Mama’s Kitchen announces Eva Matthews as CEO

By SDCN Editor

San Diego, CA–Mama’s Kitchen, the provider of delivered meals and medically tailored meals for individuals and families at risk of malnutrition in San Diego County, has introduced a new CEO to lead the nonprofit organization.

Eva Matthews, MP.H, formerly the executive director of the Laura Rodriguez Research Institute and Director of Grants Management at Family Health Centers of San Diego, has been welcomed to spearhead this cherished non-profit organization as it embarks on its 34th year.

“The work of Mama’s Kitchen is as vital today as it was when its doors opened in 1990, and the demand for services has expanded exponentially,” says Eva Matthews. “Mama’s Kitchen’s visionary leadership in addressing the growing need for medically tailored meals in San Diego with innovation—as well as with heart—is what drew me to this role and excites me about our future. 

A San Diego resident, Matthews was selected following a five-month search for a new chief executive officer after Cortés announced his upcoming retirement last July. She brings 27 years of public health, non-profit, and research experience to her new role as CEO at Mama’s Kitchen, having worked in public health and medical research at both Yale University and the University of Arizona before joining Family Health Centers of San Diego nearly a decade ago. 

During her tenure at Family Health Centers of San Diego, Matthews’ leadership as the director of grants management fostered the department’s unparalleled success. From 2018 to 2022 Matthews’ team nearly doubled grant funding, reaching over $74 million in 2022. She also held a leadership role in launching the Laura Rodriguez Research Institute in 2019 and has served as Executive Director since, supporting millions of dollars in grant awards to grow a robust and successful team. 

“Eva’s depth of experience in community health and strategic planning have made it clear that she is going to lead the future growth of Mama’s Kitchen with the confidence and inspiring vision that we need,” says Mama’s Kitchen Board of Directors President Caron Calabrese. “Our Board of Directors couldn’t be more excited that our national search for the next CEO of Mama’s Kitchen has resulted in the best, most qualified person for the job.”

Matthews takes the reins as Mama’s Kitchen enters its 34th year with many exciting events and milestones in the coming months. Alongside ramping up for the annual Mama’s Day fundraising gala in May, the non-profit will soon celebrate its 12 millionth medically tailored meal delivery to a San Diegan vulnerable to malnutrition.

“The board of directors developed and implemented a thorough and thoughtful process for the selection of my successor. I am very grateful for that. Eva Matthews will be a wonderful leader for Mama’s Kitchen,” says outgoing CEO Alberto Cortés. “Eva is the perfect person to guide Mama’s Kitchen to its next level of relevance and responsiveness to the growing nutritional needs of San Diego County residents living with critical illnesses. I step down assured that Mama’s Kitchen is left in great hands.”

Retained by Mama’s Kitchen, the firm that supported the non-profit on its national search to fill this position was Pat Libby Consulting, who worked in collaboration with members of the Mama’s Kitchen Board of Directors and other community members familiar with the local non-profit landscape. Matthews will begin as CEO on Jan. 15, working alongside Cortés until his final day on Jan. 26. 

Before his last day, there will be a community celebration honoring Cortés on Jan. 20 at Bahia Resort. 

For more information on Mama’s Kitchen, visit MamasKitchen.org.