Latina Cuban American Helps South Florida Community Flourish

Ana VeigaMilton, 2022 Latina Pioneer of the Year Corporate Social Responsibility for United Property Management                                  

Meet Ana. According to her, the most genuine platform to bring people together for social good and advancement is philanthropy, the love of humankind, especially as displayed by giving time, talent, and resources that build community and thus improve society.

Leading by example, Ana VeigaMilton champions her mission to inspire others to connect with crucial mission-based work that helps our youngest thrive, our sick access state-of-the-art medical care, and our South Florida community flourish. Ana, who was born in Cuba, emigrated to the U.S. as a toddler after living a year in Spain. Her father, an electrical engineer specializing in telecommunications, happened upon a Cuban-American CIA agent while installing one of the first radar systems in the Canary Islands. When the CIA agent informed him that the United States is open to engineers, her parents immediately acted, and the young family arrived in N.Y. just weeks later! This story certainly demonstrates the power of education, especially a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education, and it motivated Ana’s dedicated journey. Ana was Valedictorian of Southwest Miami High School and Student Government President. She earned the Isaac Bashevis Singer Full Merit Scholarship to attend the University of Miami (UM) and study electrical/computer engineering. She graduated in three years with honors and a perfect GPA and, like her father, worked in telecommunication until she decided to apply to law school. With such strong academic credentials and work experience, it is no wonder that Ana earned a full merit scholarship to UM Law School, graduating Summa Cum Laude. Today, Ana directs Corporate Social Responsibility for United Property Management, owners and managers of almost 9000 residential units in Florida. She also presides over the José Milton Foundation, which strives to close the opportunity gap in South Florida, primarily through access to quality healthcare, education, and research. In addition, Ana co-founded the Cecil & Ana Milton Family Foundation, which supports conservation efforts and programs that serve our military and first responders. Ana holds leadership positions and serves on various philanthropic boards, including Jackson Health Foundation (Chair), Red Cross Miami (Board Secretary), UM Citizens Boards (Past-President), Zoo Miami Foundation (past-Chair), and United Way Miami (Campaign Chair).

As an engineering and law alumna, she is incredibly proud and honored to serve as a University of Miami Trustee and Academic Affairs Committee Chair, working to accelerate UM’s impressive upward trajectory. Ana is passionate about encouraging women and minorities to enter STEM fields and exposing students to STEM activities and careers. As a recipient of donor largesse, Ana believes in the power of philanthropy to change lives and promote community. Ana and her family have been recognized for philanthropy, community engagement, and volunteerism (see list below). In 2021, the community celebrated the opening of the José Milton Memorial Hospital at Jackson West in Doral, the José Milton Foundation’s most significant investment thus far. In 2022 responding to the need to provide talent to power the Miami Tech Movement, Ana funded the José Milton Foundation Digital Technology Initiative, which includes endowments for a Lecture Series, Fellowships, and an accelerated Software Engineering degree at UM’s College of Engineering. Also, most recently announced, the José Milton Foundation will be funding a Diversity Endowment at Belen Jesuit Prep School to help the school in its mission to expose more students of different backgrounds to a rigorous Jesuit College-Prep education. The Milton Family’s commitment to South Florida runs deep. Ana and her husband Cecil are blessed with three community-minded adult children, Alec, Eric, and Diana. Serving the community is a family affair, and the Miltons encourage friends and colleagues to join them in service. The Miltons also enjoy traveling together, live theater, Star Wars movies, cooking, and physical activities like tennis, fitness classes, SCUBA, and running. The Milton Family resides in Coral Gables. Accolades:

