Our Volunteers & Partners
Our invaluable COREFI volunteers support our efforts by cleaning, translating, building, driving, providing medical care, and in may other ways. We also partner with other organizations to bring needed aid to Vieques.
Core Volunteers
Olga Gallego Smith
Evelyn Mulero
Ibia Zenón
Lourdes Molina
Amy Dixon
Doyle Wilson
Suzanne Paterson
Eddy Wintle
Susan Fisk
Alicia Nogueira
Inna Hubiarnatarava
Iraida Ortíz Bedford
Partner Organizations
Sail Relief Team
Community Through Colors
Fe Que Transforma
Episcopalian Church
Prebysterian Disaster Relief
Vieques Rotary Club
Our Donors
A heartfelt thank you to the individuals who have gone above and beyond to contribute to COREFI with monetary donations, goods, services, and time. Gracias por todo, we could not do it without you.
Our Leadership
Our board team is a powerful mix of Viequenses and Amazing people from different countries.
Carmen Valencia
Vice President
Douglas Smith nació en Detroit, Michigan, en 1949, y creció en los suburbios de Detroit. Tras licenciarse en la Universidad de Michigan, pasó 13 años diseñando y construyendo muebles de madera a medida. Doug también obtuvo su licencia de constructor residencial y comenzó a comprar y renovar casas y apartamentos.
Doug obtuvo su licencia de Bienes Raíces en 1983, especializándose en ventas de apartamentos y desarrollo de subdivisiones. Ha trabajado con diversas organizaciones sin ánimo de lucro, como Avalon Housing.org, la cual se ha convertido en un modelo nacional de provisión de viviendas y servicios de apoyo para personas sin hogar y otras personas con pocos recursos. Doug ayudó a Avalon Housing desde sus comienzos, a incrementar el número de viviendas de 2 unidades a más de 300 casas y apartamentos a lo largo de 30 años.
El y su esposa Olga viven en Vieques la mayor parte del año y en Ann Arbor, MI, el resto. Doug está perfeccionando su español y aprendiendo a estar jubilado.
Douglas Smith was born in Detroit, MI in 1949 and grew up in the Detroit suburbs. After graduating from the University of Michigan he spent 13 years designing and building custom hardwood furniture. Doug also got his residential builders license and began buying and renovating rundown homes and apartments.
Doug got his real estate license in 1983, specializing in apartment sales and subdivision development. He has worked with a variety of nonprofits including avalonhousing.org, which has become a national model for the provision of housing and support services for homeless and other underserved individuals. Doug helped Avalon grow from 2 homes to over 300 homes and apartments over 30 years.
Doug and his wife Olga live in Vieques much of the year and in Ann Arbor, MI the remainder. He is working on his Spanish and learning how to be retired.
Nació en el Estado de Washington, pero residió consu familia en Brooklyn, NY. Mi larga historia de participación pro bono y sin ánimo de lucro comenzó con mi trabajo paralegal para Northwestern Pennsylvania Legal Services, donde formé una organización que promovía servicios para personas en prisión. Trabajé para Arnold & Porter en el caso del desastre de Buffalo Creek en Virginia Occidental y su demanda contra Pittston Company. Testifiqué ante un comité del Congreso que investigaba el acceso de los ciudadanos a representación legal. Fui voluntaria en LEDA (Leadership for a Diverse America) en la ciudad de Nueva York antes de mi jubilación como profesora en Grace Church School en Brooklyn Heights. Después, me mudé a Vieques y fundé COREFI en 2008 en colaboración con mi querida amiga, Sonia Ventura.
I was born in Washington State, but raised my own family in Brooklyn, NY. A long history of pro bono and non profit participation began with paralegal work for Northwestern Pennsylvania Legal Services, where I formed an organization promoting Prisoners’ Services. I worked for Arnold & Porter on the West Virginia Buffalo Creek Disaster with its suit against Pittston Company and testified before a Congressional committee investigating Citizens’ Access to Legal Representation. I volunteered at LEDA (Leadership for a Diverse America) in NYC before my retirement from teaching at Grace Church School in Brooklyn Heights. After, I moved to Vieques and founded COREFI in 2008 with my dear friend, Sonia Ventura.
Yaritza Pérez Pagán
Executive Director
Olga Gallego Smith
Coordinator Advisory Committee