Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarina Lora Davidson
Hi Sarina Lora, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Life & Career:
Sarina Lora Davidson was born in the border community of El Paso, TX and is a proud Latina. She moved to the Dallas-Fort Worth area in 2015 and attended the University of North Texas (Go Mean Green). Sarina Lora graduated in the spring of 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in Integrative Studies focusing on Criminal Justice, Business Management, and Communications. Sarina Lora is currently pursuing her Master’s of Science in Criminology & Criminal Justice at the University of Texas at Arlington with an expected graduation date of May 2026.
Sarina Lora credits the successes and opportunities through her life’s journey with the love and support of her parents, Cindy and Robert Davidson, her friends, and mentors that continually encourage her to be her best self.
After graduation from UNT in 2019, Sarina Lora embarked on a 7 month journey at Pinnacle Group in Dallas, TX where she met industry leaders & packed her bags and moved to Fort Worth as fast as she could for a new opportunity that felt more like home. After 4 years and 3 months of serving the Hispanic Business Community through the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; in January 2024 Sarina Lora was ready for her next adventure.
Currently as a young leader, Sarina Lora serves as the Senior Director of Corporate Fundraising at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tarrant County, where she has a strong passion for helping develop youth live up to their full potential, connecting the business community to inspire young leaders, and is in the business of connecting people to pathways of opportunities.
Since Sarina Lora started at the Boys & Girls Clubs in January 2024, she has swiftly taken the lead with her team on advancing the mission of the clubs and impacting youth directly. Oftentimes, Sarina finds herself on a stage or in a public setting spreading awareness about how the Boys & Girls Clubs provide safe positive environments with supportive relationships and experiences to provide academic success, healthy lifestyles, and character & leadership to the 66,000+ youth that Tarrant County serves each year.
Sarina Lora is heavily involved in her community and currently serves in the following roles:
-Advisory Board Member for the University of North Texas College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences (CLASS)
-Advisory Board Member for Girl Scouts of North Texas Oklahoma Plains
-Board Member for the University of North Texas Alumni Association
-Board Member for Texas State Higher Education Tuition Board
-Board Member for Casa Mañana Theatre
-Executive Committee Member for the Red Shoe Society of Fort Worth benefitting the Ronald McDonald House of Fort Worth
-Member for Leadership Fort Worth
-Member of Steer Fort Worth
-Member of the Latinx and Young Alumni Networks for the University of North Texas Alumni Association
Accolades Received:
May 2023: Appointed by State of Texas Governor Abbott to the Texas Prepaid Higher Education Tuition Board
June 2023: Nominated and selected by The Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber as 1 of 50 Fort Worth Emerging Latino Leaders in honor of the 50th Anniversary Year
October 2023: Rising Star Award Recipient for the UNT Alumni Distinguished Awards
November 2023: Emerging Leader in Philanthropy for the Association of Fundraising Professionals Fort Worth Chapter
June 2024: Appointed to the University of North Texas Alumni Association Board of Directors
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Has it been a smooth road to get to where I am? Absolutely not. As a young Latina paving her way and creating space for others to follow or stand alongside, it’s always been so important that I show up to everything as positive, open-minded, adaptable, and innovative as possible.
Over the last few years, I’ve been given a wide range of opportunities to have a seat at tables where those I’m surrounded by are older, wiser, and richer. I think one of the biggest struggles along the way is knowing that you have an impact and you have a voice that needs to be heard but have to be so cognizant of how that voice is heard for it to be understood.
Being a female has enough challenges, being a female of color has a whole other set of challenges. While the road has not been smooth, I’ve remained to my true self and that is to show up and be kind and the rest will somehow follow.
Building a support system of cheerleaders along the way has also been instrumental in overcoming any challenge or struggle. While I will never know all of the answers nor am will I always be right, I am confident that someone close to me is just as courageous and smart enough to help guide me or follow through.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I currently serve as the Senior Director of Corporate Fundraising for Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tarrant County, With anyone familar with non-profit sector, you know non-profit employees do so much for the greater good. Some days I’m working on finance projects, some are filled with special events and networking or educational sessions, some are filled with volunteer activities, or some are filled with just hanging out with our kids.
We have 9 branch locations across Tarrant County and 3 Mobile Clubhouse teams that I have the honor of joining as our program and branch teams work with our youth daily.
At BGCGTC I’m typically known for being the one who offers a lending hand or asks too many questions to better understand any given situation. The youth we work with daily are some really incredible kids, they just may come from a variey of lower socioeconomic resources and may not always have the means to live a life like those of us that are more privelged.
I’m most proud of the work that I get to do everyday in both my professional role and all of my volunteer roles. I often find open gaps of opportunities and aim to be the connector and bridge those gaps as they uncover. We live in a world of opportunities, sometimes, we all just need a leader to show us all there is to offer.
I, Sarina Lora, specialize in a multitude of areas including Small Business and Corporate Stewardship, Special Events, Fundraising and Innovation, Strategic Community Outreach, Public Relations, Youth Development, and Program Management.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Collaboration is KEY! I welcome anyone wanting to impact our youth to do so through the following:
Financial Support and Sponsorships, Program Sponsorships, Event Sponsorships, Corporate Giving, Matching Gifts, In-Kind Donations, Share ways to get our youth an experiences to games/concerts, Encourage Volunteerism in our clubs or community, Career Day Speakers and so much more!
Personally, I thrive the most off knowing who you are and what is YOUR story. We all have a “why” and we are far more connected and stronger together than we are apart.
For anyone wanting to work with me, BGCGTC, or just to expand networks; LinkedIn is the best way to best find me!
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarinaloradavidson/
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bgcgtc.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarinaloradavidson/
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/3AzBMHZ3n7w
Image Credits
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