Meet Macarena Zilveti | Founder

We had the good fortune of connecting with Macarena Zilveti and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Macarena, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
Badges of Courage helps low-income women who are going through breast cancer treatment. We provide them with financial assistance so that their living expenses are paid for up to for three months. This means they don’t have to worry about how they’ll pay their home, utilities, car payments, day care, etc. This enables them to focus on healing and greatly reduces their stress. We constantly receive thank you notes from them for helping alleviate their worry. They are already worrying about their prognosis so imagine if, on top of this, they are not able to pay their living expenses!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
We are the only organization in Miami-Dade county that provides financial assistance to low income women who are struggling through breast cancer. It makes me immensely proud to be able to provide this much needed help to these women. It is a humbling experience to see so many women, of all ages, races and socio-economic backgrounds contact us for help when they are at their lowest. They cry tears of joy when we inform them that we can help. As a matter of fact, some of them keep in touch with me. They ask how I’m doing and have asked how they can help me! It is a beautiful experience. I come from a line of women who had breast cancer and survived—my great-grandmother, grandmother, aunt and mother all had it. This makes me more conscientious and aware. I take care of my body so that it is at its healthiest.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If a friend was visiting the area I’d take them to Fairchild Tropical Garden, Viscaya and the PAMM. I love sitting outside the PAMM and watching the sea. As far as food, I love how South Florida has such a wide variety of foods! You can eat anything you want if you look for it. At the moment, I am into this great Peruvian sandwich place in Hollywood called J28 Sandwich Bar. They have the most delicious and unique sandwiches. COVID has made it harder to go out to places so I am mostly going to places that are outside. Wynwood Walls is always nice to go to.

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?
Curaleaf of Florida deserves a great big Shoutout! It is thanks to their donation that we were able to help so many women in 2020!

Website: https://www.badgesofcourage.org/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BOCFoundation

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

Image Credits
jjblancoh/DLA