The history of the Point Lobos Foundation dates back to 1978 as the Point Lobos Natural History Association. As a result of shortfalls from state funding, the Department of Parks and Recreation encouraged each park to establish a Cooperating Association that could accept money to fund importance needs to its parent park. The PLNHA was made up of mostly park Rangers and their spouses with a few non-rangers and formed to support Point Lobos. Money was raised through book sales to develop interpretive materials, trail guides, expand educational literature, and to eventually form the Point Lobos docent program.

As the needs of the Reserve grew, our organization grew to meet them. Today we are a membership organization known as the Point Lobos Foundation. Our mission is to protect and nurture Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, to educate and inspire visitors to preserve its unique natural and cultural resources, and the strengthen the network of Carmel Area State Parks.

The Point Lobos Foundation funds the Point Lobos docent program, fills shortfalls in funding for trail maintenance and repair, funds the restoration of wildlife habitat, maintains the facilities at the Reserve, and funds school outreach, providing opportunities for underserved children to experience the outdoors.

Point Lobos State Natural Reserve sunset at Cannery Point. Photo credit: Castel Ortiz.

Point Lobos Foundation Staff

  • pic of ED Steffanie Gamecho

    Steffanie Gamecho, Executive Director

    Steffanie comes to the Point Lobos Foundation with over 20 years of private sector experience in strategy, business development, and
    marketing. She has a passion for service, business complexities, and nature. Most recently, she has dedicated herself to nonprofit strategy, business consulting, and grant writing within the environmental conservation sector. Consulting work led Steffanie to her role as the ParkIT! Project Director where she collaborates closely with partners at California State Parks.

    Steffanie holds a Bachelor of Science in Advertising from San Jose State University. Involved in philanthropy and volunteering for her entire life, Steffanie currently serves as Secretary and Officer of the Board of Hope, Horses & Kids and served on the Community Foundation for Monterey County’s Community Impact Grant Review Subcommittee.

  • Photo of Tracy-Gillette-Ricci, PLF Development Director

    Tracy Gillette-Ricci, Development Director

    Tracy is a graduate of Florida State University and started her career in Social Services. She grew up on the West Coast of Florida and has a deep love of marine areas and a passion to help preserve and protect natural resources. After moving to California in 1999, she discovered the Monterey Peninsula and in 2005 made it her home. She joined the Point Lobos Foundation staff in 2012 and has spent the last several years dedicated to supporting and furthering the organization’s mission. Contact Tracy at 866-338-7227 extension 107 or tracy@pointlobos.org.

  • Photo of Caitlin McMillen, PLF Finance Specialist

    Caitlin McMillen, Finance Specialist

    Caitlin is a graduate of Southern Illinois University Carbondale and has worked as a project coordinator for interior design firms on the Monterey Peninsula for the past 10 years; managing the budget, procurement, and coordination of both high-end residential and hospitality projects throughout California. Caitlin lives in Monterey with her husband, son, and daughter. Contact Caitlin at 866-338-7227 extension 103 or accountspayable@pointlobos.org.

PLF Board of Directors

  • Photo of Betty Maurutto

    Betty Maurutto, President

    My last 70 plus years have been full of adventure, love, career pursuits and travel.  As a native Californian, I was born and raised in southern California.  After graduating from UCLA, my career as an educator began in Fountain Valley, CA and then continued in the 80’s as an elementary principal in Anaheim.  After completing my doctorate at USC, I enjoyed training school administrators with the California School Leadership Academy.  Now retired, my husband, Michael, and I love living in Carmel with its natural beauty and peacefulness.  Each wrinkle alongside my eyes is from the laughter and joy that I have had over the years.  I look forward to creating new wrinkles of time as I try new things, explore new territories and experience the positive surprises and opportunities of each day.  I am honored to be a part of the amazing Docent Organization and Point Lobos Foundation Board.

  • Photo of Carol Rossi

    Carol Rossi, Vice President

    With deep family roots in Santa Cruz, Carol has spent many summers around the Monterey  Bay area. Carol enjoyed a professional career in sales and raised her family in the Bay Area. She has volunteered with many organizations over the past twenty years and especially enjoyed her time as a Girl Scout Nature Camp leader. Carol is now in Pacific Grove and is interested in sharing the beauty and promoting stewardship of Point Lobos.

  • Photo of Holly Carlin, PLF Board Treasurer

    Holly Carlin, Treasurer

    Holly retired as a CPA at the end of 2018 after 35 years in practice. The last 17 years she had her own practice where she specialized in nonprofit accounting for the last 10 years. She is a 5th generation Californian. Her grandparents lived in Carmel Valley and one of the family’s favorite places for picnics was Point Lobos. The Monterey Peninsula was a second home for her so she followed her parents to the peninsula in 1986 where she raised her son in Pacific Grove. Being newly retired, Holly looks forward to spending more time with her grandson in the bay area, working with the PLF and spending more time outside and with family and friends.

