Meet Dr. Julio Hernandez | CFO & Chairman of the Executive Board

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dr. Julio Hernandez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr. Julio, what is the most important factor behind your success?
The most important factor in the success of our organization is to work with passion and doing what I love for a greater purpose. However, this alone is not enough to ensure success. I’ve learned that to be successful, you have to share your story and your passion in a way that connects with others so they can support your mission and vision for the future.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Angels for Humanity is a non-profit organization that helps impoverished children around the world through health and education. Although the organization has been around since 2006, I joined them in 2018. That first year, I led a dental mission trip to Haiti bringing dentists and hygienists and all the dental supplies to treat 300 children with preventative and emergency dental treatment. Being able to use my knowledge and skills to help less fortunate children and seeing the impact we made and the joy we brought to these innocent children changed my life forever. I found purpose in my work and the ability to pay it forward in a way that is really impactful. Experiences like these, grounds you and makes you realize how blessed we really are to have so many things we take for granted. The children in Haiti, and in other underdeveloped nations we visit, live in abject poverty. Education is not free so many families cannot afford to send their children to school leaving a large part of the boys and girls illiterate. In addition, the healthcare system struggles to meet the needs of the people. Many children have never been to a doctor or dentist. For these families, we provide the only hope and healthcare they receive. Our organization is unique in that 100 percent of the donations collected go to support the children. Our generous board of directors covers the cost of running the organization and all members are volunteers. With much less overhead, and no paid salaries, we are able to do much more with the funds we collect from generous donors creating a greater impact for the children we serve. I am so proud of the work we do, and the excitement comes from the smiling faces of the children we help. We provide hope for so many, and our presence alone ensures these kids know they are not forgotten.
Getting to where we are today has been challenging. As with many non-profit organizations, we depend on donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations that support our mission. That requires us to get the word out about what we are doing in a way that is impactful. For all the members of the organization, myself included, this is not our only job. All of us have full time jobs which help support our lifestyle. This kind of charitable work has to be done after hours and on the weekends. Finding the time and energy and often the resources needed is always a challenge. However, our drive comes from knowing that the work we do will help children have a better future. Having a clear vision for the future is imperative in overcoming the struggles we have found along the way. By staying laser-focused with our goals, we have been able to address many challenges and learn from our mistakes.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
As a native of Miami, I have to say I am blessed to grow up in city that is so culturally diverse with beautiful sunny weather all year around. When friends come to Miami, I want them to experience the beautiful water around us. I take them to the beach or rent a boat and ride along the towering buildings in downtown and Brickell and end up at a little sandbar soaking up the sun. Many fantastic restaurants have stunning views of the bay which are not to be missed. However, what makes Miami unique is the influence of the Latin culture. I often send friends to eat at a local Cuban restaurant and stop by Calle Ocho to hear some live music. Shopping is always an adventure in unique stores in Wynwood or at luxury brands in the Design District. Miami is also famous for its nightlife and the multitude of venues that attract the top DJ’s and performers from around the world to play all kinds of music from house to hip hop to reggaeton.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to dedicate this Shoutout to the founder of Angels for Humanity, Judith Joseph. This woman is a force of nature. The passion that she has for the organization she founded is inspiring. She carried the weight of this non-profit organization on her shoulders alone for many years. She received occasional help from others, but it was her relentless determination that has carried this organization to where it is today. Through her efforts she has touched the lives of thousands of children in her hometown of Miami and in her native country of Haiti as well as other third world countries like the Bahamas, Dominican Republic and Guatemala. Today, Angels for Humanity is bigger than she ever dreamed with the help of a formal board of directors and executive board. As our slogan says, we are “working as one for the good of all children.” However, even with all the extra help, she still doesn’t stop working endless hours to do everything possible to support impoverished children around the world.

Website: https://www.AngelsforHumanity.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelsforhumanityorg/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/angelsforhumanityorg

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AforHumanity

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AngelsforHumanityOrg/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5EEStQzqCkF5ktGs2U5wdw