Johanna Cordero: Community Service Recognition

With a passion for poverty alleviation, Johanna Cordero has been teaching financial literacy throughout her banking career the past 19 years. She is tireless in her support for the Tucson community as she comes from humble beginnings and knows what it is to struggle. She wants to help offer her financial expertise to give people tools to break out of the cycle of poverty.

Johanna was nominated by her current employer, Pacific Premier Bank. Although there are a wide variety of organizations she is intimately involved with, the ones she has given the most time to include Habitat for Humanity Tucson’s family partner, VITA’s (United Way) intake specialist, Junior Achievement’s volunteer teacher and UCREW’s chair. The time spent at these organizations in particular remind her of why she has the sense of passion for volunteering. When you have a child come up to you at the end session showing their appreciation or a staff member thanking you, it makes it all worthwhile.

Johanna shares – “Through education and support we can build stronger communities now and for the future of our children. One of my favorite quotes is by Martin Luther King Jr., everybody can be great…because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”

Community Service Recognitions

Community Service Recognitions, including the one received by Johanna, are given at the annual SAVMA Awards. These recognitions and awards are part of a larger strategic effort to draw attention to the essential work of volunteers and to the profession of volunteer engagement.

Learn more about volunteer opportunities with the VITA program at United Way.