The Community Foundation of South Jersey (CFSJ) wants our neighbors to know our board members for their leadership and generosity, so we asked board members a few questions to get to know them and learn about the values that drive their work.
Valeria (Val) Galarza has many years of nonprofit experience. She wanted to get involved with CFSJ to understand and experience the other side of the nonprofit world, philanthropy. As a board member for CFSJ since 2020, Val has been able to serve a wider audience, giving her the opportunity to help create systemic change. Learn more about Val’s work here.
Municipality and county where you live?
Voorhees, Camden County
What is your inspiration?
From Generosity to Justice, by Darren Walker, president of the Ford Foundation inspired me to think beyond only generous giving. Generosity alone is beneficial and desperately needed, but it is just a band-aid without justice. The combination of generosity and justice provides more long term, sustainable solutions to complex social issues. I experience CFSJ working at this intersection. CFSJ seeks to clearly understand the challenges and opportunities within our footprint. In this way, CFSJ is doing more than just providing funds, and in this way, it supports making lasting impact.
What is your aspiration for South Jersey?
South Jersey is uniquely positioned to become a model for health and well-being in the state. If community members are inspired to think beyond their own work and consider the quality of life for their future, they can exercise leadership and lead changemaking efforts. CFSJ provides the means to develop more community capital to help South Jersey communities thrive. As a board member, I look forward to diving deep into the heart of South Jersey communities and being an agent of change.
What was your most meaningful work?
My most meaningful work thus far has been the various professional and volunteer opportunities to collaborate with multiple-sector partners to advance policy, systems and environmental changes that create equity and sustainability for healthier communities. I see similar efforts in CFSJ’s Transform South Jersey strategy, which aims to combine building human and financial capital with a comprehensive community health perspective. This kind of hands-on approach is what I know, love, and am passionate about.