Edited from a submission by Lya Martínez Montero, Puerto Rico (Province of Central America)

At its Annual Assembly on June 17, 2026, United Way Puerto Rico (Fondos Unidos) presented Hogar Santa María Eufrasia, located in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, with the Carmen ‘Tita’ Rodríguez Community Impact Award. This recognition was given in acknowledgment of the Hogar’s extraordinary commitment to one of society’s most vulnerable groups: young women who find themselves pregnant, homeless, and without the support of a family or partner.

United Way Puerto Rico is the island’s largest coalition of nonprofit organizations, social investors, and volunteers, and forms part of the worldwide United Way network. With more than 101,000 social investors and 6,500 volunteers, it mobilizes community resources to improve living conditions across Puerto Rico in the areas of education, health, and financial stability. For United Way Puerto Rico, the Hogar represents precisely the kind of mission-driven partner whose work multiplies impact far beyond the walls of a single institution.

From the moment a young woman enters the Hogar, she is embraced with radical welcome. She receives housing, food, and everything needed for daily life. She is supported through social work services, psychological attention, and personal and family counseling. Her spiritual life is nurtured through pastoral accompaniment rooted in the Good Shepherd charism of gentle encounter with God.

She is guided in caring for her newborn and in managing the rhythms of daily life, with transportation and accompaniment at every appointment she needs to attend. After the birth of her baby, she remains in the Hogar until a family member can welcome her, or until a safe transition can be arranged in coordination with the Department of Family Services — always with her well-being and that of her child at the center of every decision.

At the heart of this work is the spirit of Saint John Eudes and Saint Mary Euphrasia, who believed that every person is of more value than the entire world. This conviction is expressed each day by the sisters and partners-in-mission who serve alongside them. Together, they build an environment of protection and transformation, where the mother-child bond is nurtured, where young women are helped to recognize their own worth, and where the cycle of harm is broken.

One former resident recalled: “They taught me how to care for my baby, how to cook, how to manage a home. I received psychological support and medical care throughout my pregnancy.” What is described here is the awakening of a young woman to her dignity as a woman and a mother.

This award comes at a moment when Puerto Rico continues to face significant social challenges, including high rates of adolescent pregnancy, deepening economic inequality, and the lasting aftereffects of natural disaster. In this context, the Community Impact Award is a public affirmation that the way of the Good Shepherd, characterized by unconditional welcome and faithful presence, remains not only relevant but urgently necessary.

We extend our congratulations and gratitude to the entire team at Hogar Santa María Eufrasia. This recognition belongs to every person who has poured themselves into this mission — and to every young woman and child whose life has been touched, strengthened, and transformed by their care.

For more information about Hogar Santa María Eufrasia, visit hogarsme.org. To learn more about United Way Puerto Rico, visit unitedwaypr.org.