Meet Diana Rosario; a woman who not only feels her passion but then shares it with the world. Determined to move to New York City from Canada, Diana sought out her internship in the United States and has made the decision to stay there. Diana’s passion for helping others will always resonate through her work ethic and relationships. She exudes philanthropy, through and through.
What drove you to choose a career in philanthropy?
“I chose a career in philanthropy because I’ve always loved volunteering and helping others. I first realized this about myself when I began my undergraduate degree at Wilfrid Laurier University (WLU). My favourite thing about WLU was the atmosphere; there was a culture of giving back to the community. There were endless opportunities. At the beginning of each year there was a ‘Get Involved Fair’ where all campus clubs and services had booths to attract student to GET INVOLVED! After convocation I decided to take a few years off to teach English abroad, travel and learn more about the world before I started my career in philanthropy. At the end of my adventure I realized that I really did want to pursue a career in the non-profit sector and began a post-graduate in fundraising and volunteer management.”
Why is your work important and how does it fulfill you?
“My work is important and rewarding because my organization’s mission and values align with my own personal values. Because I work at such a small charity, I am able to see the benefits of the organization first-hand. I really like working at an organization where I feel the work I do really makes a different and improves the lives of children. I find my work to be very fulfilling because my tasks and projects vary on a daily basis. Each day is different and I feel like I am constantly learning new things.”
What else would you be doing to make you happy?
“If I wasn’t working at my current organization, I would like to work for an animal welfare charity. If I wasn’t working in the non-profit field I would spend my time teaching yoga or working at a job related to travel. Those are my other two passions.”
How have your travel experiences effected the way you view the world, the way you view philanthropy? Is there anyone you met along the way that pushed you into this field?
“I feel very fortunate that I have had the opportunities to travel as extensively as I have. Living abroad has definitely shaped the person I am today. Through my travels I learned about many different cultures and their values. I notices the patterns that regardless of where you were born or where you live, people do the same things. Everyone wants to feel secure, to have purpose in their life, to love and be loved.
During my journey of living and travelling abroad, there were two people that had an enormous effect on my life and ultimately guided me into this field. Leo Mendoza and Jin Young Shin are the founders of Shin Dogs Sanctuary, a no-kill dog shelter in South Korea. Leo and Jin founded the dog sanctuary because they could no longer stand by and watch the terrible fate of so many innocent dogs. I was truly moved and inspired by the work that Leo and Jin do, and knew that after volunteering with the organization for almost two years that a career in philanthropy was the right fit for me.”
What is your dream for your children’s world?
“My dream for my children’s world is that more people will be working together to solve conflict and challenges. I hope that there is a greater culture of volunteering and giving back to our community, not just here in North America but a culture that is shared with people around the world. I hope that the next generation is raised with the belief that everyone can and should make a difference – find a cause (or two or three) that you are passionate about, and then take the steps necessary to make a positive difference.”
