A decade of supporting the development of Costalegre communities

Mission

The Careyes Foundation supports the development of rural communities through innovative programs across four pillars: Education, Arts, Community, and Environment, providing educational opportunities, fostering creativity, enhancing environmental stewardship, and supporting community-led initiatives. Our mission is to drive sustainable development and nurture local talent with impactful and transformative programs.

Vision

Our vision is to promote positive change in the Costalegre region. We aspire to support the self-sustaining of the communities where education, artistic expression, environmental conservation, and local leadership thrive harmoniously. By fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration, we aim to inspire future generations and ensure the long-term development and resilience of the communities we serve.

The ?! Careyes Foundation Timeline

1983

Sea Turtle Protection and Conservation Center founded by the Brignone Family

2013

Contemporary Art Residency

2014

Bike Polo School

2015

Hurricane Patricia Fund Children’s English Program Beyond Borders book series

Vocational Training Center English for Teens and Adults Covid Family Aid

2016

Discovery Bike Rides Cinema Community Programming

2017

Environmental Education Program (KEEN)

2018

Music School Happy Hearts Fund Reconstruction Preschool Project

Robotics Club Community Workshops Wellness Program

Community Bike Rides Sex Education Meet the Birds of Costalegre

2021

2022

2023

Costalegre

Costalegre is a region in Jalisco, Mexico, known for its natural beauty stretching across the beaches of Cihuatlán and La Huerta. The formal beginning starts in Cihuatlán and ends at the mouth of the San Nicolás River, south of Puerto Vallarta.

These are the communities and schools we collaborate with.

Our facilities

The Careyes Foundation

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EXECUTIVE BOARD

  • Filippo Brignone

    PRESIDENT
    Filippo Brignone spent much of his early life in Careyes. After years of living and working in Europe, he returned to make Careyes his home in 2011. Since then he has dedicated his efforts to establishing the Careyes Foundation and spreading its message throughout the world. He brings an intimate knowledge of the area and over 25 years of advisory acumen to the Foundation in finance and business.

  • Isabel SantoTomás

    TREASURER

    Isabel SantoTomás is Senior Vice President of Investments at Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management in Miami, Florida, focusing on Portfolio Management for Ultra High Net Worth individuals, Family Offices, and Endowments. She began her career as a Private Wealth Advisor at EF Hutton & Co., in December of 1985. In 1990, at the onset of the privatizations in Mexico, she migrated to Institutional Sales focusing on Latin American and Emerging Market Equities at Banamex, Smith Barney, and later Donaldson Lufkin Jenrette/CSFB. In 2004, she returned to customizing portfolios for private clients at Wachovia Securities (now Wells Fargo), before joining Morgan Stanley in 2008. She lived in New York City for 26 years of her career and later relocated to Miami in 2012 with her two children. She has been a part of the Careyes community for over 20 years.


  • Emanuela Cattaneo Adorno

    SECRETARY
    Emanuela Cattaneo Adorno is an architect who has spent most of her life traveling to Careyes, and lending her design vision to create a large new urban space, the Plaza de los Caballeros del Sol, including a Sanctuary and the Careyes Art Gallery. In the meantime, she has dedicated herself to the restoration of many historical Italian buildings from the XII century transforming them into museums, including the Modern Art Gallery of Genova or Palazzo Lomellino, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

  • Guillermo Barnetche Davison

    BOARD MEMBER, ENTREPRENEUR
    As the chairman of Generación y Control de Proyectos S.A. de C.V. (GENCO), Guillermo Barnetche Davison is in charge of the leadership and operating direction of multiple projects in the industrial, agricultural, sea, infrastructure, and building sectors. Guillermo received his Civil Engineering certification at the National Autonomous University of Mexico before getting a Master's in Hydraulic Resource Planning at Georgia Technology Institute and studying Economy and Systems Engineering at Stanford University. He has more than 40 years of professional experience in civil engineering and is a long-standing member of the Careyes community.

