How did you get started in philanthropy?

Philanthropy and caring for one’s community is something that my family has placed an importance on since I was a child. I enjoyed serving in student government as a teenage and volunteered as a high school student with organizations like Symphonettes and Twenty Little Working Girls which I know I have the privilege of working with as the Coral Gables Community Foundation serves as the fiscal agent for these organizations.

Why is it important for us to be passionate and connected to making our community a better place?

Everything is local in philanthropy in my opinion. So much of what we do at the Foundation makes our community a better place - the streets we drive on daily, the parks we visit with our families, our centers of culture and the arts. It does not take a lot of money or resources to be an involved citizen, just an interest and a commitment to making the place we live, and the world, a better place.

What would you say to someone who wants to start making a difference locally?  

My advice is to pick something that is important to you, may it be education and our local schools, tutoring students, water quality, green spaces and parks, there really is a spot for everyone.

Any advice on ways anyone can get started today in volunteering? (How to find opportunities that fit them personally?)

We have a volunteer database at the Coral Gables Community Foundation and love when interested residents want to donate their time. We often have environmental cleanup opportunities, opportunities to provide a facelift to a local school and opportunities to volunteer at fundraising events such as the Tour of Kitchens. There are many ways to donate your time. You can sign up at www.gablesfoundation.org

What do you envision a post pandemic world to be within philanthropy?

We manage Donor Advised Funds at the Coral Gables Community Foundation, which are a simple, tax-efficient way to support the charities and causes that matter most to you on your schedule. With a Donor Advised Fund, you can have an ongoing involvement in the use of your gift while we provide the back office support such as the required annual filings. Donor Advised Funds are a popular alternative to a private family foundation. Distributions from Donor Advised Funds increased exponentially in 2020 and that was a direct result of non-profits really feeling the pinch during the pandemic. We have seen that charitable distributions made by our fund holders continue to increase and diversify as inflation has arisen and the importance of charitable giving and place-based charitable giving has risen to the forefront.

Anything you’d like to add as inspiration for others to live forward and be the change? 

We always have a choice in life and we should always choose to be decent, kind and fair.

Where can FEMS follow your journey or connect with you?

Find me on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-snow-3766231a/

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