“Having that platform for service—being able to serve alongside other folks—that’s been very meaningful to me and something I’ll never forget.”
Sara Montero-Buria has always believed in the power of purpose. And since the earliest days of the Hispanic Alliance, she’s poured that purpose into service—not for recognition, but to help build something lasting.
Long before Hispanic Alliance had staff or office space, Sara was there. She joined as a founding team member, helping craft the messaging, systems, and communications infrastructure that would carry HA through its first decade. Her role wasn’t just about visibility. It was about voice, belonging, and setting a foundation that would invite others to take part.
Originally from Tijuana, Mexico, Sara brought a deep well of nonprofit communications experience, paired with boundless creativity and a contagious joy. She served as HA’s Communications and Marketing Director until 2022, when she stepped away to focus on her growing family. (Today, she serves as Communications Director for LiveWell Greenville.)
But even after her official role ended, her heart never left the work. Because for Sara, Hispanic Alliance isn’t just an organization. It’s a platform for service—and a shared dream of a more just, connected community.
Giving that Changes You
Sara doesn’t sugarcoat what it means to serve. She knows it takes time, energy, and commitment. But for her, the return has always been greater than the cost.
“It’s cliché—like, giving is better than receiving—but it really does enrich you so much more to give.”
What mattered most to her during her time with HA wasn’t just what they built—it was who she built it with.
“Being able to serve alongside other folks, that’s been very meaningful to me and something I’ll never forget.”
A Moment That Stuck
Sara’s favorite memory at HA isn’t a gala or a photo op. It’s the first college fair.
Held at Greenville Tech’s Northwest Campus, the event brought together HA’s partners, students, and families in one big open space—an intersection of energy, opportunity, and hope.
“I just remember what that felt like—seeing all of our partners, students, just the excitement in the air.”
That moment was more than logistics. It was proof that access matters. That when Hispanic students are invited to imagine their futures, they show up with curiosity and courage. And that the role of an organization like HA is to keep holding the door open.
The Vision: Homegrown Leadership
Sara doesn’t talk about growth in terms of budgets or programs. She talks about people.
“I’ve been fortunate to see how some of our first SDA students have already taken positions of leadership and are advancing in their careers.”
She imagines a future where those students lead not just in their families, but in their schools, their industries, their communities.
“Imagine Hispanic Alliance having a larger footprint throughout our state… but also seeing leadership that is homegrown—born and raised in Greenville.”
That’s what drives her. Not just change, but generational transformation. Not just programs, but pathways.
Por qué es importante este trabajo
Sara Montero-Buria’s story is a tribute to the kind of leadership that doesn’t make headlines, but makes everything else possible. The spreadsheets. The social posts. The messaging frameworks. The first college fair. The culture of warmth and excellence that shaped HA’s brand from the start.
She didn’t serve for applause. She served relentlessly with purpose.
And now, more than a decade later, the impact of that service is still unfolding—in every SDA student who steps into a leadership role, in every community team that builds trust across language and systems, in every family who feels seen, valued, and supported.
Your gift honors leaders like Sara, and ensures the systems they built continue to open doors for the next generation of change-makers.
