La Jolla resident and 'tireless volunteer' honored as community ambassador

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

Global communities will greet Decker at the Hands Across Borders gala on Friday, November 8 at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla at the Aventine hotel.

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

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

The organization says it promotes initiatives that aim to increase youth 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 girls have access to education, health care and economic opportunities to help them build a better future .

“I was so shocked to learn that the US has the highest maternal mortality rate of any developed country (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 years old. And as those babies grow, Global Communities is there with mentorship programs that build resilience and prevent youth exploitation, including child trafficking. It’s just such important work.”

Born in New York, Decker attended Jesuit schools, which were service-oriented.

“That has been a common thread in my professional, personal and philanthropic life,” she said. “I have always been drawn to serving nonprofits and doing what I can to help those in need. With that philosophy I have gained much more than I gave. There is an incredible community of people who support our local nonprofits, and I am proud to call those people my friends.”

Decker served at Global Communities for ten years and was involved in fundraising and advocacy by building community partnerships.

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

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

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

For more information about the Hands Across Borders gala, visit globalcommunities.org/handsacrossborders.

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