Meet Carmen Hidalgo Leyva!

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Meet (and friend!) Carmen Hidalgo Leyva, a Raiser's Edge user, with Miami Children's Hospital Foundation.


Meet Carmen Hidalgo Leyva! This week's member spotlight shines on Raiser's Edge user, Carmen Hidalgo Leyva, with Miami Children's Hospital Foundation. Carmen Hidalgo Leyva's Community Profile
Tell us about your family (fur babies count!) "I am currently married to my college sweetheart and high school best friend, Willy. We are both Cuban and came to this country in our late teens. With much effort we graduated college and became a family. We have two beautiful girls, Amy (6) and Emily (1). They make our days overwhelmingly fun. We enjoy Cuban coffee and tostadas on Sunday morning while listening Radio Marti." Where do you live? "Miami, Florida." What do you like to do for fun? "I like to read or listen to Audible.com. I love binge watching Netflix series and going to the movies. As a family, our greatest times are at Disney World."
	What’s a life achievement you are particularly proud of? "My biggest life achievement are my girls. Every single thing they learn makes me extremely proud." What’s one memory that always makes you smile? "The memory that always makes me smile is the moment my first daughter was born." What is one interesting fact about yourself most people don't know? "One interesting fact about myself that most people don't know is that I am deaf from my left hear due to brain damage. As per many doctors, I was never supposed to get on an airplane, play the piano or any other instrument, learn another language, drive a car, graduate college, or live a normal life. Well, I have done all of the above and anyone who meets me will never know or notice unless I tell them know. The secret: I have never let it define me."
Tell us about your organization "When Ambassador David M. Walters lost his 6-year-old granddaughter Shannon Joy to leukemia in 1970 due to lack of medical resources, the Ambassador vowed no child would ever have to leave South Florida to receive world-class healthcare. Together with doctors, nurses, technicians, staff, volunteers and the surrounding community, Ambassador Walters started Miami Children’s Hospital Foundation (MCH Foundation) to help guide the transformation of Nicklaus Children's Hospital into a nationally-ranked pediatric institution. Nicklaus Children’s is here to give children the best chance to heal, and we need your support so together we can give them the best chance at a healthy life." What’s a typical day like for you? "My days are a revolution. As an administrative assistant, I have become an integral team member of our successes. I need what needs to be done even when it is not expected and I keep myself on the moment while at the same time aware of the final goal. My job duties are to support the development team but throughout the years they have expanded to the entire organization." What’s the best part of your job? "The best part of my job is its dynamic nature. I had the opportunity to learn from every aspect of the foundation. I have been very honored of being trusted with many important projects."
	What advice would you give someone starting out in the non-profit field? "My advice to someone starting out in the non-profit field is try to get involved in other departments other than your own. Try to learn how the full operation runs. It allows you to understand better the organization's need and it makes a valuable team member too." What do you love about the Blackbaud Community? "I love that Blackbaud Community gives the opportunity to connect with others who are going through the same challenges. The most frustrating thing is not knowing and surpringly someone in the community has probably gown through it and will most likely give you a helpful answer."

Finally, if you were a sandwich, what kind of sandwich would you be? "I would probably be a ham and cheese croissant."