Friday, March 29, 2024

Soroptimist Celebrates Success

An inspirational talk from Maria Johnson, Soroptimist International of Coronado’s winner of the 2015 Southwestern College Scholarship Award, was the perfect start for the holiday season.  Maria’s remarkable narrative, overcoming a life marked by poverty and domestic abuse to study accounting, procure a fulltime job, and move into her first apartment is an exceptional success story.  Maria’s hard work and determination attest to her strong, resilient character. Her commitment to serve as an example and provide a stable, supportive environment for her teenage daughter inspires her tenacity.

Maria Johnson
Maria Johnson, winner of Soroptimist International of Coronado’s 2015 Southwestern College Scholarship Award.

At the time Maria received the award she was a full-time accounting student working part time in the Southwestern College cafeteria to support her small family.  Her missing front teeth, a casualty of domestic abuse, compromised her confidence in interviewing for jobs. She and her daughter lived, and even studied for classes, in her car, and then in a room with reduced rent in exchange for housekeeping, and just recently they moved into their first one room apartment.

Maria’s deserving support from Soroptimist went well beyond the original award and continues today. Member, Wendy McGuire, and her husband, Dev, were pivotal in turning Maria’s life around.  They provided supplemental computer training and ultimately hired Maria for a full time position with their company.  Wendy also located a dentist to replace Maria’s missing teeth with a lovely new smile.

After Maria shared her remarkable story, Soroptimist members began offering furniture and household items, and gift cards to transform Maria’s empty apartment into a real home. They are even decorating it for Christmas!

Soroptimist logoTo assist deserving women like Maria to escape the cycle of domestic abuse, poverty, and   human trafficking, to transform their lives and those of entire families, please join Soroptimist International of Coronado for their Annual Legends Luncheon at the Coronado Marriott Hotel on April 22, 2017.



Managing Editor
Managing Editor
Originally from upstate New York, Dani Schwartz has lived in Coronado since 1996. She is happy to call Coronado home and to have raised her children here. In her free time she enjoys reading, exercising, trying new restaurants, and just walking her dog around the "island." Have news to share? Send tips or story ideas to: [email protected]

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