Bellevue University’s Gina Ponce Named a 2020 Recipient of Boricua Award by Heartland United for Puerto Rico
Bellevue University’s Gina Ponce was recently named a 2020 recipient of the distinguished Boricua Award by Heartland United for Puerto Rico.
Ponce, who currently serves as the Director of Latino Community Outreach at Bellevue University, accepted the award during a ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 15. Heartland United for Puerto Rico is a nonprofit organization providing immediate relief, assimilation and long-term solutions to disaster victims of Puerto Rico.
The nonprofit named Ponce a recipient of the award because of her continued dedication to being a servant leader in the Hispanic/Latino Community in the Midwest. After Hurricane Maria, Ponce donated over 50 pounds of gift in-kind donations, contributed financially and provided promising opportunities for evacuees.
Ponce, the daughter of Puerto Rican parents, originates from New York City, but has been in the Omaha Metro for more than 20 years. She has an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration, a Bachelor of Science in Human Resources and a Master’s in Communication.
She is the President of Women on a Mission for Change, a nonprofit serving women and girls in the area of leadership. She prides herself on helping others, serves on several boards and has been the recipient of various awards.
“It’s an honor to be selected as a recipient of the Boricua Award since Puerto Rico is my parent’s hometown,” Ponce said. “I’m proud to have assisted the evacuees who relocated to Omaha after Hurricane Maria. By helping them get grounded in Omaha, after they lost everything, I was able to provide them hope for their futures.”