About Together Puerto Rico – Mission, Goals, People and Partners
Together Puerto Rico is a 501(c)(3) organization started directly after Hurricane Irma when two friends living in Puerto Rico decided to raise money on a GoFundMe page to purchase basic necessities and supplies for people who were displaced from neighboring islands.
Today, we work to get water filters and solar lanterns and other needed disaster relief supplies (masks and hand sanitizer) into the hands of people who need them the most in Puerto Rico. We also work to connect people who need help with people who can provide help.
After dealing with Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017 and then the earthquakes in January 2020 (that continue to shake people out of their homes), the people of Puerto Rico still need a lot of help.
Many Puerto Ricans are working to help one another, but problems persist and Covid-19 has now severely crippled the already failing economy and tourism industry. Blackouts in Puerto Rico are still commonplace. The earthquakes continue in the southern region of Puerto Rico, but can still be felt from time to time in San Juan, over 50 miles away.
We focus on helping anyone affected by disasters, but especially senior citizens, children and people with weakened immune systems (AIDS /HIV, diabetes, cancer, and immune system disorders).
Read more about Our history.
Read more about Our Accomplishments.
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OUR MISSION
To provide disaster relief in Puerto Rico via solar lights and water filters,
promote sustainability and improve communications between NGOs and volunteers.
We connect Puerto Ricans affected by disasters to the resources they need.
We work to promote sustainability and economic stability – instead of wasting money
on batteries/flashlights and using plastic water bottles,
we promote water filters and solar lights and solar panels to stay charged.
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Together Puerto Rico is ALL OF US.
We are a community-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Join our efforts in relief and recovery for Puerto Rico.
We are a collection of Puerto Ricans and concerned people living in Puerto Rico. Our purpose is to connect people with resources in order to help Puerto Rico recover and rebuild as quickly and efficiently as possible.
We continue to raise awareness about the problems still facing Puerto Rico via our website and Our Facebook page.
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OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Angela Perozzi, Chairwoman
Originally from the East Coast, Angela feels so fortunate to call Puerto Rico home.
After graduating cum laude from the University of New Hampshire, Angela received her J.D. from Suffolk University Law School in Boston. Although she is not currently practicing law stateside, Angela is still a member in good standing of both the Massachusetts and New York State Bar Associations.
Currently, Ms. Perozzi works from home as a freelance legal writer while taking care of her three young children. In addition, she is also a certified sports nutritionist and loves helping people achieve their health and fitness goals.
Previously, Angela worked as a real estate attorney in the greater Boston area. After finishing law school, she was employed at the Law Firm of George N. Piandes where she represented banks in all aspects of both residential and commercial real estate closings. Later, while employed as an associate at Marcus, Errico, Emmer and Brooks, she practiced litigation in the landlord/tenant department.
While her greatest joy is being a mom, Angela is an avid cook and baker and enjoys feeding anyone who enters her home. She also loves to travel and takes every available opportunity seek new adventures with her family. A bit of a foodie, Angela combines her love of food and travel by seeking out different culinary experiences around the world. She is also a fitness enthusiast and enjoys everything from yoga to kickboxing.
Angel X Rivera Garcia, Vice Chair
Mr. Rivera studied communications at Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico and has twelve years experience as a health administration professional.
He provides services to the HIV population at the Puerto Rico Health Department (El Departamento de Salud de Puerto Rico), helping patients find the resources they need to stay healthy and find the appropriate treatment.
Mr. Rivera has been a vital on-the-ground volunteer for Together Puerto Rico since Hurricane Maria first struck. He distributed critical supplies to coworkers who had lost everything in the storm and the HIV population in the health clinic.
He has gone on several trips to deliver supplies throughout the island, helped assemble the water filter systems and given demonstrations on using the water filters, acting as the principal translator for the team.
Mr. Rivera loves to travel and once went on a mission trip to Honduras, providing summer camps and workshops for children. He loves watching films and often works on the lighting for local film producers and does graphic design in his spare time. He also loves to sing and is amazing at karaoke.
Jami Broom, Treasurer and Executive Director
Jami Broom is lucky to call the beautiful island of Puerto Rico her home. She believes the spirit of Puerto Rico is in its people who have always made her feel welcome on their enchanted island.
She is owner and Principal of Click Strategies, LLC. She has over 12 years experience in helping clients grow their businesses through online marketing.
Ms. Broom spent two years as development coordinator for Byte Back, Inc. a 501(c)(3) non-profit in Washington D.C. that teaches unemployed people computer skills.
She also worked part-time for four years as a development coordinator for the Wilkinsburg Community Ministry, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that provides human services, such as after-school meals to children programs and Meals on Wheels to seniors.
She studied Business Administration and graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Pittsburgh and has served on the Board of Directors for the Young Nonprofit Professional Network of Washington, DC (YNPNdc) and on the organizing committee of Podcamp Pittsburgh V.
PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
- Sordos Unidos. Literally “Deaf United” is a community-based organization for the deaf community in Puerto Rico. Sordos Unidos is led by Adriana Rivera, President, and has been ensuring since earthquakes in 2020 that her community is equipped with the disaster relief supplies they need. They host many events for the deaf community as well as distribute supplies door-to-door to people they know need help.
- Tango Whiskey PC-12 Squadron. This team of dedicated volunteers has been instrumental in helping Together Puerto Rico get disaster relief supplies to people who need it most – mainly older people who are living in the mountainous areas of Puerto Rico. From their FB page: “Created for the Pilatus PC-12/U-28A Aviator Community to support excellence, knowledge, operational mastery and dedication to fostering team development and service in the areas where we operate.”
- Siempre Contigo. Through this partnership, we were able to reach people who really needed help. They handed us a list of families of senior citizens, single moms and people with suffering severe illnesses and with our amazing volunteers, we were able to reach these families and ensure they at least have clean water and a solar lantern when the lights go out.
- Water for Puerto Rico / Agua for Puerto Rico. Alejandro Calaf has a heart of gold and has helped us navigate the insane landscape of Puerto Rico and taken us to areas and people who need help the most.
DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS
We have been very grateful for the support of these special volunteers and friends who have lent their support multiple times on our missions:
- Jen Crowley
- Ivan Ruiz
- R. Walker Mort
- Francesca Biundo
- Mark Bowen
- Krista Noland
- Rosalyn Hansrisuk
- Kelly Noll
- Gloria Robles
- Tony Tang
- Angie Battig
- Cynthia Torres
CORPORATE SPONSORS AND IN-KIND DONATIONS
SPONSOR ORGANIZATIONS AND IN-KIND DONATIONS
- Unitarian Universalist Association of Puerto Rico
- All Souls Unitarian Church
- Integro Foundation
- Cultures of Resistance Network Foundation
- Agilent Technologies
- Myriad Supply
CORPORATE PARTNERS
Special thanks to these wonderful corporations doing amazing things for the world.
- Sawyer Products – Point One Water Filters
- MPOWERD – Luci Lights (Solar lanterns)
SPECIAL THANKS
- Pittsburgh website developer, Chad Warren, who offered his expertise and time completely pro bono directly after the hurricane to help us connect with people and share information.