2022 40 Under 40 Winners

Yuri helped manage and execute Adventist Health White Memorial’s first capital campaign to build a new $220 million hospital to meet California's seismic mandate. The foundation exceeded its campaign goal, securing $30.1 million from the community and $100 million in federal government funding.

She created an innovative, culturally appropriate planned giving program to engage and educate Latino donors, identifying more than $6 million in deferred gifts from 2014-21.

Yuri is the first Latina president of AFP’s Greater Los Angeles chapter in its 35-year history.

She earned her CFRE in 2015 and has maintained the credential ever since. Yuri has also successfully completed four tracks within AHP’s Madison Institute.

During my high school years, the school I attended had a youth program called Jovenes Por La Salud (Youth for Health) that provided volunteer opportunities to Latino students at local hospitals to introduce them to Healthcare careers. One summer, I volunteered at the philanthropy office at my local hospital and learned all about feasibility studies and capital campaigns as they were preparing to launch a $30 million multi-year campaign to build a new patient tower. It was exciting to see the hospital and community leaders rallying around a project to build a better future for my community. I fell in love with the impact of philanthropy that summer.

My desire to make a difference in my community led me to a career in healthcare philanthropy.  This choice has allowed me to make a positive impact in my community.  Health equity is important to me and healthcare philanthropy allows me to connect passionate and caring individuals with programs that are changing the lives of many suffering from chronic diseases and help them improve their outcomes.

The first time I attended a philanthropy conference I felt out of place, like I didn't belong, but being surrounded by passionate individuals that had the same values and commitment to the communities that they each represented made me feel like this was the place I needed to be. I decided to take the CFRE exam and get involved with organizations like AFP and AHP. They helped me understand the non-profit sector and develop my career journey. This was the best decision in my career because I found mentors and made friends along the way.

My greatest passion is community improvement and health equity. I believe that when a community receives healthcare that is culturally sensitive to their needs, it has the power to transform the life of the patient, their family and the whole community.

Find a mentor, network and don't be afraid to be yourself. Never stop learning.