Why Padres Unidos Is So Close to My Heart
If you know me, you probably know me as a friend, co-worker, wife, mother, daughter or servant of God.
But there is another part of my life that has shaped who I am for more than 25 years—and that is Padres Unidos Orange County.
My journey with Padres Unidos began in 2001, when I was just 18 years old and in college.
I met my husband Frankie Perales, whose mother co-founded Padres Unidos, and through him I was introduced to an organization that would eventually become such an important part of my life.
I started simply as a volunteer, but I immediately fell in love with the mission of Padres Unidos.
I saw the love, dedication, and commitment that went into serving children and families in our community. Even while I was busy going to college, I always found a way to stay connected—helping during the holidays, supporting toy and food distributions, volunteering whenever I could, and simply trying to be part of something I believed in.
I was often on the sidelines, but my heart was always there.
In 2012, I took another step and joined Padres Unidos' two-year Community Worker program through Chapman University. I continued learning about our community and about what it truly means to walk alongside families, not simply providing services, but building relationships, trust, and hope.
Then, in 2014, my daughter was born.
I made the decision to put everything else on hold and dedicate myself to being a mother. That chapter taught me something that would later become even more important to my work: there is nothing more valuable than being present for your family.
In 2019, life brought me back to Padres Unidos in an unexpected way.
My mother-in-law, Patricia Huerta, the co-founder of Padres Unidos, was facing medical challenges and made the difficult decision to step down as CEO. She asked my sister-in-law, Patty Meza, who is now our CEO, my husband Frankie Perales, and me to join the organization full-time as part of the management team.
That decision changed my life.
What started when I was an 18-year-old college student volunteering in a dance class had come full circle.
I was no longer simply volunteering from the sidelines.
I was now helping carry forward a mission that had touched my heart so many years before.
Since then, I have dedicated my life to this work.
And I won't pretend it has always been easy.
Running a nonprofit is incredibly challenging. We depend on grants, contracts, partnerships, volunteers, and the generosity of people who believe in what we do. There have been moments when we have wondered how we would continue.
But somehow, God has always opened another door.
And every time He does, we are reminded why we cannot give up.
Because behind every grant, every program, every workshop, every food distribution, every resource, and every family we serve are real people.
Families who are doing their best.
Parents who want better opportunities for their children.
Children who need someone to believe in them.
And communities that become stronger when families are given the tools, support, and opportunities they need to succeed.
That is why I believe with all my heart:
Successful Families Build Successful Communities.
I am simply an instrument in God's hands, and I feel incredibly blessed that my life's journey has allowed me to serve others through Padres Unidos.
Today, I am asking you to become part of that journey.
Padres Unidos is participating in a Giving Day campaign through Together We Belong, and we have been given an incredible opportunity:
Every donation will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $25,000.
That means your gift can have twice the impact.
A $25 donation becomes $50.
A $100 donation becomes $200.
A $500 donation becomes $1,000.
Whether you have been part of a Padres Unidos program, know our family personally, have watched our work in the community, or are hearing about us for the very first time—you can make a difference.
You don't have to give a lot. You just have to give what you can.
Because when many people come together, small acts of generosity become something much bigger.
They become programs.
They become opportunities.
They become support for a family that needs it.
They become hope.
And they help us continue a mission that began many years ago with one family's desire to serve their community.
If you know me, you know I don't ask for things lightly.
Today, I'm asking you to help me continue something that has been a part of my heart since I was 18 years old.
Please consider making a donation to Padres Unidos Orange County.
Help us reach our $25,000 matching opportunity and help us continue serving the children, parents, and families who are at the heart of everything we do.
Thank you for believing in me.
Thank you for believing in Padres Unidos.
And most importantly, thank you for believing in the families and communities we serve.
With all my heart,
Gloria Padilla
Padres Unidos Orange County Non-Profit
Successful Families Build Successful Communities.
After immigrating from Mexico in the late 1990s, Jose and Maria worked tirelessly to build a better life for their four children by starting and operating their own business. During those demanding years, their oldest son became involved in a gang, and the family experienced one of the most difficult chapters of their lives. Heartbroken but determined to break the cycle, Jose and Maria turned to Padres Unidos for support. Through parenting education, encouragement, and a caring community, they strengthened their parenting skills, rebuilt family relationships, and renewed their hope for the future. They discovered that lasting change is possible when families are surrounded by support, opportunity, and a sense of belonging. Their perseverance paid off. Today, Jose and Maria are active Padres Unidos Community Worker at Chapman award volunteers who continue to give back to their community, and all of their children have attended college and pursued their own paths in life. Their family's journey is a testament to the transformative power of community, education, resilience, and the belief that families thrive through support and inclusion.
At Padres Unidos, we believe that successful families build successful communities. For more than 25 years, we have partnered with parents from Orange County's diverse communities to build stronger families through education, support, and leadership development. By empowering parents, nurturing children, and cultivating community leaders, we are creating a more connected, compassionate, and inclusive Orange County where every family is valued, every voice matters, and everyone belongs.