Giving back to the community is a family affair for the Molinas and Bernadetts. Together, Dr. Faustino Bernadett and his wife Dr. Martha Molina Bernadett, M.D., MBA, founded The Molina Foundation in 2004. She is the President and CEO, and he is Vice President and Treasurer. Both fearlessly lead this national nonprofit organization that reduces disparities in access to education and health.
Since its inception, The Molina Foundation has worked with more than 2,500 organizations and schools, donating more than 5.5 million books to low-income families and hosting workshops and programs for educators and families. Working hand-in-hand with community-based organizations, The Molina Foundation partners with preschool programs, clinics, churches, schools, family service organizations, and civic organizations that serve low-income and at-risk families.
Carrying on a Legacy of Service
As Vice President of The Molina Foundation, Dr. Faustino Bernadett is a proud member of the Board of Directors, a distinguished group of professionals in the business, education, social and civic sectors. The foundation was born out of a love of family and education. Indeed, it was designed to carry on the Molina parents’ education legacy, as C. David and Mary Molina were elementary school teachers before their daughter Martha returned to school to pursue a career as a physician.
Over nearly 16 years, The Molina Foundation has ensured a new generation of students will have access to the books they need within programs and schools serving low-income and at-risk families. Many of these programs work with immigrant and limited English proficient families. This cause is near and dear to Dr. Faustino Bernadett "Tino", whose own father ran a successful practice as the only Spanish-speaking family doctor in Chico, California
His dad (a family physician who was at times paid in tamales) also volunteered his services to Mexico’s low-income patients, spurring a dedication in his son Tino to the education of physicians who care for the underserved. Tino and his wife Martha do even more to continue the legacy, with donations to UCSF designed to benefit underserved communities, as well as leading the charge to establish the Smithsonian Latino Center.
Background on The Molina Foundation
Instilling a love of learning, particularly through books, is one of the foundation's main goals. In fact, The Molina Foundation’s program Book Buddies distributes new books to community agencies serving underprivileged children and families.
Through its WordUp initiative, The Molina
Foundation empowers children and families to instill strong health and literacy skills by using activities and tips to prepare them for success in kindergarten and beyond. The foundation also hosts workshops for preschoolers, kindergarteners, and first graders all over the country.
On My Way to Kindergarten is a collection of hands-on resources for children between the ages of three and five to prepare for kindergarten – valuable resources that were developed with input from kindergarten teachers across the nation.
Tino hopes to continue the mission of The Molina Foundation for many more years to come, bridging the divide in access to education and health.
To learn more about how you can help, visit The Molina Foundation online today.