Maria Tovar

social services director

Maria Tovar serves as the Social Services Director at Brother Bill’s Helping Hand, but her journey with the organization began long before her title. Maria first came through Brother Bill’s doors as a neighbor in need. That visit opened the door to a life-changing path: she enrolled in the PathWays Job Training and Discipleship Program, became a committed volunteer, and officially joined the staff in 2018.

Maria brings her lived experience and deep compassion into every aspect of her work. She became a certified Community Health Worker in 2021 to better support and advocate for neighbors, and she now leads with the belief that every neighbor deserves dignity, connection, and a path forward. She oversees transformative programs like the Empowering Financial Futures initiative, coordinates large-scale community events such as health fairs and resource clinics, and cultivates meaningful partnerships that drive impact.

Maria believes in creating spaces where dignity is restored and possibilities are reimagined. Her leadership is grounded in empathy, shaped by experience, and driven by the belief that when neighbors are supported, communities thrive. From once being a recipient of services to now being a source of hope for others, Maria is living proof of what’s possible when people are met with love and opportunity.