Qualitas Of Life
Our Mission
Qualitas of Life Foundation is a non-profit organization that provides financial education to Hispanic individuals and their families, in order to foster their financial security and improve their standard of living. Over the years, we have created resources to reach the diverse Hispanic community, ensuring thousands have the tools to manage their finances and break the cycle of poverty.
Our Story
In 2004, Mexican philanthropist Marcela Orvañanos de Rovzar moved to New York City. Shocked by the living conditions of Hispanics, she sought ways to support the community. After consulting financial education experts and engaging with community members, she founded Qualitas of Life Foundation.
Qualitas of Life’s financial education workshops began in 2007. With the support of our Board, team, facilitators, volunteers, sponsors, and strategic alliances, we expanded to community centers across all five boroughs of New York.
Today we partner with over 100 organizations in NYC and beyond to provide free, bilingual financial education. Since 2007, we have served over 40,000 families, impacting over 190,000 people.
Our Approach
We believe financial education is key to economic prosperity. Our workshops teach participants how to manage their finances, access banking services, and make informed financial decisions. By fostering financial literacy, we empower Hispanic families to achieve long-term stability and success.
Our Values
Capabilities Approach: Our curriculum helps participants make decisions based on their strengths and social circumstances. We equip them with the skills to analyze their situations, enhance social mobility, break the cycle of poverty, and achieve their financial goals.
Human Rights and Gender Equity: We ensure participants understand their rights and create an environment that empowers them to advocate for themselves. We believe that leveraging women's economic potential benefits both the Hispanic community and the U.S. economy.
Civic Engagement: Participants benefit from social and economic services but also have civic responsibilities. We encourage them to fulfill these obligations, fostering a sense of belonging and inclusion in U.S. society.
Family-Focused: Strengthening family communication and joint financial decision-making empowers individuals. Our curriculum offers flexible, culturally responsive solutions and connects families with relevant services.
Community: We build a network of organizations that understand the needs of our community, directing beneficiaries to trusted resources and providing a support system for Hispanics in the U.S.
Facilitators
Our facilitators provide the workshops and are essential for our educational program. They are a composed group of professionals trained yearly by Qualitas of Life on the content of the educational material, as well as on the pedagogical model as it relates to the activities in the workshops, and on specific financial education topics that we cover. Our Facilitators come from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Ecuador, Honduras, Puerto Rico, and the USA. All of our facilitators have a strong understanding of the socio-economic challenges of our participants. They come from diverse academic backgrounds, including but not limited to, Social Work, Education, Finance, Non-Profit Management, Communications, and Public Policy.