  • Don Blohowiak, Docent Administrator

    Don serves the Point Lobos docent corps as the Docent Administrator (DA). Previously, he was Deputy Docent Administrator (DDA). Before making the Monterey Peninsula his home, Don was an executive in the Fortune 500, high-tech start-ups, nonprofits, and higher education in New York City; Detroit; Denver; Milwaukee; Princeton; Irvine; and Washington, DC. The author of several business books, Don holds a Masters in Organizational Systems, and a PhD in Human Development. He has consulted for many leading organizations, from the Sisters of Charity to the US Marine Corps to FedEx, Walmart, United Airlines, and many others. Don is an avid nature photographer.

  • Photo of Reg Henry, Point Lobos Magazine Editor

    Reg Henry, Point Lobos Magazine Editor

    Reg is a former editor of The Herald who had a 45-year career in journalism and in retirement still writes a nationally syndicated column for the Pittsburgh (Pa.) Post-Gazette. Reg grew up in Australia, where he started as a cub reporter for the Courier-Mail in Brisbane. He then moved to England and worked at The Times of London. Next, a move to Pittsburgh to join the Post-Gazette. Reg was the Herald editor from 1988 to 1993. He was the Post-Gazette’s deputy editorial page editor when he retired from full-time journalism at the end of 2014. He moved back to this area in March 2015 and is now a Point Lobos docent and member of the foundation. Reg can be reached at regwriter43@gmail.com.

  • Sarah Hardgrave

    Sarah has over twenty years of local government, non-profit and water resources management consulting experience in Monterey County. She currently serves as Deputy General Manager with the Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency (SVBGSA). Sarah lives in Pacific Grove with her husband and enjoys the beauty of our coastline as often as possible.

  • Joan Hoover

    After a 30+ year career at Apple, most recently as the Director of Investor Relations, Joan retired in 2018 and became a full-time resident of Pebble Beach. She and her husband are very active volunteers with German Shepherd Rescue of Northern California, where she has served as the Treasurer since 2004. They have fostered over 50 dogs in their home over the years and own two German Shepherds and are usually fostering a third one. Joan is also the Treasurer of the Stillwater Yacht Club and The Morse Foundation. A second-generation San Francisco native, Joan is a former Peace Corps Volunteer, has a BA in French Literature from the University of California, Berkeley and an MBA from Columbia Business School.

  • Ann Pendleton

    Growing up in the San Francisco East Bay, Ann was afforded the opportunity to be active in hiking, biking, and later golfing and scuba diving. After completing her education in Physical Education at San Francisco State University, Ann managed a racquetball club, then transitioned to working in the family printing business, and later worked as a sales representative in the packaging industry. Her love of outdoor activities led she and her husband to participate in Bikecentennial ’76, an event that took them across the United States on the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail. A decade later they would spend 7 months biking in New Zealand and Australia. Ann’s love of nature brought her to the Point Lobos Docent Corps where she shares her interest in native plants and animals, both on land and in the sea.

  • Photo of Ruth Rodriguez

    Ruth Rodriguez

    Ruth is a lifetime resident of Monterey County and a CSUMB alumnus. She is currently the Manager for Community Services at CHISPA (Community Housing Improvements Systems and Planning Association) the largest nonprofit affordable Housing Developer in Monterey County. Ruth has previously served on the GRID Alternatives Board of Directors and also served as a Planning Commissioner for the City of Greenfield from 2007 through 2010. She is a 2012 LEAD Alumni (Leadership Education and Development). Ruth has a long history of participation with community groups and activities focused on community, health, education, and equity.  She enjoys spending time with her family, reading, the outdoors, and serving her community.

News

  • Photo of Point Lobos State Natural Reserve ocean view in black and white. Photo credit: Manny Espinoza.

2024 PLF Annual Moonlight Walk

July 18th, 2024|

Watch the sun dip into the Pacific Ocean, listen to the barking Sea Lions, and explore the trails by the light of the moon. Guests will be treated to music by Andrea's Fault and have full access to the Reserve's trails during this after-hours event, exclusive to members of the Point Lobos Foundation.

Financials

The Point Lobos Foundation is a non-profit organization. Our tax-ID is 94-2546064. Financial information for the past three years, including tax returns and independently conducted audited financial statements, are available below for your information.

2023 Review Report
2023 Tax Return
2022 Review Report
2022 Tax Return
2021 Audit Report
2021 Tax Return
2020 Review Report
2020 Tax Return
2019 Review Report
2019 Tax Return
2018 Audit Report
2018 Tax Return
2017 Audit Report
2017 Tax Return
2016 Audit Report
2016 Tax Return
2015 Audit Report
2015 Tax Return
IRS Tax Determination Letter

Great blue heron in Point Lobos State Natural Reserve. Photo credit: Sara Courtneidge.