Today we’d like to introduce you to Brianna Woo.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I first got involved with Corazon de Vida when a friend invited me on one of their monthly bus trips to visit an orphanage in TJ. I at first went as nothing more than a favor to a friend but the second I arrived at the orphanage my life was changed. I had met a little girl named Alicia and unlike the other kids who all wanted to play with you and hold your hand, Alicia was a little rough around the edges. I had found out it was her first week in the home and she was still adjusting but by the end of the day we had become best friends! When it was time go leave, she asked me in Spanish when I was going to return. With my little to no Spanish skills I replied, “En Una Semana”, which I had though meant in a month but got home to realize it meant in a week! When I realized my mistake, I felt immediate guilt that I had just lied to a child that was just left separated from her family! I made it a priority to get back as soon as possible and the day I went back, Alicia was on the other side of the home and when she saw me she ran through the crowd of other volunteers and gave me the biggest hug! That moment was and still is the best feeling I have ever felt in my life. From there forward, I knew I had found my purpose and wanted to do all I could to give that same feeling of love and care back to the kids! Alicia was eight years old when I met her and I just celebrated her 18th birthday with her!
From there, I got more involved with Corazon de Vida and one day one of the Board Members invited me to meet a group of people who also lived in the San Diego area and had a heart of giving. I walked into what I thought was just a casual dinner and walked out one of the founding members of the San Diego Chapter of Corazon de Vida! As a group, we all decided there was so much more we could do for the kids within our community so we set out to raise awareness and funds to help sustain and improve the kid’s quality of life as well as educate and break the cycle of poverty in their lives.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The first-ever Gala that we hosted in efforts to raise funds and awareness for the kids had about 30 people attend and the latest Gala we hosted on November 6, 2021 had between 350-400 attendees and we raised a record of $340K for the kids! To have volunteers all raise the level of our efforts has not been an easy road but it’s definitely been a fulfilling one. The biggest challenge I’ve come across is the effects of the pandemic. I had been frequenting one of the homes in Baja at least once a month and when the lockdown happened, it wasn’t as easy for me to get down there. Not being able to see the kids on a consistent basis is heartbreaking but happy to see the lockdown letting up and excited to get back down there more!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My professional work is as the VP of Sales for Bird Rock Systems. Although my professional line of business is in the IT world, it collides with Corazon de Vida as the company has been one of the Gala supporters from day 1! I love that my company values my values! And when they say giving back is a value, they actually mean it!
As the VP of Sales, I’ve been able to take the leadership skills I’ve developed there and apply them to my volunteer work! In sales, the thing I love the most is helping and connecting people and the same happens outside of just my career as well!
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
A book I highly recommend is Mindset by Carol S Dweck. It teaches about a fixed vs growth mindset and how those with a growth mindset are more likely to succeed. Another great book that was recommended to me by the Director of the Orphanage, Door of Faith, is Lead Like Jesus by Ken Blanchard & Phil Hodges. The book describes leading as a process of aligning two internal domains- the heart and the head and two external domains- the hands and the habits.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.corazondevida.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/corazondevida/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/corazondevida
