leadership

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Founder / Chair

Corey Armstrong founded the Martin Escalante Foundation in 2025 in honor of his grandfather, Martin Escalante Ortiz, a U.S. Army veteran of World War II who lived to be 100 years old. Inspired by his grandfather’s unwavering commitment to service, the Foundation was created to ensure that veterans and their families receive the dignity, housing, and support they deserve—especially in times of need.

Corey plays an active role in advancing partnerships that connect veterans to housing, resources, and long-term stability.

Corey holds a bachelor's degree in business concentrated on entrepreneurialism, which he received from University of Phoenix. With over 15 years of experience in business and real estate investing, he offers the strategic insight and operational discipline needed to drive the Foundation’s mission forward. His background equips him to identify and develop housing opportunities, manage resources effectively, and lead with purpose—all of which are essential to providing stable, dignified housing solutions for veterans and their families. Corey’s leadership ensures that the Foundation not only honors his grandfather’s legacy, but builds lasting impact for veterans through sustainable, scalable growth. 

Healthcare & Wellness Advisor

 Christa Mirabal, RN, joined the Martin Escalante Foundation’s Advisory Council in 2025. With over 25 years of clinical and healthcare leadership experience, Christa brings a deep understanding of the complex medical and emotional needs veterans face—especially during transitions from hospital to home or from homelessness to stability. Christa leads initiatives that integrate health services, trauma-informed care, and wraparound support into the Foundation’s housing programs. 

Her expertise in program development, data-driven quality improvement, and regulatory compliance ensures that the Foundation’s services meet the highest standards of clinical care, safety, and compassion. She previously served as the Sepsis Program Coordinator at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, CA, where she implemented system-wide clinical protocols that significantly reduced mortality rates and improved outcomes for high-risk patients. Her work earned recognition across the region and positioned her as a subject matter expert in CMS compliance, stroke and cardiac program leadership, and patient-centered emergency care. Christa holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and has advanced certifications in sepsis care, stroke intervention, and emergency medicine. She is a member of the AACN Sepsis Micro-Credential Committee and has served on multiple hospital improvement collaboratives.

 As Health & Wellness Advisor, Christa's deep knowledge of patient safety, regulatory compliance, and quality-improvement practices strengthens the Foundation’s ability to deliver compassionate, evidence-based services to veterans. Her unwavering dedication is deeply rooted in her own family’s legacy of service—most notably that of her grandfather, Martin Escalante Ortiz, whose life and values continue to inspire the mission of the Foundation. 

 Donar Relations Advisor

Cristina Delgado brings over eight years of experience in sales strategy, client engagement, and team leadership to her role at the Martin Escalante Foundation. As Director of Donor Relations, she leads fundraising, donor stewardship, and grant development efforts, helping to secure critical resources that support stable housing and wraparound services for veterans and their families.

Cristina’s background includes leadership roles at Verizon Wireless, where she successfully managed multi-location operations and high-performing sales teams. Her strengths in relationship-building, strategic outreach, and CRM management allow her to connect with donors and partners in impactful, mission-driven ways.

Passionate about honoring those who served, Cristina is dedicated to expanding support for the Foundation’s work and building lasting partnerships that help veterans thrive.