Double the Impact: Hilda Perez ’11 Pays It Forward by Establishing Two Scholarships

"These scholarships are a way to give back because Adelphi's given me so much," said the proud Adelphi alumna.

Hilda Perez '11 is a social entrepreneur who believes in giving back to her Latino community and to Adelphi. She was an international studies major, a Levermore Global Scholar, recognized as an Adelphi 10 Under 10 for 2016, and served on the board of trustees for four years. Now she is giving back to Adelphi again-this time, by establishing two scholarships. The first scholarship is to support students studying health and wellness. The second is to help students expand their horizons through study abroad or internships that give them global exposure.

"These scholarships are a way to give back because Adelphi's given me so much," she explained. "Adelphi opened a lot of doors for me."

Peter DeBartolo, PhD, former Levermore Global Scholar (LGS) administrative director and now an adjunct professor, introduced her to the concept of social entrepreneurship. "I became really intrigued by the concept and how it impacts communities," she said. Inspired, Perez went on to obtain her master's degree in social entrepreneurship in 2014.

The business of helping others is apparently a passion that runs in the family. Perez's family emigrated from the Dominican Republic to the United States in 1987. "They were looking for more opportunities for their family and a better way of life," she explained. "They left their family and everything they knew to come here, trying to transition their careers to a new country."

Her father, Rigo Pérez Diaz, MD, naturopath and nutritionist, established Salud, a nutritional supplement company, and has been active in the Hispanic community for more than 30 years. Hilda Perez is now the company's chief operating officer, while her sister, Sarah Jarrett, is the chief executive officer.

The Perez Family Health and Wellness Endowed Scholarship

The two sisters established the Perez Family Health and Wellness Endowed Scholarship with Adelphi University. "This scholarship is our way of paying it forward, honoring the sacrifices our parents and family made as Dominican immigrants who built a life in New York," Perez wrote in a LinkedIn post about the scholarship. "We aim to empower a student who, like us, seeks to achieve great things in their career and community."

Priority will be given to students with demonstrated financial need who are pursuing an MS in Nutrition and Dietetics at the Ruth S. Ammon College of Education and Health Sciences and have a demonstrated interest in promoting health and the importance of good nutrition to underserved communities.

Hilda M. Perez '11 Social Impact Scholarship Fund

At Adelphi, Perez participated in three study abroad programs: a month in Florence, Italy; a month in Egypt; and community service in Costa Rica during her spring break. "Studying abroad sparked my passion for adventure, growth and empathy, shaping how I see the world and inspiring me to help others both locally and globally," she wrote in a LinkedIn post announcing the scholarship.

The fund will provide resources for undergraduate student(s) in the LGS program with demonstrated financial need to participate in a study abroad program or to pursue internships.

"It's so important to get out of your bubble and understand there's so much more to this world," Perez said. "I truly believe that study abroad makes you a more well-rounded person and allows you to apply those learnings to help your own community."