Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria C. Alonso.
Maria, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Not unlike the well-documented experience of other immigrants in our community, my mother fled Cuba in 1959 at the onset of the Revolution and worked odd jobs until she passed her Board exam and professional license as a nurse in Michigan, where I was born. Shortly thereafter, we moved to Miami, a climate for which she felt she was better suited and my home since I was three months old.
As a nurse, my mother worked up to 16 hour days to ensure I went to a good school and had a rounded education including music and dance. She brought her parents, brother and sisters from Cuba single-handedly – and helped them embrace and acclimate to their newly adopted country. As a single Mom, she believed that education was the single most important legacy she could provide me. Given her personal experience, she would often remind me that “no one could ever take my educational training away” and that education, and hard work, were the keys to unlocking all of the opportunities offered by the American Dream she so fiercely believed in. Without a doubt, she was the single most influential role model in my life. My future was shaped by my mother’s tenacity, convictions and sacrifice – and my character was shaped by her work ethic as well as her example of helping others and giving back. She treasured the freedom and opportunities her adopted country provided and felt it was her responsibility to make a difference.
As a dedicated student, I was always involved in a variety of clubs and service was always a part of my life. I went on to graduate Cum Laude from the University of Miami with a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering. I began my career at Southern Bell, where I first became involved with United Way. A couple of years later, I returned to school to obtain my MBA in Marketing from Florida International University. After working as a consultant to small businesses, I began what would become a 22 year career at Bank of America. In my last role, I was the corporate social responsibility manager for the Miami market, working closely with our leadership team and community organizations to implement the bank’s local charitable giving and employee engagement strategies. Throughout that time, I became actively involved in numerous civic and business organizations including the opportunity to serve as Board Chair for the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce and New World School of the Arts, as well as Board member of the Miami Dade College Foundation, Camillus House, the Miami Foundation, Teach for America and Beacon Council, among others.
As a United Way volunteer for more than 20 years, including 6 years as a Board member, I had the opportunity to lead the redesign of our investment process centered on a collective impact model to move the needle on our community’s needs. I have just celebrated my first year as the organization’s president and CEO.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It wouldn’t be real, if there weren’t obstacles to overcome that help us prove our mettle, and make us resilient and grateful in the process. I like to think of challenges as opportunities in disguise.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the United Way of Miami-Dade story. Tell us more about the business.
United Way is synonymous with community, it’s about bringing individuals, organizations and partners together to make Miami-Dade better and stronger for all. We bring together government, business, faith groups, nonprofits, labor, policymakers and volunteers to find solutions to some of our community’s biggest challenges. United Way is a convener, an advocate, a collaborator that fights for the education, financial stability and health of every person in our community – and has done so throughout its 94 year history. We build community by helping people care for one another.
Based on community needs, we generate resources that are invested in over 110 quality programs at 57 partner agencies and run six signature programs aimed at empowering the 58% of our community’s households that struggle to make ends meet and provide for their families. Our work is based on collaboration with community partners and we advocate for better policies while engaging people from every walk of life in building a stronger Miami where our businesses, and our families, thrive.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I do believe luck is always a factor. However, as the saying goes, “luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity”. We each play an active role in creating our own luck.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.unitedwaymiami.org
- Email: media@unitedwaymiami.org
- Instagram: UnitedWayMiami
- Facebook: United Way Miami
- Twitter: @UnitedWayMiami
- Other: LinkedIn: United Way of Miami-Dade
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