Do It Foundation
About Us
Hope in Action
Our Mission
To improve quality of life by providing access to education, health, and mobility for people in need – empowering individuals, strengthening communities, and building a more inclusive future.
About Us
Who We Are
The Do It Foundation, a Scheman Family Foundation, is a Costa Rican nonprofit organization founded by John Scheman in 2005. As a pioneer of Guanacaste real estate development and a bilingual, dual U.S.-Costa Rica citizen, John recognized that lasting impact comes not just from building infrastructure, but from uplifting the people and communities it serves.
Through the Foundation, John – a non-profit leader with a deep commitment to Costa Rica – has built a philanthropic platform focused on health, education, and inclusion. From wheelchairs and school construction to environmental programs, the Do It Foundation creates real-world solutions with long-term impacts.
Meet Our Team
The People Behind Our Mission
The Do It Foundation is powered by dedicated leaders, coordinators and members who share one vision: to restore dignity, mobility, and opportunity for those in need. With diverse expertise and a deep commitment to service, our team works tirelessly to turn compassion into action and create lasting impact across Costa Rica.
Our team is made up of passionate, dedicated, and experienced professionals who give their time and knowledge to help people access a basic human right: mobility.
The Foundation is 100% volunteer-run. No compensation is provided to board members or management.
John Scheman
President
Read Bio
John Scheman is a philanthropist and real estate developer dedicated to building impact-driven communities in Guanacaste.
After launching his career in investment banking at Wells Fargo in the U.S., Scheman moved to Guanacaste in the early 1990s and became a pioneer in regional development, innovation, and community impact. Through the Do It Foundation, a Scheman Family Foundation, he has distributed more than 30,000 wheelchairs to families in need and continues to support public schools, health initiatives, and environmental conservation.
Now a dual Costa Rican citizen, Scheman is the Founder and President of Grupo Do It and Ciudad Nya, and has led major projects that have transformed Guanacaste into a hub for tourism, commerce, and sustainable living. Known for his hands-on leadership and long-term vision, he remains committed to using business as a force for good. His work bridges vision and execution, emphasizing scale, strategy, and systems to build long-term prosperity for Costa Rica.
Siliva Villalobas
Operations Director
Read Bio
Operations leader and community relations expert with over 20 years of experience in business development and nonprofit management in Guanacaste. As coordinator of Do it Foundation since 2006 and Director of Operations for Grupo Do It, Silvia has been instrumental in building strategic community relationships and maintaining the administrative excellence that drives the foundation’s success. Her proven track record in business development includes managing premium vessel operations like Moonstone and cultivating relationships with luxury hospitality partners including Four Seasons and exclusive resorts. Silvia’s expertise in tenant relations, contract management, and tourism operations, combined with her deep community connections, makes her invaluable to both the foundation’s mission and the family group’s business ventures.
Ileana Rodriguez Obando
Administrative Director
Read Bio
Ileana is a key coordinator of Do it Foundation and visionary leader who has transformed the organization’s mission from dream to reality through strategic formalization of processes and key partnerships. Ileana has been instrumental in developing and strengthening the foundation’s relationship with the Free Wheelchair Mission, enabling large-scale impact across communities. Her expertise in event coordination and preparation has resulted in remarkable donation events, including distributions of up to 1,000 wheelchairs in collaboration with prestigious organizations such as Lions Clubs and Hospital Clínica Bíblica. Beyond her foundation work, Ileana oversees corporate relations and supervision across the family group’s enterprises, bringing her exceptional organizational skills and relationship-building expertise to drive both social impact and business success.
Mauricio Rivera Lang
Member
Read Bio
Mauricio Rivera brings more than three decades of leadership, vision, and expertise to the Do It Foundation. A Business Administration graduate from Universidad Interamericana de Costa Rica, he began his career in San José as a manager and consultant for small businesses before relocating to Guanacaste in 2001 to join Grupo Do It. Since then, he has served as General Manager of the group and director of multiple companies, including Nya, a 900-hectare mixed-use development. In his role at Nya, Mauricio has overseen design and permitting processes, working closely with leading architectural and engineering firms, as well as local and national government authorities. Today, he continues to be an active and dedicated member of the Do It Foundation, contributing his experience and commitment to advancing its mission.
Natalia Jimenez
Member
Read Bio
Business executive with over 10 years of experience in corporate strategy and financial analysis across real estate, energy, and urban development. Natalia holds an MBA with a minor in Design Thinking from EAE Business School (Madrid) and currently serves as Director of Strategic Planning and Finance for Ciudad Nya and Board Member for Grupo Do It Developers. Her commitment to social impact drives her work as Non-Profit Advisory Lead for Do It Foundation, where she supports strategic growth of health, education, and disability inclusion programs across Latin America.
Yetty Cortes
Member
Read Bio
Attorney and Notary and also a law professor with extensive experience providing legal counsel to diverse businesses across multiple industries. Yetty currently focuses her expertise on guiding the family group’s enterprises while actively contributing her knowledge to nonprofit organizations and foundations. She is particularly involved with Do it Foundation and has developed a keen interest in Blue Zones communities worldwide, bringing her legal acumen and passion for social impact to support the foundation’s mission of creating meaningful community change.
Jim Scheman
Member
Read Bio
Entrepreneur and philanthropist with over 50 years of experience in commercial and residential development, Jim is the founder of multiple furniture stores in Minnesota, USA. Since 1998, he has been actively investing in Costa Rica while serving on the advisory board of United Prairie Bank for 12 years. As one of the founders of Do it Foundation in 2005, Jim continues to serve on its board of directors, bringing his business expertise and long-standing commitment to social impact to guide the foundation’s mission of creating meaningful change in communities.
Jonathan Scheman
Member
Read Bio
Financial professional who expanded his expertise through specialized training in Advanced Trading at the London Academy of Trading in London. He brings both financial acumen and genuine care for his community to support the foundation’s strategic growth and sustainability initiatives.
Helen Scheman
Member
Read Bio
A compassionate young leader currently completing her studies at Colegio La Paz while working in customer service at a local organic market. Hellen’s dedication to helping others, combined with her interests in volleyball, equestrian sports, and the arts, reflects the foundation’s commitment to nurturing well-rounded community engagement and youth development.
Camila Jimenez
Member
Read Bio
Creative communicator and Veritas University graduate specializing in visual storytelling and multimedia production. Camila’s background in advertising design and audiovisual production helps amplify the foundation’s mission through compelling narratives and impactful visual communications that connect with diverse audiences.
Marco Jimenez
Member
Read Bio
Licensed Architect with over 4 years of experience at Gensler Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Marco brings his expertise in sustainable design and community-focused architecture to the foundation, having worked on diverse projects from luxury residences to public spaces, including current work at JFK Airport in New York. His commitment to thoughtful design aligns with the foundation’s vision of creating positive community impact.
Ricardo Jimenez
Member
Read Bio
Dedicated to bridging business innovation with social purpose, Ricardo graduated from the University of Costa Rica in Business Administration (2024) and completed his MBA with FinTech emphasis at Bryant University, Rhode Island (2025). His international perspective and passion for technological solutions drive his commitment to developing sustainable programs that create meaningful change in communities.
Join Us
Want to get involved?
Join the Do It Foundation in bringing mobility, dignity, and opportunity to those who need it most. Whether through your time, skills, or support, every effort helps us change more lives across Costa Rica.