Our United Way honors five exceptional community volunteers

After practicing law in South Florida, Vance Aloupis joined The Children’s Movement in June 2010, now serving as the organization’s CEO. Having spoken across both the state and country on issues specific to the first five years in children’s lives, Vance has become a new face in the conversation around early childhood investment. Prior to joining The Children’s Movement, Vance worked as both a civil litigator and with the Legal Services of Greater Miami’s Homeless Project. In 2012, he was appointed by Governor Rick Scott to serve as a commissioner on the Governor’s Commission on Community Service – also known as Volunteer Florida, which oversees much of the state’s AmeriCorps programs. In 2018, Vance was elected to represent District 115 in the Florida House of Representatives.

Carlos L. Martinez is president and CEO of United HomeCare Services (UHCS), a private nonprofit home health and community care organization, dedicated to the promotion of independence and wellness for older adults through proven quality-of-life solutions delivered primarily in the comfort of a home setting. In his leadership role, Carlos sets the priorities and provides strategic guidance for all of the organization’s business and operating units. He also oversees the management of 900 employees, consisting of home health aides, case managers, clinical social workers, nutritionists, nurses and clinicians. Carlos is an active member of various healthcare focused organizations and a board of trustee member of the Florida Council on Aging and board member of the Florida Association of Service Providers.

Growing up in Brooklyn made her tough, having two older brothers compelled her to stand up for herself, and uprooting to Miami in the 70s taught her resilience. Virginia Akar is dedicated to making sure all girls grow up strong, resilient and confident. She founded Strong Girls Inc. in 2017 to provide Miami’s most underserved communities with access to tools and opportunities that increase the odds of academic and career success. Virginia’s experience as a lawyer and her advanced degree in intercultural human rights has informed much of the work she does today. She approaches each project with the same care she would a case in court and treats each person with the dignity they deserve.

Ana VeigaMilton presides over the José Milton Foundation, established by her father-in-law to improve quality of life and close the opportunity gap, with a focus on education, research, and healthcare; she also directs social responsibility for the Milton family business, United Property Management. Ana is a proud graduate of M-DCPS, and upon graduating valedictorian, earned a full merit Isaac Bashevis Singer Scholarship to the University of Miami. Professionally, she holds engineering from Florida International University and a law degree from the University of Miami. After becoming a member of the Florida Bar, she worked pro-bono before becoming a full-time mom of three and dedicating herself to community service and philanthropy. Ana believes that with family and an engaged community, all problems can be solved.

Christa Curry is a sophomore at Barbara Goleman Senior High School and the founder of Christa Cares Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that offers a helping hand to homeless women and their children by providing community resources and opportunities through dignity and compassion, in an effort to help them regain their self-respect and independence as they get back on their feet.