Almost nowhere
Hurricane brings nonprofit leaders closer together
are the emotional ties between Central Florida and Puerto Rico more evident than with two local leaders of an international nonprofit.
Almost nowhere are the emotional ties between Orlando and Puerto Rico more evident than with two local leaders of an international nonprofit group.
Jeff Hayward is the CEO of Heart of Florida United Way, Central Florida’s local affiliate for the organization. His counterpart in Puerto Rico, Samuel Gonzalez, heads the island’s affiliate for the nonprofit, Fondos Unidos.
They met for the first time back in May during the United Way international conference, where it was announced Central Florida and Puerto Rico would form a sister city relationship.
“We grabbed a sandwich and some beer... I don’t know what it was, but we just became fast friends,” Hayward said. “Now we email and call each other every other day.”
Gonzalez feels the same way.
“The meeting was like I discovered a brother that I never had,” he said.
But then, Hurricane Maria happened.
Hayward says he couldn’t reach Gonzalez for days after the storm to know how he was doing. Gonzalez said he lost half of his roof, and the water destroyed his kitchen and living room area.
Over two weeks after the catastrophic storm that left a widespread crisis on the island, Gonzalez and Hayward still struggle to hold back tears when they talk about not being able to reach each other.
“He was the first person to call me from the outside,” Gonzalez said. “For me, it was important to know I have brothers in other parts.”
“The meeting was like I discovered a brother that I never had.” Fondos Unidos head Samuel Gonzalez on friend Jeff Hayward, CEO of Heart of Florida United Way
“We all worried, we thought we lost some people out there,” Hayward said.
When he finally spoke with Sammy, as he calls him, he was shocked to find out he was even a little upbeat.
“He’s crazy, every time I talk to him I say, ‘Sammy, how can you be in such a good mood?’ ” Hayward said. “I just want to hug the guy.”
Now, the pair are working to launch an initiative to provide Puerto Rico with non-essential donations that Gonzalez realized would still be important for people on the ground.
“He tries to write and talk to me in Spanish. Even if someone translates it for him, it’s such a beautiful act on his part, that he tries to speak my language,” Gonzalez said. “It’s an act that really shows his empathy with our people.”
Hayward is organizing efforts to send solar battery flashlights, water filtration units, adult diapers and other items to help people cope with the conditions on the island where the power outage remains at 90 percent.
“Sammy said, ‘Don’t get me a generator because I can’t get diesel,’ ” Hayward said.
Hayward said as he heard stories of the aftermath of Maria in Puerto Rico, he pictured the worst scenarios. But now, he’s arranging his own trip to reunite with Gonzalez.
“I’m on a couple of travel sites trying to get a flight down there,” Hayward said.
Gonzalez, who remembers Fondos Unidos delivering essential items to Haiti after the devastating earthquake in 2010, said it feels hard to be on the other side.
“Puerto Rico has never had a disaster like this. It’s really touched a nerve in Puerto Rico,” he said. “But knowing that there is a group of people who watch out for you, people making an effort, it also gives you hope, you feel less alone.”