Growing Green Hands

Growing Green Hands: An Intergenerational Mentoring Program

Meet our Board of Directors

This not-for-profit organization is supported by a devoted group of Board Directors who embrace the mission and the vision of this program.

William H. Mott IV - Chairman of the Board

Bill Mott, born William Henry Mott IV at Mills Hospital in San Mateo, grew up in Fremont, California. Raised by his grandparents, he enjoyed a large family that included an Auntie, two sisters and five cousins; he was the only boy. From an early age, Bill showed an interest in cooking. His grandmother was one of many teachers in the kitchen, but he was soon the one cooking for all of them. He later studied under Alec Kline and Karl Kirk, Master Chefs at Canada College. With over 20 years of combined Food Production and Food Service Management, and 15 years serving Retirement Communities that included Independent, Assisted Living and Full Service Continuum Care, he brings much experience, skill, and service finesse.

Married 24 years, he and his wife have raised two children and now have a delightful 2 year old granddaughter they love to spoil. A true sport enthusiast, Bill was active during the years of his children’s youth as coach, camp counselor and therapeutic Foster Parent. He also served as a leader for youth groups such as 4-H and other youth organizations. He and his wife spend much time outdoors camping and connecting with nature as his wife is a Private Practice Eco Therapist and Family counselor. They enjoy living on the peninsula and are both active as CEV volunteers in Brisbane.

Bill’s Non-profit Board experience is extensive. In the past 16 years he has served on numerous Boards in the capacity of Chair, Vice-Chair, At-large member, Treasurer, and as Education Chair. In addition to his position as Chair of Growing Green Hands, he is also currently mentoring men for a private organization.

Magda Bauer - Vice-Chair

 Magdalena Bauer, has been working as an Licensed Vocational Nurse for over 35 years. She started working at St. Mary's Hospital in San Francisco, and more recently, at Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City. Recently retired, Magda has continued to work as needed at the hospital, as well as, provide annual contracted services as a FluShot nurse. Magda has been a "runner" for over 30 years and continues to meet with her track team members every Saturday morning at the Polo Fields. Her passions are sewing and quilting and she is remarkable at both. Magda shares her expertise by assisting the Brisbane Dance Workshop, every year, with their costume needs. She also sat on the BDW board for 3 years.  Magda comes from a large Bay Area family, but her love for her immediate family is very pronounced. She is a frequent volunteer at the Brisbane Elementary School, where her only granddaughter attends. She is more than willing to provide consultation for her daughter's Mental Health Training Company, and most of all, she offers her time for various community endeavors including,the Brisbane Community Emergency Volunteers. Magda looks forward to sharing her gifts and talents with Growing Green Hands and excited to be involved with it's developement.

Donna Wolfe, LPT - Director of Development

Ms. Donna Wolfe has over 20 years of experience working the field of psychiatry as a Licensed Psychiatric Technician. She has worked at various facilities in the Bay Area, and is currently hired as a consultant for BAART PROGRAMS, as their Mental Health Program Coordinator for their two downtown San Francisco Clinics.She also sits on the board for the Hyde Street Community Service/Tenderloin Clinic, as VP/Treasurer.

Ms. Wolfe's passion continues to be to educate family members and loved ones of those suffering with a mental illness and help them better understand the issues and dynamics that accompany a new diagnosis, as well as those wishing to further develop their skills when interacting with this diverse and sometimes difficult population.

Ms. Wolfe has experience as a public speaker and has presented her "Overview of Mental Health" program to various communities such as the Kiwanis Club and the Soroptomist Women’s Club.

Elenita De Lucca - Treasurer

 Elenita De Lucca is a native of San Francisco and moved to the East Bay while she attended UC Berkeley and majored in English Literature. She now lives in Orinda with her large family and appreciates the benefits of living in a close knit and safe community. Her roots are still in the city and her husband Dominic owns and operates De Lucca's School of Tae Kwon Do in Daly City. In between raising her 6 children, ages 20, 19, 17, 16, 7, and 5, she has worked in various fields, including teaching, tutoring, banking, and real estate. Growing up with both grandmothers at home, she values the knowledge and experience that older people can impart on younger generations, giving them a sense of history, belonging and importance in their own lives. Growing Green Hands is a wonderful opportunity that will benefit Brisbane and surrounding communities by nurturing the values and talents of a much neglected resource: our own youth.

Wendy Towle, LMFT - Secretary

Wendy Towle is a local Brisbane resident and licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. A mother and wife, she also keeps very busy working at home and working for a mental health agency in San Mateo. She is involved with many community efforts, including The Mother’s of Brisbane, and brings to the Board of Growing Green Hands her skills of organization and a passion for the residents of this city.

Beth Myers, LMFT,CT - At-Large Board Member

Beth Myers is a licensed marriage and family therapist with a private practice in San Mateo. She is also the director of services for older adults at Pyramid Alternatives, a nonprofit mental health agency in Pacifica. She works extensively with older adults, specializing in a variety of issues affecting today’s aging population, including stress management, managing depression and loneliness, adjusting to grief and loss, navigating the physical and emotional aspects of aging, and coping with alcohol and drug issues in the family. She also provides community workshops and presentations aimed at developing a greater level of autonomy and empowerment when faced with the many challenges of growing older in our society. Beth holds a master’s degree in counseling, with special emphasis in gerontology and additional certification in grief counseling and education. She has served as a mentor in a variety of venues and provides clinical supervision to counseling students, post-graduate interns, licensed practitioners, and senior peer counselors. She volunteers her time on the San Mateo Coast and San Mateo County disaster response teams and recently served a four-year term as president on the board of a local preschool. She holds a second master’s degree in business administration, and her previous career was in human resources administration.

Beth’s background will allow her to bring clinical expertise and sensitivity to the role of training and coaching older adults to serve as mentors. For some adults, this may provide the opportunity to redefine their own identity and bring a new sense of purpose as they navigate the challenges of growing older in today’s society. Beth also has extensive clinical experience in working with anger management, domestic violence, parenting and chemical dependency issues, as well as grief and loss and trauma recovery, which will be invaluable in training older adults to mentor youth from fragmented and at-risk backgrounds.

 Vanessa B. Tate, MFT - At-Large Board Member

Vanessa B. Tate is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist who grew up in the Midwest and brought her virtues and strong work ethic with her to the Bay Area. She maintains a private practice in San Francisco where she focuses on working with adults and families to live more integral lives free of abuse and addiction. She has worked with children in the capacity of a Sunday School Spiritual Teacher, Sandplay and Art Therapist, and Workshop Leader. Through this work, she has been struck by the hastening negative impact of technology on society's ability to be intimate and personable with each other and nature. She is passionate about creating opportunities for kids to experience genuine interpersonal learning experiences. Vanessa is also a yoga practicioner and instructor and is trained in Somatic Psychotherapy. She therefore is a huge proponent of working with kids and adults holistically to access the intuition of the physical body and spirit to lead us to health and happiness.

Coming from a past career in Journalism and Advertising, Vanessa continues to work as an Art Director and Marketing consultant to startups and nonprofits - talents which she can offer GGH. She and her husband are committed to maintaining and improving small, conscious communities as they gut, remodel and live in their Brisbane home.