In 1992, a six-year-old girl was diagnosed with leukemia. For the next few years, she and her family were challenged in every way possible: physically, emotionally and financially. As a family, they suffered loss and struggled to survive. But with the support of non-profit agencies–including the Make-a-Wish Foundation, Candlelighters, American Cancer Society’s Camp Discovery, and Camp Mak-A-Dream–the family received the support they needed to grow strong and overcome the challenges of childhood cancer. (Read more about Sara’s experience with cancer in this award-winning essay)

Since then, that little girl named Sara has been inspired to work with non-profit organizations to enhance the quality of lives of people in her community. As a child, Sara spoke at American Cancer Society fundraisers, sharing her experience as a cancer survivor and beneficiary of ACS services. In her teens, Sara volunteered with Camp Discovery as a counselor, and helped create a scholarship fund from her graduating class of 2003 at Lanier High School to future students.

In 2003, Sara went on to study international relations at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia. She continued her advocacy for the community by co-founding the first Latina/Hispanic student organization in the school’s history. Her leadership and entrepreneurial spirit was recognized in 2004 with the prestigious Goizueta Foundation Scholarship. Later, she served on the President’s Committee on Diversity to ensure that the students’ voice were represented in plans to make Agnes Scott College more diverse and inclusive. Sara graduated from Agnes Scott College in 2007 with a Bachelor’s of Arts in International Relations and a minor in Spanish.

Today, Sara Francesca Peralta is an emerging communications professional in the Central Texas nonprofit community. With a diverse repertoire of communications experience, Sara leverages new and traditional media to address issues, from education, health, and social services. For nonprofits, Sara works to raise awareness of critical community issues, rally support, and connect with constituencies. With a diverse repertoire of communications experience, Sara leverages new and traditional media to address issues from education, health, basic needs, and social services.

In her role with the Capital Area Food Bank, Sara implements the agency’s communications & marketing strategy, including Feedback, Spanish-language public relations, grassroots marketing, and brand management. Additionally, Sara is the Social Media Co-Chair with the Austin Chapter of the Association of Women in Communication, and is Symposium Committee Chair for the HIV/AIDS and Aging Coalition of Central Texas. She has recently entered the prestigious graduate program at Texas State University, expecting to receive a Master’s of Arts in Mass Communications by 2013.

Learn More About Sara:

Sara on LinkedIn

Sara f Peralta’s Resume