Latina Venezuelan-American Is Committed to Helping Students Succeed

by Phyllis Cambria

Meet Amanda Laird Frey, 2019 Hispanic Woman of Distinction, Executive Director, Take Stock in Children of Broward County

 

“Hispanic women have an opportunity to integrate the traditional gender roles (i.e. mother, caregiver, housekeeper), while rising to the opportunities afforded to them in education and careers in today’s American society.”

The lyrics of the classic Whitney Houston song, “The Greatest Love of All,” starts with, “I believe that children are our future/Teach them well and let them lead the way.”

Amanda Laird Frey, as Executive Director of Take Stock in Children of Broward County (TSIC), along with her staff, supporters and volunteers also firmly believe that investing in our children’s education is how we can ensure that we have successfully prepared them to be tomorrow’s leaders.

Take Stock in Children of Browardis the Broward County affiliate of a statewide Florida non-profit organization that provides a unique opportunity for primarily minority, low-income and at-risk students, to escape the cycle of poverty through education. The program provides scholarships and mentoring for these students beginning in middle-school and assisting their progress through the early part of their college education.

Using her Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology and Psychology from the University of Miami, Amanda began her career doing field research in the Florida’s Everglades and the cerradosof Brazil, which is a vast tropical savanna ecoregion similar to the Amazonian rain forest.

Amanda eventually realized that her true calling was in education and she began teaching math and science at area public and private middle schools before becoming an Academic Advisor at Broward College.

She joined Take Stock in Children of Broward County in 2010 starting as a College Enrollment and Retention Advocate and later advancing to County Coordinator and Program Director before being named as Executive Director in 2016.

In addition to her mission to help improve the lives of deserving students through TSIC, Amanda devotes her spare time as Co-Chair of the Children Services Council’s Mentoring Committee, serves as a local community member of the La Leche League, and is a member of the 100+ Women Who Care Broward County among her other community affiliations.

Amanda, who is a U.S. native of Venezuelan descent, received the 2018 Local 10 News “My Future, My Choice LIFE Award in Education,” which recognizes an individual who has demonstrated a record of academic excellence, creativity in project innovation and leadership and has the ability to inspire others to reach their academic potential and effectively mentor or tutor students.

Along with her husband, Roger Frey, a sergeant with the Broward Sheriff’s Office, and their daughter, Kaleigh, Amanda and her family enjoys vacationing on the beaches of Cata, Venezuela and the Florida Keys and exploring Yellowstone Park. Amanda also likes running, gardening, cooking, hiking and dancing.

Hispanic Women of Distinction 2019

For more information, visit www.hispanicwomenofdistinction.com or 954-601-6550 or email: hispanicwomenlunch@aol.com.

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2019 

Latina “Talks Trash” and Helps “Toys for Tots”

Latina Puerto Rican Facilitates Health Services And Volunteers

Cuban American Latina Media Exec. Serves on Charitable Boards

Cuban American Latina Bank Exec Helps Homeless

Latina Faculty President Committed to Education in South Florida

Latina of Cuban American Ancestry Develops Quality of Life for Families

Latina Photographer of Cuban-Spanish Descent Aids Disadvantaged

Latina Chief Diversity Officer Supports Puerto Rico Hurricane Relief
Latina Education Leader Of Cuban Ecuadoran Descent Makes An Impact
Puerto Rican Latina Humanitarian, Yoga Instructor and Orthopedic Surgeon
Latina CEO of Dominican Descent Gives Back To South Florida Community
First Generation American Of Cuban Descent Makes Mark On South Florida
Here are last year’s 2018

Puerto Rican Latina Has Improved the Lives of Many Young People

Latina at the Forefront of International Policy and Business

Cuban Latina  Enables Affordable Housing and Education

Panamanian Latina Has Received Stellar Recognition From the Children Services Council

Latina From Madrid Making Strides in Media Supports Low Income Kids Through the PTA 

Puerto Rican Latina Marketing and Media Exec Also Supports Healthcare Organizations

Uruguayan Latina Business Development Leader Supports Education Initiatives

Venezuelan Latina Psychologist Has Helped Many Find Happiness

Peruvian Latina, Noted CPA, Outdoorswoman and Charitable Fundraiser

Ecuadorian Latina Has Made Great Strides As Director of Miami-Dade County’s Parks

Colombian Latina Nutritionist Small Business Owner Helps Women  Be Their Healthy Best

Latina New Yorker of Colombian Heritage: Banking Executive/Community Activist

Latina Business Leader Spotlight: Ad Exec Daisy Expósito-Ulla 

Latina Ad Exec Daisy Expósito-Ulla Talks Building a Business

Here are the 2017 Hispanic Women of Distinction:

GLORIA L.  DIAZ-DANIELS –Div Sales Mgr Sales-Pharmacy Walmart – Palm Beach Colombian Born Latina Shines As Mentor and Walmart Sales Exec

ADRIANA FAZZANO FICANO – Chief of Staff, Broward College – Broward County Colombian-American Latina Leads College PR and Community Organizations

BLANCA GUERRA -Broward County Schools-Curriculum Sup/Dual Languages –Dade Cuban Latina Excels at Education and Preserving Heritage Languages  

KARINA GOMEZ-HERRERA – Pres. CEO Karnna Fashion & Company – Broward:  Outstanding Venezuelan Latina Excels as a “Hispanic Fashion Advisor”

Dr IVERIS LUZ MARTINEZ- Assoc Prof. Herbert Werthein College/Medicine FIU-Dade Cuban-American Latina Is a Premier Healthcare Anthropologist 

LORENA MASTRARRIGO -Assistant Public Defender, Broward County – Broward  Argentinian-American Latina Attorney Helping Hispanic Community

CHRISTINA PEREZ McDOWELL – Founder, Solutions by CPM, LLC – Dade- Cuban-American Latina Brand Manger and Executive Consultant

JACQUELINE NUNEZ – Co-owner, SOMA Medical Centers PA – Palm Beach Colombian Latina Healthcare Financial Officer Supports Those In Need

Dr. JACQUELINE PENA – Dean Academic Affairs – Miami Dade College –  Dade Dominican Bronx Latina Secures Grants to Drive Student Success

MICHELLE MARTINEZ-REYES- CMO, Greenspoon Marder Law Firm – Broward  Latina Cuban-American Chief Marketing Officer Is Growing Brands

MARIELLE SOLOGUREN – Vice President. Pierson Grant Public Relations – Broward Latina of Ancestry Cuban-Peruvian Making Waves in PR

RACHEL TOURGEMAN –Community Relations Dir.- Florida National University-Dade Panamanian-American Latina Community Relations Professional Advocates for Victims

LATINA PIONEER of the YEAR:  

DAISY EXPOSITO-ULLA – Chairman, CEO of d exposito & Partnersa visionary creative leader in cross-cultural brand building for more than 30 years, Daisy has been recognized by numerous organizations and named as one of the most influential Latinas in the United States.