Jorge H. González is the co-founder and executive director at Beacon of Hope, a nonprofit organization that empowers youth in Latin America and the Caribbean by providing children with resources they need to succeed. These resources range from school supplies, full tuition scholarships, computers, and software necessary to support educational initiatives. Since 2008, Beacon of Hope has transformed the lives of more than eleven thousand children and families across three countries.
González’s passion for making a social impact can be traced back to his early childhood, where his parents instilled in him strong moral values throughout his upbringing. Serving and sharing meals with the local homeless community at Camillus House was a common family activity. He grew up watching his mother, a public school teacher, provide school supplies for low-income students who could not afford them and his father get involved with underserved communities he encountered in international travels.
It was a sociology class at MDC in 2008 that spurred González’s decision to merge his passion for social responsibility with his interest in business. Shortly thereafter, he co-founded Beacon of Hope with his father. Guided by the vision of providing children the opportunity to achieve their full potential and become drivers of change within their own communities, Beacon of Hope has grown to impact the lives of more than 11,000 young people and their families over the past eight years.
More recently, González transitioned from a position as General Manager at JGA Marketing, a full-service advertising agency, to fully dedicating himself to Beacon of Hope, where he now works toward reaching more young people in more countries.
“MDC has been a driving force of my professional and personal growth,” González said. “As an Honors College student, I benefited from excellent curriculum, dedicated professors and diverse opportunities. This experience really set me on the path I’ve followed since.”
The strong academic foundation González received at The Honors College laid out a path to career success. After graduating from MDC, he earned a bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurship and an MBA in marketing from Fordham University. He then went on to work in advertising for 11 years, with clients ranging from innovative start-ups to Fortune 100 companies.
Like many MDC alumni often do, González has found that MDC offers alumni continued opportunities for growth long after graduation. His MDC journey recently came full circle at The Idea Center at MDC, where he obtained a digital marketing certification.
Learn more about the MDC Office of Alumni Relations at www.mdc.edu/alumni