Founder and Executive Director

Eliane Menezes

Eliane Menezes was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where she began her career as an actress, performing in numerous theatrical productions.

She moved to the United States in 1995 and quickly developed a deep appreciation for her new home. Eliane is the proud mother of three grown sons and a vibrant, intelligent grandson. Known for her generous spirit and strong drive, she is deeply committed to personal growth and community service. Over the years, Eliane has volunteered extensively, particularly in schools, where she gained valuable insight into the challenges faced by high school students. She also contributed to a tattoo removal initiative with the Redwood City Police Department, a program designed to help individuals improve their employment opportunities.

In her free time, Eliane enjoys visiting her children, connecting with her family in Brazil, dancing, going to the movies, spending time with friends, relaxing at the beach, and attending live music events.

Board Director

David Nielsen

Dave Nielsen is a 20 year veteran technology company marketing executive. He works at Harness.io as Senior Director of Community and Developer Advocacy. Previously he has held similar positions at Redis, Intel and PayPal. He graduated from Cal Poly: San Luis Obispo and lives in Mountain View with his wife, 2 kids and a cat named Sunday. Dave is also active in the local community as a youth soccer and basketball coach.

Treasurer

Francisco Arce

Francisco was born in Managua, Nicaragua. After the war, he and his family moved to San Jose, Costa Rica, where he graduated with two diverse focus areas: accounting and electromechanical technician skills.

Looking for better life opportunities, he decided to move to the United States, specifically to California. In the US, Francisco pursued skills such as Microsoft office and Excel. He is bilingual which will be an asset when working with diverse California high school students. He has a strong attention to detail which will pay off as a treasure. Francisco is very pleased and thankful to be involved, to support and use his abilities in this admirable and remarkable project.

Chairperson Board

Cristian Bork

My Name is Cristian Bork. I'm so glad to announce I have found an amazing opportunity to help grow and support this amazing non-profit for the students that really are in need. When I was told about this non-profit, it instantly brought me back to when I was in high school and to the support, I needed to just be able to concentrate on school instead of having to worry about what I needed or couldn't purchase like a school necessity or even a school lunch. I believe in identifying and fixing issues you have personally experienced because if you have been through those issues yourself it's easier to identify the problems. Not only does every school deserve this program but the students deserve it even more. Cheers to changing the lives of our future for the better. Thank you Family School Together for being what the students need.

The Secretary/Board Member

Norma Romero

As a Sunnyvale native who attended high school in Santa Clara, I grew up going through school wishing there was a program designed to aid and motivate me to navigate through my journey of education. Now, with FamilySchoolTogether, I can give back to those who are in the same position I was in during my high school years. I am excited to contribute my time to a cause that is focused on supporting the future of the next generation. 

​

When I'm not working, I enjoy going out and trying new foods, seeing new places and experiencing new things or simply just relaxing at home and watching a good movie or finding a new tv show to watch.

Board Member

Tom Anderson

  • Master’s degree from Stanford
  • Worked for IBM, two startups, and Hewlett-Packard. Retired from Hewlett Packard
  • Spent two years living in Hong Kong and gained an international perspective and an appreciation for other cultures
  • Managed several complex products
  • Gained useful experience managing projects considering multiple complex factors that contributed to the project's success
  • Comes from a family of educators and has a passion for education. His mother was a primary school teacher and supervisor, his wife was a Special Ed teacher, and his sister and brother-in-law are teachers.
  • Married and has two adult children
  • Community Involvement: Club Scout Leader and PTA Officer when my children were young.

Board Member/Photographer

Alexandre Rios

I'm a Brazilian-born photographer with a lifelong passion for capturing the world through my lens. Photography has always been my way of connecting with people and emotions, especially through portraits, fashion, and candid moments. I’m drawn to natural light, real expressions, and the energy of urban spaces. For me, photography is a reflection of life and purpose, and I strive to use my art to support meaningful causes and make a difference.