Emily is a small business owner who is committed to her community. She is active in youth capacity building, higher education initiatives, and leadership development programs. In her free time, she loves to travel and has started taking flamenco lessons.
Emily has many wonderful memories of celebrating her birthdays with cake, parties, and piñatas, and can be counted on for an off-key “Happy Birthday” serenade!
Emily Calderon Galdeano
Co-Founder
& Board Member
Coda has a passion for giving back to her community. She is the proud mother of two children who keep her tired and happy.
Coda is from Laredo, TX and has a Master of Arts in Political Science from the University of Texas at San Antonio.
Coda Rayo-Garza
Co-Founder
& Board Member
Melanie is committed to making a difference in San Antonio, the community where she lives, works and plays! Melanie's commitment is best exemplified by her desire to provide a voice for others through advocacy in the courtroom, representation on the City's Ethics Review Board, mobilization and empowerment of our youth, and commitment to leadership development programs.
Melanie also loves hosting parties of all sorts for all occasions, but especially those that celebrate the milestones and accomplishments of her two children.
Melanie Castillo
Co-Founder
& Board Member
Michelle is the Senior Development Associate for CommuniCare Health Centers, a nonprofit, Federally Qualified Health Center, and the CommuniCare Health Foundation where she has worked for the
last nine years.
Michelle is very passionate about the arts and giving back to the community, especially when it comes to causes related to children and community health initiatives.
Michelle Swisher
Board Member
As a proud native San Antonian, Tessa is passionate about growing a community that supports, embraces, and highlights its diversity and is proudly inclusive of all the cultures and peoples who make this community unique.
In her spare time you will catch Tessa typically with a book in hand, unless she is out for a run or in the middle of flamenco and folkorico classes at the Guadalupe Dance Academy.
Tessa Benavides
Board Member
Daniel is the youngest of 11 children. Born and raised in Westside San Antonio, he grew up in a family that values education and supporting each other.
Daniel is living out his dream of being a high school educator. His hobbies include wood working, watching sports and playing with his two dogs, Simba and Duke.
Daniel Galdeano
Lead Volunteer
Fiesta Wishes is a 100% volunteer base organization and exists because of the commitment of its board members and volunteers. While they all work in different arenas, they all believe in the importance of giving back to make our world a little brighter and happier by seeing children smile and hear them laugh. Each member is committed to making a difference in San Antonio, the community where they live, work, and play!
We are always looking for dedicated and energetic individuals to join our team!
Feel free to contact us at fun@fiestawishes.org to see how you can get involved.
