In partnership with the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands, Inc. (CFVI), the Maria Rodriguez Foundation Fund (“Fund”) was founded in 2021 by family and friends to recognize a member of the Virgin Islands community who embodies Maria’s spirit of selfless service. The Fund seeks to honor Maria by continuing her legacy of giving back to the community, in both big and little ways. While Maria won awards for her service, such as the relief flying she did after the hurricanes of 2017, what made Maria extraordinary was the way she approached the day-in-day-out realities of life. Her instinct was to help, to give, to love, and to show up.  

Each year Virgin Islanders will have the opportunity to nominate an individual that shows up for people the way Maria did – with a smile on their face and with nothing expected in return. Nominees will be evaluated based on the pillars of a giving spirit, selfless service, love for community, and choosing to find beauty in life. The nominee selected will be the recipient of the Maria Rodriguez Van Heurck Award and will receive $5,000 to be used in the USVI or BVI in support of charitable activities.

The award should be used in alignment with the spirit of the Fund. CFVI, on behalf of the Fund, will notify the community of how the award was spent. In this way, Maria’s legacy of everyday acts of profound kindness may live on.