La Jolla resident and 'tireless volunteer' to be honored as Community Ambassador

La Jolla resident Maria Decker is being honored with the Community Ambassador Award for her work for the nonprofit Global Communities.

Global Communities will salute Decker at its Hands Across Borders gala on Friday, Nov. 8, at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine hotel.

The annual event recognizes people who “exemplify the spirit of compassion, leadership and global citizenship that we strive to foster at Global Communities,” said Carrie Hessler-Radelet, the organization’s president and chief executive. “Their work has had a profound impact on the lives of countless individuals.”

The group, which is based in Maryland and has an office in San Diego, described Decker as a “tireless volunteer” for Global Communities.

The organization says it drives initiatives that aim to enhance young people’s resilience against human trafficking and exploitation and support women to ensure they have healthy pregnancies and safe births.

Decker, the mother of three daughters, said she was drawn to Global Communities to work to empower women and ensure that girls have access to education, health care and economic opportunities to help them build better futures.

“I was so stunned to learn that the US has the highest maternal mortality rate of any developed nation (according to The Commonwealth Funda private research foundation),” Decker said. “But Global Communities is working to solve that through their Healthy Start program in San Diego, which supports women to have healthy pregnancies and cares for both mother and baby until the child turns 2. And when those babies grow up, Global Communities is there with mentoring programs that build resilience and prevent youth exploitation, including child trafficking. It’s just such important work.”

Decker, a New York native, attended Jesuit schools, which have a service focus.

“That has been a throughline in my professional, personal and philanthropic life,” she said. “I have always been drawn to serve nonprofit organizations and do what I can to help those in need. I’ve gained much more than I’ve given with that philosophy. There is an incredible community of people supporting our local nonprofits, and I’m proud to call those people my friends.”

Decker has served with Global Communities for a decade and been involved in fundraising and advocating by forging community partnerships.

“I’ve done most of that work with local businesses in La Jolla, and I am always amazed by the generosity of this community,” she said. “I’m a big believer in the power of community. We’re all in this together and we need to support each other, share resources and knowledge and work together in times of crisis to ensure that no one — whether in San Diego or across the globe — faces challenges alone.

“I think we all want to build a better future for our children and grandchildren, and we need organizations like Global Communities to do that. That’s why I got involved.”

Of her Community Ambassador Award, Decker said she’s “extremely grateful for this very generous expression of gratitude for my work.”

To learn more about the Hands Across Borders gala, visit globalcommunities.org/handsacrossborders.

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