March is National Women's History Month! This year's theme is "Writing Women Back Into History," and over the next few weeks, we'll be publishing a series of stories and interviews that highlight women givers from different North Carolina communities.
We invite you to join us in "writing women back into history," as we celebrate the MANY contributions of time, talent and treasure made by women in our state.
Maria Tucker embodies the spirit of giving through her profession and culture. As Program Manager of the Diabetes Center at Duke Raleigh Hospital and a Certified Diabetes Educator, Maria counsels Duke patients on diabetes and healthful eating and manages the Diabetes Center which works with patients referred by their own physicians. Additionally, Maria spends weekday evenings and weekends promoting diabetes education and proper eating to people of all ages and backgrounds.
“My involvement in community education about diabetes started with a health fair at my daughter’s school in Knightdale five years ago,“ explains Maria. “When the City of Knightdale saw how popular and helpful the health fair was, Knightdale Parks and Recreation became the organizer and Duke Raleigh Hospital became a sponsor. Our Diabetes Center is involved in about 15-18 health fairs a year.”
Maria is passionate about teaching people and helping people. She knows that diabetes is often overlooked in the Asian community, as more attention has been given to the onset of Type II Diabetes among African Americans and Hispanics. Many people are unaware of the signs of diabetes and fail to take in account family history of diabetes. Maria wants everyone with risk factors for diabetes to ask their health care provider for a fasting blood glucose test. (This test is available during an annual physical and at most health fairs.)
Born in the Philippines, Maria came to the U.S. in 1987 to be closer to her family. Married with two teenage children, Maria is a steadfast philanthropist and leader in the Filipino community in the Triangle.
She loves music and dance, and spends a great deal of time teaching young people Filipino culture and traditions through dance. She teaches dance, choreographs, and sews costumes for the Filipino American Performing Artists of North Carolina. The group has performed on the International Festival of Raleigh stage, at cultural programs in Raleigh, Knightdale, at fundraising gala events, and for the Federal government during observances of Asian Heritage Month.
Another way Maria gives back is through the Gabriela Silang Society, a women’s support group named after one of the most popular heroes in the Philippines, the wife of a revolutionary leader who fought the Spaniards and then took care of the wounded. GSS, as it is fondly called, has been in existence for 14 years.
The group’s goals are to promote camaraderie among Filipino women, to empower them and enhance their life skills. Filipino children, especially girls, are not taught to be assertive, and are often taught to be seen and not heard. Immigration to a new land, coupled with speaking English with an accent, causes self doubt and low self esteem.
Maria and other leaders of the Society give their time and talent in many ways, from organizing health seminars on breast cancer awareness and doing the Susan B. Komen walk together, to teaching arts and crafts, cake decorating, and healthier cooking. The group also supports other charitable organizations, such as Gawad Kalinga (a Habitat for Humanity-type agency in the Philippines) and most recently, the relief efforts by non-profit groups in Haiti.
Through her church, St. Raphael Catholic Church, Maria further gives of herself by teaching Sunday school “Faith Formation” to young people. She also volunteers for the Project Gabriel of St. Raphael, which helps indigent women of all ethnicities and races by providing emotional support and donated household and baby items and clothing to women for as long as they need.
What fuels her passion to give time, talent, and treasure? Maria says, “I’m naturally inclined to help people out. I enjoy teaching kids. When their eyes light up when they’ve learned something, when we get good feedback about our dance performances, and when I know that people are taking better care of themselves, it makes me feel good that I’m part of a caring society. As long as I’m having fun doing it and I’m not letting my work or family fall behind, I keep giving.”
This article was contributed by Cyndy Yu Robinson. Cyndy is formerly Volunteer Coordinator at Stanford University, currently Public Relations Director for the National Association of Asian American Professionals, and owner of Creative Cause Marketing + PR, a minority business enterprise that helps businesses become more socially and environmentally responsible.
Comments
Gifts Included
Talent
Passionate about healthy living, Maria promotes diabetes education at local health fairs. She's also passionate about preserving her Filipino culture and traditions, sharing her skills as a dancer, choreographer and seamstress with the Filipino American Performing Artists of North Carolina.
Time
Along with the other members of the
Gabriela Silang Society, Maria participates in health seminars and helps teach classes like arts and crafts, cake decorating and healthier cooking.
Treasure
Maria is involved with her church's Project Gabriel, which helps indigent women of all ethnicities and races by providing emotional support and donated household and baby items and clothing to women for as long as they need.
Be Like Maria!
Learn how you can help strengthen your community's giving story.
Comments