McKinney Financial Advisor Earns National Recognition for Philanthropy
Ralph Ujano Jr. is a Finalist in the 2021 Invest in Others Awards
McKinney, Tex. – July 28, 2021 – Ralph Ujano Jr., CEO of The Ujano Advisory Group LLC in McKinney, has been announced as one of three national finalists for the Catalyst Award as part of the 15th Annual Invest in Others Awards. Ujano is being honored for his work with Helping Hands for Single Moms Dallas, which will receive a $20,000 donation from the Invest in Others Charitable Foundation. If Ujano wins his category, the donation will increase to $50,000.
The Invest in Others Awards program recognizes the charitable work of financial advisors in communities across the country and around the world. Advisors are nominated for actively giving back to nonprofits to improve their communities and make a difference in the lives of others. Finalists are selected based on their leadership, dedication, contribution, inspiration, and impact on a nonprofit and the community it serves. There are four categories of awards: Catalyst, Community Service, Volunteer of the Year, and Lifetime Achievement.
Helping Hands for Single Moms Dallas works to end generational poverty by assisting low-income single mom families as the mother pursues college education, financial independence and creates a positive family legacy. Research shows that when one parent has graduated college, a child is 70% more likely to graduate college and 80% less likely to live in poverty. Helping Hands for Single Moms Dallas turns these statistics into reality by providing a suite of services to meet the needs of single mom college student families, including strategic support services, life skills training and a single mom community network for mentoring and support.
After volunteering with the Helping Hands for Single Moms Phoenix chapter for many years, Ujano started the Dallas chapter when he moved to the area in 2016. Ujano was critical in getting the organization off the ground, and ran operations, applied for grant opportunities, championed fundraising and connected young college moms with various community resources. He currently serves in a volunteer capacity as the organization’s part-time Executive Director. Ujano believes in the transformative role education can play in breaking the cycle of generational poverty. Thanks to Ujano’s energy and vision, Helping Hands for Single Moms boasts impressive outcomes – 79% of participants have graduated college and typical earnings for mom graduates total nearly $50,000 annually.
Awards will be presented at the 15th Annual Invest in Others Awards Gala on September 22, 2021 in Boston.
About Helping Hands for Single Moms Dallas
The mission of Helping Hands for Single Moms Dallas is ending generational poverty through assisting low-income single mom families while the mother attains a college education, financial independence, and a positive family legacy.
About the Invest in Others Charitable Foundation
The inspiration for the Invest in Others Charitable Foundation came directly from the financial advisors who invest in others by giving back to their communities with overwhelming generosity and dedication. Since its founding in 2006, Invest in Others has amplified these efforts by providing a platform for advisors and other financial professionals to increase awareness, visibility, and funding to their favorite nonprofits. Over the past 15 years, IiO has given more than $3 million to 300+ charities across a variety of causes, including health and wellness, education and youth programs, arts and culture, hunger and poverty prevention, military and veterans and more. For more information, visit investinothers.org or follow Invest in Others on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.
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Media Contacts:
Ralph Ujano, CEO
Helping Hands for Single Moms Dallas
ralph.ujano@helpinghandsforsinglemoms.org | 972.994.6878
Kaileen Cote, Assistant Director of Marketing
Invest in Others Charitable Foundation
kaileen.cote@investinothers.org | 978.761.7883