  • Jonathan Congdon

    BOARD MEMBER, ENTREPRENEUR
    Since co-founding Beachbody LLC, Jonathan Congdon has been instrumental in shaping the mission of the company, expanding its vision and growth, and overseeing media distribution channels and International business to increase the Beachbody market worldwide. After starting his career at Procter & Gamble, Jon traveled the world “on walkabout” before teaching science for more than three years in California. He was a finalist for Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year on two boards, including his second term on the Electronic Retailing Association (ERA) Board of Directors. Jon has been part of the Careyes community for over 10 years.

Team Directory

  • Carmen Huerta

    ENGLISH PROGRAM COORDINATOR carmen@careyesfoundation.org

    From Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Carmen has a bachelor's degree in Bilingual Education and several English language certifications from Cambridge University. At the Careyes Foundation, she is in charge of providing training for the English teachers, as well as designing and planning the classes that will be taught. In her free time, she enjoys reading, exploring nature, and spending time with her 10-year-old son.

    “My dream is to motivate children and teenagers that they can always be whatever they want to be no matter where they come from or the conditions they live in”


  • Caitlin Chew

    DEPUTY DIRECTOR AND
    ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION COORDINATOR
    caitlin@careyesfoundation.org 

    Originally from the East Coast of the United States, she studied Environmental Management at the University of Otago in New Zealand and has worked in conservation, ecotourism, and environmental education. She loves swimming, hiking, camping, and music, and often plays the ukulele for her students.

    "I love leading the foundation’s environmental education program because we give every child the opportunity to become enamored of the magic of nature, which is key to happier and healthier people and communities”


  • Alejandro Peña

    SEA TURTLE PROTECTION AND
    CONSERVATION CENTER COORDINATOR

    Alejandro grew up on Teopa Beach, Careyes, before studying Biology at the University of Guadalajara. He began implementing sea turtle conservation initiatives along the beaches of Careyes in 1983 and hasn’t stopped since. When he isn’t working to preserve sea turtles, he tends to his cattle and spends time with his family. 

    "To me, it was important to save sea turtles so that my grandchildren would get to see them. This dream became a reality”

  • Alex Medina

    MUSIC SCHOOL DIRECTOR 
    alex@careyesfoundation.org 

    Alex is a Tenor from Colima, Mexico, who began his vocalist training in 2011. He was a student of Olga Sevriugova and was part of the Vivar Choir along with the State of Colima’s Secretary of Culture Choir. In 2013, he began his preparation at the Instituto Universitario de Bellas Artes under Tenor Felipe Castellanos and became a Music Director in Campoverde Manzanillo directing “Mamma Mia” and “Cuentos para un Día de Sol” by Carlos Orona.

    “In Costa Alegre, where the sea and music intertwine, I find my happiness teaching English and music. This place, full of beauty and passion, is my home, my refuge, and my stage. Here, sharing knowledge and melodies, I feel like I am living my dream, surrounded by passionate and talented people. Costa Alegre is not just a place; it is my state of mind: joy, harmony, and connection.”

  • Coraima De León Gómez

    OPERATIONS MANAGER, ROBOTICS CLUB AND DISASTER RESPONSE PROGRAM COORDINATOR

    Originally from Morelia, Michoacan, she worked for 8 years in a mechanic shop where she learned many things about having independence and not running out of options. She’s a big fan of playing all kinds of video games, walking on the beach, playing with her pets, and painting.

    "Working with children and teenagers makes me see that creativity and curiosity are much more varied than I thought, it's fun to see how far they can go".

  • Andrea Fajardo

    COMMUNICATION AND SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER
    andrea@careyesfoundation.org

    From Caracas, Venezuela, she is a journalist and content creator who since 2018 has been dedicated to journalism that explores the intersection of culture, diversity, and human rights, primarily through journalism in new formats and for new audiences. In her free time, she enjoys reading, singing, playing the piano, and watching Friends.

    "What I like most about social media is the opportunity to address informative and complex topics in a language that is more accessible and closer to the audience, an opportunity that I have explored through the Careyes Foundation to bring its valuable educational work to more people.”