Steve Betando graduated from San Jose State University with a degree in psychology. In his 38-year education career, Betando served students in roles of school principal, district superintendent, and college professor. Steve Betando maintains an avid interest in animal welfare and supports the Committee for Green Foothills.

Green Foothills is an organization that promotes the preservation of wildlife and nature in the San Mateo and Santa Clara counties of California. Its mission is to protect the natural resources of these counties, and it achieves this by engaging, educating, and partnering with community members and leaders. The foundation's vision and operations align with its four core values of expertise, persistence, camaraderie, and integrity.

The nonprofit hopes to accomplish four primary goals over the next 40 years. The first is to increase the amount of green infrastructure in the above-mentioned counties to make the region more climate resilient. The second goal is to improve community access to nature by establishing more parks and trails. The third goal is to consolidate rural and urban farmlands in order to create an agricultural network that will boost the community's affinity with nature. Finally, Green Foothills hopes to nurture native wildlife and plants by managing open spaces such as coastal plains and grasslands using both traditional and modern stewardship practices.