09 Apr Why We Serve – A Lifetime of Giving Back
Photo of Katty Coulson, Member of the RMHC Bay Area Board of Directors.
Born and raised in Torreón, Coahuila, Mexico, Katty Coulson grew up in a family that emphasized the importance of giving. While her mother never worked formally, she always found ways to serve and care for others – and that influence made its mark on Katty.
“I think board service is just an extension of what my mom taught me,” said Katty, who joined the RMHC Bay Area board of directors in 2021. “I’ve been tied to community service since I was a little kid.”
From her international studies in Germany to her current role as vice president of IT at Oracle NetSuite, she remains grounded in the causes and communities she cares about most through volunteering, mentorship, and philanthropy, especially those focused on supporting children’s growth and achievement. Now, she’s looking to make a bigger impact as a board director and leaning into her culture and identity to help RMHC Bay Area foster a deeper understanding and connection with the families the organization serves.
Katty Coulson, Vice President of IT at Oracle NetSuite
“(Representation) matters,” Katty said. As a woman of color in a leadership role, Katty brings an important perspective to the RMHC Bay Area board that will have a resounding impact on families, employees, volunteers, and the board itself. “As a Latina, I’m familiar with the environment and circumstances of the LatinX population. Fine points such as music, fragrances or foods that can bring comfort are natural to me because I share the history, traditions, and challenges…when you have families who are going through the most stressful crisis they can possibly experience, maybe I can help identify opportunities to connect.”
Throughout the board recruitment process, Katty said, “We talked about my background, experience, and commitment to the community, especially with underserved minorities. We could see the value of having LatinX representation that can help us understand and connect a bit better with those we serve.”
About 36% of RMHC Bay Area families are LatinX, and many come from medically underserved communities. (Read Emilio’s story.) With that in mind, and the fact that most nonprofit boards are white, the RMHC Bay Area board of directors is focused on increasing its representation of women of color and actively recruiting directors of diverse racial, ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds, ensuring the organization reflects the diversity of the community it serves.
For RMHC Bay Area employees and volunteers of color, Katty said, “It is important…for (them) to know we don’t have to hide or underplay our heritage so we can look like the group and fit in.”
Serving on the RMHC Bay Area board, she explained, also provides the opportunity to make use of her technical expertise, leadership, and experiences in service of others.
Katty said RMHC Bay Area’s mission to keep families close and near the care they need during medical crisis resonates so profoundly with her because “A family is the most important nucleus of society, communities, and countries. When a family is in crisis, the community has to come to their help.”
In the wake of COVID-19, families’ needs have been amplified, such as housing near their children’s hospitals, daily meals, and specialized psychosocial support and family services Thanks to the board’s leadership and an outpouring of community support, RMHC Bay Area continues to serve as a safe haven for families during the pandemic. As Katty said, “There’s nothing more important than keeping families together.”
In her first year as a board member, Katty hopes to learn and absorb as much as she can. Part of this process will include identifying how she can make the most meaningful impact. She is excited by the possibilities that lie ahead and looks forward to building on the local impact RMHC Bay Area has.
“I don’t want my life to be nice for me and just me; we are and should be at the service of others,” Katty said. “If I get a blessing, then I have the moral responsibility to be a blessing for someone else.”
About our Board of Directors
We have an incredible volunteer board of directors made up of individuals who take a personal interest in their community and those in it. Read more about who they are and why they choose to serve families with sick children.
Photo of Katty Coulson, Member of the RMHC Bay Area Board of Directors.
Born and raised in Torreón, Coahuila, Mexico, Katty Coulson grew up in a family that emphasized the importance of giving. While her mother never worked formally, she always found ways to serve and care for others – and that influence made its mark on Katty.
“I think board service is just an extension of what my mom taught me,” said Katty, who joined the RMHC Bay Area board of directors in 2021. “I’ve been tied to community service since I was a little kid.”
From her international studies in Germany to her current role as vice president of IT at Oracle NetSuite, she remains grounded in the causes and communities she cares about most through volunteering, mentorship, and philanthropy, especially those focused on supporting children’s growth and achievement. Now, she’s looking to make a bigger impact as a board director and leaning into her culture and identity to help RMHC Bay Area foster a deeper understanding and connection with the families the organization serves.
“(Representation) matters,” Katty said. As a woman of color in a leadership role, Katty brings an important perspective to the RMHC Bay Area board that will have a resounding impact on families, employees, volunteers, and the board itself. “As a Latina, I’m familiar with the environment and circumstances of the LatinX population. Fine points such as music, fragrances or foods that can bring comfort are natural to me because I share the history, traditions, and challenges…when you have families who are going through the most stressful crisis they can possibly experience, maybe I can help identify opportunities to connect.”
Throughout the board recruitment process, Katty said, “We talked about my background, experience, and commitment to the community, especially with underserved minorities. We could see the value of having LatinX representation that can help us understand and connect a bit better with those we serve.”
About 36% of RMHC Bay Area families are LatinX, and many come from medically underserved communities. (Read Emilio’s story.) With that in mind, and the fact that most nonprofit boards are white, the RMHC Bay Area board of directors is focused on increasing its representation of women of color and actively recruiting directors of diverse racial, ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds, ensuring the organization reflects the diversity of the community it serves.
For RMHC Bay Area employees and volunteers of color, Katty said, “It is important…for (them) to know we don’t have to hide or underplay our heritage so we can look like the group and fit in.”
Serving on the RMHC Bay Area board, she explained, also provides the opportunity to make use of her technical expertise, leadership, and experiences in service of others.
Katty said RMHC Bay Area’s mission to keep families close and near the care they need during medical crisis resonates so profoundly with her because “A family is the most important nucleus of society, communities, and countries. When a family is in crisis, the community has to come to their help.”
In the wake of COVID-19, families’ needs have been amplified, such as housing near their children’s hospitals, daily meals, and specialized psychosocial support and family services Thanks to the board’s leadership and an outpouring of community support, RMHC Bay Area continues to serve as a safe haven for families during the pandemic. As Katty said, “There’s nothing more important than keeping families together.”
In her first year as a board member, Katty hopes to learn and absorb as much as she can. Part of this process will include identifying how she can make the most meaningful impact. She is excited by the possibilities that lie ahead and looks forward to building on the local impact RMHC Bay Area has.
“I don’t want my life to be nice for me and just me; we are and should be at the service of others,” Katty said. “If I get a blessing, then I have the moral responsibility to be a blessing for someone else.”
About our Board of Directors
We have an incredible volunteer board of directors made up of individuals who take a personal interest in their community and those in it. Read more about who they are and why they choose to serve families with sick children.