• Ana was honored by Big Brothers Big Sisters as a Miracle Maker in 2011 and with Cecil as the Power Couple in 2019.
• She was recognized by Chapman Partnership in 2012.
• The American Cancer Society’s Inner Circle of Twelve in 2013 for service.
• She was honored in 2017 at Fairchild’s Splendor in the Garden.
• Florida Blue Philanthropy Award at the American Red Cross Spectrum Luncheon.
• Plaza Health Network Foundation’s Women of Distinction & Caring honoree.
• Ana was also honored by Miami Women Who Rock in 2017.
• Ana and her family accepted the United Homecare Claude Pepper Award for Philanthropic Service.
• Ana and her family were honored with the Education Award from the Coral Gables Community Foundation in October 2018.
• Mayor’s Community Spirit Award from the Parks Fdn’s In the Company of Women.
• AFP Miami honored Ana on National Philanthropy Day in 2018 with the Outstanding Philanthropist Award.
• Inducted into the M-DC Public Schools Alumni Hall of Fame in 2019.
• The UM College of Engineering presented Ana with the Dean’s Innovation Award.
• South FL Hispanic Chamber of Commerce awarded UPM with the Minority-Owned Business of the Year Award in 2019.
• In 2020, United Way Miami presented Ana with the Dorothy Shula Outstanding Volunteerism Award.
• Red Cross Miami & Keys Chapter recognized Ana as Philanthropy Volunteer of the Year.
• The Junior League of Miami recognized Ana as a Woman Who Makes a Difference.
• AFP Miami designated the José Milton Foundation a Hometown Hero.
• Ana was honored by OUTFRONT Media in their “Spirit of Orgullo” campaign to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month, 2021.
• At the South Florida Hispanic Chamber’s Women Empowering & Embracing Women Awards Luncheon, Ana received the Mentorship – Making a Difference Award.
• Hispanic Woman of Distinction named Ana as the Latina Pioneer of 2022.
• JMF received the ChamberSouth’s Business Excellence Award, Not for Profit category.

The annual celebration of Community, Culture and Charity honors Latinas in South Florida, past and present.

The 21st annual Hispanic Women of Distinction Charity luncheon to be held on Friday, August 26th, 2022, at Signature Grand in Davie, Florida is anticipating another sell-out of up to 1000 guests paying tribute to Latina professionals who are strengthening the social fabric of this country and making inroads in the leadership pipeline for a growingly diverse America.

Founded in 2001 by the late Erwin M.Vasquez, M.D., a Venezuelan-born cardiologist, philanthropist and publisher of the pioneer Spanish newspaper, El Heraldo de Broward, the goal was to help to empower Latinas and to recognize the influence they have in the South Florida community.   These Latinas, both past and present, are not afraid to dream big, to carve their own paths, to be grateful for the opportunities they have received, and to pay it forward to those who will follow.

The 2022 Honorees are:

• ODALYS AREVALO – co-founder, Las Madrinas de Los Seguros, managing partner Sunshine Life & Health Advisors.
• ALEXANDRIA AYALA – School Board Member, Palm Beach County
• DUNIA CUNEO – Owner, Doral Human Resources Consulting
• SYLVIA DAUNERT, PhD, PharmD, MS – Lucille P. Markey Chair and Professor, Dept. Biochemistry/Molecular Biology, Miller School of Medicine
• JESSICA JOSEPH – Manager. Philanthropy/Public Relations, Catholic Hospice, Inc.
• NAELYS LUNA- Ph.D., MSW – Founding Dean & Professor, College of Social Work & Criminal Justice – Florida Atlantic University Work & Criminal Justice – Florida Atlantic University
• AYENZA A. MATTHEWS – Wellness Director, Heal the Planet
• MONICA PAYARES-LIZANO, M.D. – Pediatric, Orthopedic Surgeon, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital
• SUSY DIAZ PIESCO – Exec.Director Middle School of the Arts Foundation, City Councilwoman Greenacres City
• KARINA de OLIVEIRA RODRIGUES – Assistant County Attorney, Broward County Attorneys Office
• VANESSA SELTZER –  Director of Philanthropy, Arc Broward 
• PATRICIA TREJO – Adm. Program Planner Hispanic/Latino Studies, Palm Beach County School District, FL-ALAS President 

2022 LATINA PIONEER of the YEAR

ANA VEIGAMILTON – President, José Milton Foundation, Chair of Jackson Health Foundation, UM Trustee and President of the Citizens Board, lawyer and engineer, committed to impactful philanthropy and community engagement throughout South Florida. Family Values • Community-Wide

UP & COMER HONOREE

ARLETTE GOMEZ – Third year law student at NSU, Shepard Broad College of Law, Dean’s list with awards for outstanding service.  Cuban born, this young woman is active on numerous community boards, and NSU’s President’s 64 Member, whose purpose is to strengthen the relationship with the community.

JOIN US on August 26th to honor these fantastic women! Tickets $95 per person, table sponsorship $1500.  For more information email: hispanicwomenlunch@aol.com.  www.hispanicwomenofdistinction.com

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