Arlington Tomorrow Foundation & North TX Giving Day

Serving as the Arlington Tomorrow Foundation's first executive director, Ms. Mentesana brings more than three decades of experience in philanthropy, marketing and communications to her role. She is responsible for overseeing the Foundation's endowment and for directing the organization's charitable mission to make Arlington a better place for its citizens to call home.  

Before joining the Foundation, Mentesana worked for the Kimberly-Clark Corporation where she was vice president of their foundation and a senior member of the corporate communications team. Her responsibilities included development of the company's global philanthropic strategies and leading the corporation's partnerships with national and international charitable organizations and educational institutions. Her accountabilities also included designing and delivering communication programs targeting the company's internal and external stakeholders.

Prior to Kimberly-Clark, Mentesana led public affairs programs at Northrop Grumman's Aircraft Division, including responsibility for employee/retiree volunteerism, corporate contributions, communication and community relations strategies for operations in Texas, Georgia, Florida and Southern California.

Mentesana began her career with the Grand Prairie Chamber of Commerce where she served as executive vice-president of membership development and special events.

In 2014, the Fort Worth Business Press honored her as one of the publication's Great Women of Texas which recognizes professional, business and community service achievements.

A graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington, Mentesana is involved in a variety of local and regional causes, including the Center for Nonprofit Management, University of Texas at Arlington, College of Business Advisory Committee, Communities Foundation of Texas North Texas Giving Day Advisory Committee and a board member of the Discalced Carmelite Nuns Auxiliary.  During her career, Mentesana has also served a range of national and international organizations, including the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the Council on Foundations Corporate Grantmakers board, YMCA of the USA, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), North Texas Food Bank and United Way of America.  

She and her husband, Gary Westerlage, are the proud parents of Catherine and Matthew and call Arlington home.