Rebecca Torriani is on a mission to make the world a better place. When you meet her and see her work, you will believe this is possible.

“Since I was really young, I always felt that I was meant to do something that helped people,” she says.

Today, she is putting her many talents to positive use as the Regional Marketing and Communications Manager for the South Florida Region of the American Red Cross and has made a career out of sharing the stories of non-profit organizations that are making the world a better place.

A few years after she graduated from the University of South Florida with dual bachelor’s degrees in mass communications and political science, Rebecca worked at Susan G. Komen Miami/Ft. Lauderdale as the event marketing and graphic design coordinator. She came to the Red Cross in February 2018 where she knew she could make an impact on even more people.

“It’s heartwarming to know that in some way, even if it’s just a fraction, you’re helping your local community.”

She describes her current role as “helping people to learn about the Red Cross and what we do and sharing our story in any way possible.” That means creating and posting informational and exciting content – pictures, graphics, videos, even writing the post – for each social media platform to keep followers engaged.

On the public relations side, that means she is writing and sending press releases; liaising with reporters on getting the facts or an interview for a story; monitoring media coverage to ensure the Red Cross is being portrayed accurately and that the organization’s credibility and reputation are being maintained. During emergencies she deploys as a spokesperson for the Advanced Public Affairs Team, giving pre- and post-storm interviews to national and international media outlets.

That means she is traveling throughout the region (or she did prior to COVID-19), which covers 13 counties, to provide social media coverage for everything from major fundraising galas to volunteer recognition parties. Now that events are virtual, she must think even more creatively on how to present these stories.

And she trains and empowers volunteers and staff alike to “do what I do” so they all can be good social media ambassadors for the Red Cross.

It is the volunteers that provide Rebecca with daily inspiration and are the source of her favorite projects. She takes particular pride in highlighting the volunteers as a way to show them appreciation for their work. She built a whole social media campaign for National Volunteer Week, selecting two to three volunteers from different lines of service to share what they do and adding a touch of who they are. They were some of the highest liked, shared, and commented on posts she has done.

She sees herself as their cheerleader. “Volunteers will literally spend 12 hours [working] in a shelter or spend their weekend walking down a street to different houses, in the heat, installing free smoke alarms. It’s really inspiring to see that people will step up, raise their hand, and give their time expecting nothing in return to help others. That inspires me every day to work and be that resource for them.”

Because of her exemplary work in the region, as well as her passionate and compassionate work ethic, Rebecca was nominated by one of her colleagues for the Coors Light Líderes Program, which recognizes up-and-coming Latino young professionals for their dedication to a non-profit organization and through it, their commitment to making their community better.

Rebecca says she is extremely grateful for the opportunity to represent the Red Cross in this way, as one of only 12 nominees out of the entire country! Rebecca sees herself becoming a leader in “whatever sphere I create for myself. I want to be the best professional I can be in my craft.”

She’d like to pursue a master’s degree in business or integrated marketing and then start her own business as a consultant, advisor, and speaker to help others. She also dreams of opening a center where younger people can find their own creativity and calling.

With her heart for service and always following the call to help others, there’s no doubt that Rebecca will succeed in making the world a better place, one story at a time.

The Coors Light Líder of the Year will win a $25,000 grant for his/her nonprofit and will remain engaged with the Coors Light Líderes program throughout the year. To vote for Rebecca, please visit www.coorslightlideres.com. You can vote up to 10 times a day up until Aug. 31.

Written by Estefania Garcia