Conversations with Michelle Coffey-Garcia

I have always been a hard worker and an entrepreneur at heart. My professional background includes working as a paralegal and owning a company that handled real estate closings for attorneys in solo practice. My husband Manny and I also own a plant nursery in the Redlands. We share a strong work ethic and a belief in what we can accomplish together. Building and running businesses has taught us about persistence, responsibility and finding ways to turn ideas into action.

Of all my roles, being a mother has shaped me the most. I am the mother of three children, Taylor, Samantha and Zachary, and each has influenced how I see the world. Our family’s experiences have deepened my understanding of inclusion, the importance of supporting siblings and what it means to care for an entire family. Samantha is the inspiration behind Samantha’s Purpose, and Taylor and Zachary are an important part of that story.

The same determination Manny and I brought to building our businesses also shaped our approach to helping other families. We recognized a need for better access to information, resources and financial assistance, and we saw an opportunity to fulfill our promise to Samantha: that she would make a difference in the world. We founded Samantha’s Purpose to bring those commitments together. Through the organization, we carry out work on her behalf, supporting families, raising awareness of cerebral palsy and advocating for inclusion. Samantha remains our guide as we listen to the community and consider how our mission should grow to meet its needs.

My faith in God guides the way I live and serve. I believe the blessings we receive carry a responsibility to share what we can and help where we are able. I am grateful for the individuals, friends, companies, sponsors and volunteers who believe in Samantha’s Purpose and help make its work possible. As a wife, mother, business owner, advocate and co-founder, I see how these parts of my life connect. My family gives the work its purpose, my faith sustains my commitment, and our community helps us put that commitment into action.

Has it been a smooth road? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?

No, it has definitely not been a smooth road. Running a small nonprofit takes dedication, persistence and a willingness to keep showing up. There is a great deal of work behind every program and event, from planning and fundraising to coordinating volunteers and building relationships. One ongoing challenge is helping more people understand our mission and find meaningful ways to become involved.

Another challenge is recognizing when the organization’s mission needs to grow with the needs of the community. That requires listening, evaluating what we can offer and being willing to make thoughtful changes. Samantha remains our inspiration and our guide in those decisions. Our promise to her gives the work its direction, while the families and community we serve help us understand where support is needed. Staying true to that purpose while allowing the organization to evolve takes care and commitment.

We are deeply grateful for the many individuals, friends, companies, sponsors and volunteers who stand beside us. Their generosity, time and belief in Samantha’s Purpose help make our work possible. Every contribution matters, whether someone volunteers, supports a fundraiser, shares our mission or introduces us to a community partner. Our accomplishments reflect the efforts of many people who care about helping others.

My faith gives me strength and guides how I approach this work. I truly believe God provides, often through the generosity and compassion of others. When challenges arise, I return to our purpose and the people we hope to serve. Our promise to Samantha, the support of our community and my faith keep me committed to the work.

We’d love to learn more about your work. What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc.? What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?

Professionally, I have two roles: co-founder of Samantha’s Purpose and co-owner of Just Big Stuff Nursery, the family-owned plant nursery in the Redlands that Manny and I built together. Running our businesses has taught me about responsibility, problem-solving and the persistence it takes to turn ideas into action. Samantha’s Purpose is the work closest to my heart. It brings together our commitment to disability advocacy, inclusion, family support and community service.

We view Samantha’s Purpose as Samantha’s organization. We carry out its work on her behalf, helping others and giving her the opportunity to make a difference in the world. She gave us the purpose, and we do the work in her name. Samantha remains our guide as we consider how the mission should respond to the needs of our community. That connection keeps the work personal and reminds us to consider the whole family, including siblings and caregivers.

I am proud of our efforts to give cerebral palsy greater visibility. We organized the illumination of Miami-Dade landmarks in green for Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day (March 25) and created the Samantha’s Purpose Run, Walk & Stroll 2K with the support of the Village of Palmetto Bay. The event welcomed participants on foot, in wheelchairs, with walkers, and with assistance from their families. I also co-created and co-published Unique Me Magazine for South Florida families raising children with special needs. We wanted families to have useful information and stories that reflected their lives, experiences and concerns.

With the support of our friends, sponsors, volunteers, companies and community, Samantha’s Purpose provides Miami-Dade County residents with financial assistance for therapies, medical and adaptive equipment, camps and other needs. Since its launch in 2022, our Holiday Toy & Family Basket Drive has provided 2,060 holiday gifts and 235 Family Baskets to local children and families. Our Student Ambassador Program gives more than 20 local high school students opportunities to participate directly in service, advocacy and inclusion. These programs give people different ways to become involved, whether through volunteering, contributing resources or helping us reach others. Their generosity and commitment are an important part of what makes this work possible.

Another initiative especially meaningful to me is the Garcia Family Special Needs Sibling Scholarship at Christopher Columbus High School. Our family awards it to two graduating seniors who have a sibling with special needs. Inspired by our sons, Taylor and Zachary, we created this scholarship to recognize these students’ experiences and responsibilities. It helps ease the cost of education while encouraging recipients to pursue their own goals and aspirations. The scholarship is funded entirely by our family; no funds from Samantha’s Purpose are used.

Above every professional accomplishment, I am most proud of my family: my husband Manny and our three children. Seeing our sons choose to be involved in their sister’s organization and express a desire to continue its work means so much to me. I am proud of the businesses we have built, the programs we have created and the relationships that help sustain them. My faith guides how I approach those responsibilities. Scripture reminds us in Luke 12:48, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be required.” I believe we are called to serve others and share what we can. That belief connects my roles as a mother, wife, business owner and advocate.

What role has luck (good luck or bad luck) played in your life and business?

I honestly do not believe in luck, either good or bad. I cannot say I have always felt that way, but as I have gotten older, my faith has changed how I understand my life. I was raised in a devout Catholic family, with Irish and Italian grandparents, and the Church was a big part of my childhood. I grew up attending St. Dominic Catholic Church in Miami, where my grandmother, Meme, was the organist at Sunday Mass. Some of my favorite memories are of Monday mornings spent helping her and her church friends count the collection, then praying the Rosary at the statue of the Blessed Mother overlooking the canal and Miami International Airport.

Those memories remain close to my heart, but as I became more independent, I stopped actively living the faith I had been raised with. I never stopped believing in God, yet I became accustomed to relying on myself. I worked hard, built businesses and believed that careful planning and determination could give me control over the outcome. Learning to trust God more deeply has changed that perspective. I still believe in hard work and taking responsibility, but I also recognize the importance of humility and faith.

For me, returning more fully to my faith meant learning to surrender my worries to Jesus and place them at the foot of the Cross. That does not mean expecting every problem to disappear or everything to work out exactly as I would like. It means trusting God even when I do not have the answers. That belief guides how I approach my responsibilities, make decisions and serve others.

I try to live by the words, “Thy will be done.” I pray for what I hope for, do the work I am called to do and trust God with the outcome. In both life and business, I believe there is a purpose greater than what I can see or plan for myself. That is why I think in terms of God’s providence rather than good or bad luck. My responsibility is to remain faithful, act with care and trust Him through what I do not understand.