, California and the Pacific Islands), Chairman, Hispanic Development Council of the United Way of Orange County, and Chairman, Board of Directors, Orange County Human Relations Council. Dr. Tanakeyowma is a founding member of the HealthCare Foundation for Orange County. She is the former Chairman of the Board for the Foundation from 2012-2016. Dr. Tanakeyowma currently serves on the Grants Committee and the Finance Committee.