Meet Maria Vianey Valdez-Cardenas | United Hearts of Arizona Founder/Executive Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Maria Vianey Valdez-Cardenas and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Maria Vianey, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
Born and raised in Cd Obregon Sonora Mexico with 9 siblings in the household. My parents played a great part in my community development. My father a business owner and a truck driver transporting fruits and vegetables from one city to another in Sonora Mexico was a very kind and passionate men. I clearly remember when I was little that He came home after days of driving in the highway saying, jump in the truck and get groceries bags, filled them and take them to all our neighbors. He was so caring about others even though he had a big family to support financially and morally. My mother uses those vegetables or fruits to prepare food and made containers for us to take and distribute in our community for people in need. I firmly believe that injected me of good vibes and good energy to be passionate and caring for others. When I got married and immigrated to US, I came to Tucson Arizona where my husband resided and soon enroll into school and started developing this passion by working in City of Tucson Parks and recreation Department in a recreation center with older adults and younger children, I learned so much from each of them. Later, I joined the Education system by working at Tucson Unified School District in Tucson AZ. during those years always asked myself, how can I keep helping these families without going through out so many levels of leadership for volunteering or even helping a student to get a backpack? Then United Hearts of Arizona/Corazones Unidos de Arizona was founded. United Hearts of Arizona/Corazones Unidos de Arizona mission is to Improve the lives of children and families in Arizona by providing resources that will help them to be prepared for personal lives, professional accomplishments, and responsible citizenship. We are Professional Community members working together as a resource for our children & their families in Arizona. Every year we serve 500+ low-income students in the area of the City of South Tucson and the City of Tucson. We provide direct services by helping them with essential personal items, gas tanks for families to take students to school, oil change for their car or pay for a mechanic so students don’t miss school for being car less, AP testing fees, DACA Fee applications, etc. But we also host Annual Back to school events, financial classes, US Citizenship classes, educational classes and our Annual Shoe and Jacket drive all for low-income families. We have volunteers who help us to create and execute these programs. All of these programs are free to families. Our funding is usually throughout small business donations and personal donations but not limited to any institution to donate.
This year, our 11th Annual United Hearts Shoe and Jacket Drive will be on Saturday, December 14, 2024. We are currently serving 4-schools from Tucson Unified School District, 4-schools from Sunnyside Unified Schol District, 2 Community Charter Schools K-5. Our goal is to serve 225-students for this specific event. Our recommendation to schools is that all students are in the McKinney Vento program or free or reduced lunch program.
We provide each student with:
-A Pair of name brand (Nike, Vans, Converse, Puma, etc.) tennis shoes for school use (usually most of students will pass this item to a sibling, that’s why we do a brand-new name brand)
-A Winter good quality Coat for Arizona weather (usually most of students will pass this item to a sibling, that’s why we do good quality winter coat)
-Socks,
-Toy,
-Books
-A gift card or voucher for a kid’s meal.

We are planning to have students and families to come to El Pueblo Center to collect their bag full of prepacked items and have pictures with Mr. Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus during the event.
If your organization would like to donate to us, we will be using your logo on all our Social Media Promotions, all signage distribution, each children bag will have names of sponsors for parents to have awareness of who is sponsoring them and also your logo and name will be in our final event report.

