Erika Ramirez, Director of United Way, United Way Chihuahua, by José Martín Rodriguez. Erika Ramirez leads United Way Chihuahua with a profoundly human vision of leadership. For her, community work is not limited to managing resources or coordinating programs. It is about connecting people, businesses, and goodwill to generate real opportunities in the lives of those who need them most. In a community marked by significant social challenges, she maintains that no transformation happens in isolation and that the strongest communities are built when people choose to get involved. Tell us about United Way Chihuahua. We are a nonprofit organization that connects individuals and businesses with the community and its needs. We exist thanks to the generosity and commitment of thousands of people, primarily from the Macquilladora industry, but also from small and medium-sized businesses that believe in the possibility of building a stronger community. For 35 years, we have built a relationship of trust and transparency with our partners, and we know that enormous potential still exists in Chihuahua. Many more companies can join our cause and become agents of social transformation. Our work has been to transform people's will into real opportunities for children, youth, families, and seniors who often face unmet basic needs. We also support the dreams of young people and others who simply needed another chance, someone to believe in them and not let their hopes fade. We have been able to support this initiative thanks to Mr. Lee, who in 1991, while working at Delphi, who decided to bring the United Way model to Ciudad Juarez. Inspired by the organization's work, with over 135 years of history in the United States, he envisioned an opportunity to launch a project in the city that could support the community in an organized, accessible, and transparent manner. In those years, many of the causes supported were related to cancer and disability. The aim was to support families who needed resources to continue treatments, improve their quality of life, and live with greater dignity. The first campaigns cemented our human touch. The founders of organizations supporting people with cancer or disabilities would go into the Macquilladora factories to share their stories and ask the employees to contribute one peso a week. Today, the average contribution is 9 pesos per week, and although it may seem small, it has meant treatments, hope, and relief for hundreds of families. This is how our organization was born. In the heart of the Maquilladora, and from the conviction that when a community unites, the impact can transform lives. Are the resources that reach United Way Chihuahua contributions from employees or companies. From both sides. Our approach focuses on getting company employees to volunteer, and, together with the commitment of the companies themselves, enabling us to bring aid to the community. That's where something truly powerful happens people helping other people. This is how we build a genuine culture of helping others and social commitment, where employees and companies work together to create opportunities and transform lives. Many companies also engage in what we call corporate matching. For every dollar an employee contributes, the company contributes another. Some match 100%, while others contribute a different percentage, but the message is the same: to commit to their community. We also receive corporate contributions, donations from company foundations, and recycling, where companies allocate the proceeds from the sale of materials like plastic, cardboard, or metals to our programs and projects, as well as vending machines and partnerships with convenience stores located within the Maquilladora plants. These are different forms of participation that allow us to continue creating opportunities for thousands of people. There are companies that decide to join through one, two, or even all possible channels, demonstrating that when there is a commitment to the community, the impact can be multiplied. How do you convince collaborators to participate? With results with a proven track record that speaks for itself and convinces us. Thanks to the power of unity, the commitment of the companies, the professional work of a great team, and the transformative stories behind each person who has benefited. Our mission to share this impact never stops. We constantly return to our donors to show them how investing in education, health, the environment, and technology is truly transforming lives. When people learn the stories behind each program, they understand that their contribution does create real change. I always share stories of employees who decide to donate 100 pesos a week. For some of them, it represents a significant portion of their salary, and yet they still choose to do it. That generosity speaks to the enormous sense of humanity and the culture of helping others that exists in our community. How do they manage to sustain these contributions and involve more companies? With transparency and a personal touch. Today, we have partners from diverse nationalities and sectors who have found in United Way Chihuahua a structured, reliable, and humane way to engage with the community and generate a positive social impact. We work with companies from Asia, Europe, the United States, and many other parts of the world that seek to operate under high standards of compliance and social commitment. Throughout our 35 years, we have built a transparent and professional operating model that gives confidence to our corporate partners, allowing us to contribute to some of the evaluation criteria related to the ESR distinction, especially in matters of community participation, social investment, and community engagement. Beyond simply receiving donations, we want companies to experience the impact firsthand. We give them visibility into how resources are invested, involve them in volunteer activities and civic engagement, and connect them with the stories behind each program. This close relationship has allowed many companies not only to remain with us, but also to recommend our work and encourage other organizations to join this cause. We have the privilege of seeking, but also of being sought, and our responsibility is to continue growing because the needs of the community do not stop. In Chihuahua, there are still significant challenges that require collective work. Currently, more than 16% of the population has educational disadvantages and around 21% face deficiencies in access to health services. Furthermore, technological transformation and environmental challenges demand that we generate more opportunities for sustainable social development and investment for communities. That is why we believe Chihuahua's potential remains enormous. There are still many companies and individuals who can join this cause and become agents of change to build a stronger, more humane future with greater opportunities for all. How many people have benefited from the United Way Chihuahua programs? In 2025 alone, we will impact more than one million people. Looking at our 35-year history, we can say that we have benefited millions. But the true impact goes far beyond a number. When a person finds opportunities, they transform their life and expand their possibilities for growth. That impact is also reflected in those around them and in the strengthening of an entire community. Through our Aleva Scholarship Program, we promote opportunities for high school and university students, strengthening their academic preparation and connecting them to the world of work. This effort also benefits businesses and our community by contributing to the development of skilled talent ready to join the workforce that drives the region's growth. We know that many families face very complex realities, situations that we sometimes can't imagine until we hear them firsthand. That's why we believe it's also our responsibility to provide tools, guidance, and hope. We cannot ignore the needs that exist in our community, but we can continue to open up possibilities for every person who seeks to get ahead, find opportunities, and build a better future for themselves and those around them. What is your approach to ensure that United Way Chihuahua continues to grow? At the heart of my work is a vision of growth and human-centered leadership, that every person we touch through our work can flourish into their best self. To continue being an instrument of unity where the different sectors, public, private, and social, converge to work collaboratively and generate a positive impact in the communities with the greatest needs, taking advantage of the strengths, capabilities, and commitment of each one. Continue to promote the development of my team, because it is people who make it possible to open paths and transform lives in our community. I leverage the experience and vision of our board of directors to design strategies that strengthen the organization's growth and social impact. I am fortunate to have leaders committed to collective well-being, people who, from their human and professional trajectory, strengthen our mission every day. And to continue strengthening myself personally and professionally thanks to the inspiration I find in my family, my team, our donors, and the community that reminds us why it is worth continuing to build opportunities. Over the years, we have demonstrated that social impact must also be measured and verified. It is not enough to simply help, we have to show how we are changing lives. Our reading program, Everyone to Read, is a prime example. The promise is that every participating child will be able to read at least two books a month on their own initiative, because we make books available, train teachers, and cultivate a love of reading. How have they managed to make human leadership permeate within the industry? I would say that all the companies that work with us today are on that path. Some have come a long way, others are just starting out, and some still have a lot to build, but they have all understood something very important: putting people at the center. Anything else you'd like to add? Our mission at United Way Chihuahua is to demonstrate how collective work can truly change lives. We measure, monitor, and support it constantly because we believe that trust is built every day. Today, more than ever, we need more companies committed to the community. Join United Way Chihuahua. Whether as a donor or a corporate partner, your commitment can become a real and measurable impact on the lives of thousands of people. For our part, we will always be ready to accompany you on this journey, building a more prosperous community together.