We are always accepting donations for tennis shoes, socks, jackets, books or a meal gift card.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Im very proud of myself by having a full-time job in a Staffing Company that believes in community. We make a daily impact on so many lives by providing jobs that will help them to have a better quality of life, I have been an advocate for the Pima County and Tucson community for 28+ years building relationships through community engagement. I’m a business owner, a Latina women entrepreneur, I have my own Paralegal business since 2009 serving most of Latino community in Southern Arizona with all Legal documents and Immigration processes, Educating and forming better communities. I’m also a Women Health advocate and have been part of several nonprofit organizations and board of directors in Arizona, holding a seat on the executive board for LULAC (League of United Latin American Citizens) the largest and oldest Latino organization in US. .I’m currently serving as a State of Arizona Director of Youth and former State of Arizona Treasurer. I’m also a State of Arizona Director of Youth for LULAC (League of United Latin American Citizens) the largest and oldest Latino organization in US. as the Arizona State Treasurer and Deputy Director for Youth. Currently the City of Tucson Ward 5 appointee for Pima County Tucson Women’s Commission and the former Treasurer for Citizen Diplomacy Alliance for International Visitors with US Department of State, Las Vistas Neighborhood Association former President as well as Vice President, former Us Census Bureau Partnership Specialist for State of Arizona for Census 2020 campaign and the Founder and Executive Director of United Hearts of Arizona/Corazones Unidos de Arizona. Throughout my career, I had the opportunity to see the need and lack of basic services for low-income families in Southern Arizona. In 2013, I founded my own non-profit organization to Improve the lives of children and families in Arizona by providing resources that will help them to be prepare for personal lives, professional accomplishments, and responsible citizenship. I provide work and support to cities and towns in Southern Arizona by establishing community partnerships and engagements. I’m also the founder and Executive Director of United Hearts of Arizona/Corazones Unidos de Arizona volunteering all my possible time to help our low-income families with programs, events and resources. Any of us (board of directors) receives any type of financial stipend by doing this. We do it because we are passionate to serve. We host Annual Breast Cancer conference, Free Folklorico Classes in summertime for children 5-11yrs old, covid 19 Memorial Services, etc. Forming collaborations and partnerships with local government and local officials to serve better our community. In 2017, I lost my husband unexpectedly and I felt like my world was going to end but I turn around my life for myself and my children by focusing on serving my community and being involve as much I could on things that interested me to grow and be an example for my children. In 2022, I was named Public Servant of the year by Tucson Hispanic Chamber of commerce and 2022 Legacy Richard Elias award by University of Arizona Frances Mc Clelland Institute. in August of 2023 LULAC awarded me with Women of the Year and Hall of Fame inductee. I have always been surrounded by great family members and friends. I’m a very coachable person and always ready to listen and to learn from others. 2 things have always been in my head and in my heart, “Sharing is Caring” and if you want to do it, you can do it. It’s a choice!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
The City of Tucson, the “City of Sunshine,” offers a pleasant mix of cultural and natural attractions to keep visitors busy, but it’s primarily the warm, dry climate that attracts tourists and snowbirds to the area. Also, home to interesting museums, historical sites, and great shopping and dining. The surrounding mountains and desert provide a playground for people looking for things to do outdoors, with beautiful parks, wonderful hiking trails, biking trails, campgrounds, and some incredible scenic drives. If my out of state friend visiting me for a whole week for a first time in Tucson, AZ. I will recommend her to stay at Star Pass Marriott Hotel with great Tucson Mountain views. First day I will drive her through our city so she can feel more familiar with surroundings. I will take her out to eat dinner at Guillermos Mexican Food in the City of South Tucson. Next day we will have breakfast at Bread and Beyond and Drive to The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum that offers an intimate look at the desert landscape around Tucson. This museum is a wonderful family outing with a zoo, natural history museum, and botanical garden all in one. next day we will drive to the Mount Lemmon Scenic Byway. Starting approximately 15 miles outside of Tucson, this route is one of the must-do attractions in the Tucson area. This 27-mile one-way road winds its way up the Santa Catalina Range on the Catalina Highway, and allows you to experience several completely different ecosystems in a short period of time. It also provides some of the most spectacular views out over the surrounding mountains and valleys. A cool escape from Tucson’s heat, the drive will take you from a desert floor with cactus right up to towering pine trees, small streams, and beautiful lakes. At the top is the small community of Summerhaven. A tradition for many families, and one you may want to try while in town, is a stop in at the Mount Lemmon Cookie Cabin for one of their signature giant cookies, an ice cream, or a slice of pizza. Just five minutes past Summerhaven is Mount Lemmon Ski Valley. This ski resort is open all year for sightseeing. Another popular pastime is to stop in here as part of your journey and ride the double chairlift to the top. Up here you’ll be treated to incredible views out over the Santa Catalina mountains. Next day we will go and visit The Pima Air and Space Museum is the largest privately funded air museum in the world, with more than 400 aircraft and spacecraft. The collection includes historical aircraft, as well as some of the most advanced models. Featured attractions include John F Kennedy’s presidential plane and a replica of a 1903 Wright Brothers Flyer. Dinner will be at American Eat company with a variety of establishments with diverse types of food. Next day will we drive to Saguaro National Park offers an easy opportunity to see and experience the Sonoran Desert, east and west of Tucson. Here, you can see the signature saguaro cactus, which are the tallest species in North America. Hiking trails run through the park and offer good opportunities to spot wildlife. Some of the animals and reptiles that call the desert home include Gila woodpeckers, cactus wrens, desert tortoises, jackrabbits, and Gila monsters (lizards). Dinner will be at Guero Canelos Best Mexican Sonoran Hot dogs loacte din the South of City of Tucson. Last day, I will take her to Known as the “White Dove of the Desert,” San Xavier del Bac mission station in the southwest of Tucson was established by Spanish Jesuits in 1770. The mission buildings, particularly the ornately decorated church, are fine examples of the Baroque architecture of the colonial period. It is still used by the Tohono O’odham Indians as a spiritual center. Dinner will be at Casa Valencia Mexican Seafood restaurant with variety of Mexican cuisine platers for anyone.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have to give the credit to my parents, my siblings, my deceased husband and my children. They are the key of my success as a Women Latina Business Owner and Founder/Executive Director of United Hearts of Ariona. Also. This organization can’t be successful without all our wonderful board of directors who have dedicated and have believe in my mission to help our future of this country since early age. So many mentors, so many volunteers sharing their passion to serve directly to our community.

Website: www.unitedheartsaz,org

Instagram: unitedheartsofaz

Linkedin: United Hearts of Az/Corazones Unidos de AZ

Twitter: United Hearts of Arizona

Facebook: United Hearts of Arizona/Cprazones Unidos de Arizona

Youtube: United Hearts of Arizona