Janet Lorenzo-Garcia, CEO, Many Happy Hearts Inc in Miami: Changing Children’s Lives in a HUGE Way
Many Happy Hearts’ goal is to empower, protect and comfort the underserved, homeless, children of our community by improving and enriching their lives. “We believe each child deserves to celebrate their birthday with cake, goodies entertainment and LAUGHTER!“
“We are here to build a more positive and prosperous future by providing the resources and assistance that is critical to their growth and independence, while bringing Joy and celebration. “
In 2024 Chapman Partnership presented Many Happy Hearts with the Many Happy Hearts Legacy Award for our continuing, consistent support and volunteer work at their facility, making sure that each child celebrates their birthday and each child has the opportunity to learn a new sport. Thank you Chapman Partnership, what an honor to partner with such a prestigious and worthy organization.
On a daily basis, Chapman Partnership serves 800 people, 250 of which are children. Since 1995, Chapman Partnership has had more than 100,000 admissions, including 20,000 children in Miami Dade County and a 64% success rate of moving people who complete the program from homelessness to self-sufficiency.
Many Happy Hearts was established to provide services, support and opportunities to the underserved, and homeless children in our community.
You have always had the heart to help others. Please share your background and when you launched “Many Happy Hearts.”
I am the youngest daughter of two wonderful, loving, Cuban parents that had to flee Cuba and come to the United States in exile in 1961. I have two older brothers, of which I have a loving relationship with. My father was incarcerated in 1961 in Cuba, due to his political beliefs and we arrived in this country with only our mother. She was the sole provider for us children for over five years, until my father joined us through much hardship. Our mother worked very hard to make ends meet, and slowly was able to bring our father to the states five years later. When my father arrived, he moved us to Chicago, and was a very big advocate of education, being himself a highly educated man, and also assimilation into our new country. He said, “we don’t look back, we don’t go back, we are Americans now”. I saw them struggle and yet we never wanted for love, affection and a solid family life, with education being the first and foremost goal for us three kids. My parents were kind, with big hearts, and helped everyone that arrived thereafter. At times we had 10-12 family members that arrived from Cuba living with us in a small home in Chicago, however my father would say “Where 5 people eat 5 more can eat as well, we can share what we have”.
In my adult life, I have that same conviction, to always help those that have less than we may have, especially the children we have seen, who through no fault of their own face unimaginable hardships. I believe I owe my strong work ethic to my mother and my kind, giving heart to my father.
Fast forward to my husband Jose and me. We have worked very hard in our insurance agency, Garcia Lorenzo & Associates, Inc in Coral Gables, FL that was formed in 1992, and have been blessed with beautiful children and grandchildren, and many things to make our lives easier. As they were growing up, we wanted to give back so we took them to places such as Camilus House, and Chapman Partnership so that they could serve with us as a family. We did that for many years, and of course our children had no choice but to participate. However, we wanted to take it to another level, since we witnessed a need in our community, particularly for the children. We invited friends, family members, employees and our children’s friends to participate when we served at Chapman or Camilus House. From there began our organization, in 2005 we began the process of obtaining the non-profit status, and in 2007 Many Happy Hearts was active under the name. We wanted to do something extra special for the children. Hence the idea was born of celebrating birthdays every month for them by turning Chapman Partnership into a carnival, with bounce house, cake, clowns, balloons, goodies, pinatas, games, arts and crafts, face painting, characters, and the December toy drive with a holiday party as we delivered the toys with holiday characters, to today, soccer classes, field trips, and fulfilling wherever a need arises to enrich their lives in any way we can.
Why is soccer so important to “Many Happy Hearts?”
Soccer has been part of our family as far back as I can remember. Especially when our youngest daughter started playing when she was 7 years old. I became a soccer mom, driving all over Miami, the Florida Keys, so she could participate in school leagues against other schools, as well as out-of-school neighborhood leagues all over the State of Florida. We enjoyed supporting her throughout the years, watching the games, driving the kids around, attending live professional soccer matches as well as on television. Our family grew, loving the beautiful game of soccer. I think it began when we first visited Brazil when she was 5 years old. We met several famous soccer/futbol players, and I suppose the rest is history.
We believe that it is important for children to have an interest outside of school. It could be in the arts and culture, such as musical instruments or outdoor activities, such as sports. Since our youngest, who is now 35, had soccer skills and played all the way through high school, also after high school, she was a soccer coach to children from ages of 4-10, we saw how the kids could excel. It has many benefits for children. When it was presented at Chapman Partnership, they loved the idea of providing free soccer classes for the children, so in 2022 we began providing this added activity, and we fund it 100% from coaches, venues, refreshments for the kids and t-shirts.
I have to mention that through social media, I became a good friend of Coach Luis from Sportunity who manages and coaches the kids for our soccer program. He has been a tremendous asset to our organization and I cannot think of anyone better to teach soccer to children. He owns an academy of his own, is patient, kind, generous, loves to give back to the community, and we have made a great connection through the beautiful game of soccer. The classes are completely funded by our organization, and his coaching skills are second to none.
Many Happy Hearts offer KICKSTARTING DREAMS – Monthly Soccer Training Classes.
You’re dreaming BIG in 2025, how can we be part of it?
Yes!!! We are!!! We are already seeing the fruits of our labor, as evidenced by numerous recognitions from the organizations we serve, new sponsors, and amazing volunteers and supporters. We are so grateful. Anyone who wishes to be a part of our mission and give back to the homeless children we serve can reach out to me via phone at 305-321-5080/ email janet@manyhappyhearts.com / privately through our social media on Instagram Direct Messaging @manyhappyhearts. We welcome volunteers at all our events and are always looking for collaborations, donations, connections, and sponsorships from kind-hearted individuals/corporations that wish to help by fully or partially sponsoring one of our events for the kids.
Please share your upcoming events.
September 9th, 2025 – 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm September birthday celebration for the kids at Chapman Partnership – Miami, Florida
September 14th, 2025 – 4 pm – Free Soccer class for the kids – Cathedral soccer field October 9th, 2025 – 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm October birthday celebration for the kids at Chapman Partnership
October 18th, 2025 – Free Soccer class for the kids – Cathedral soccer field November 26th, 2025 – 12:00 noon – 3:00 pm November birthdays and Sponsoring the Friendsgiving/Thanksgiving Luncheon for approximately 85 children at Chapman Partnership
November 15, 2025 – Sunrise Beach Pilates Fundraiser – 7:30 am registration – 8:00 am Pilates – 9:00 am – 11:00 am – Raffles, Door Prizes, Give Miami Day Kick Off – Mimosa and Fruit Social on the Beach – Place North Beach – Allison Park – Public Parking available – 6500 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33141 December 2, 2025 – 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm December Toy Delivery and Holiday Extravaganza, kicking off the holiday season for the kids at Chapman Partnership November 15, 2024 – 4pm Free Soccer class for the kids – Cathedral soccer field December 6, 2024 – 4 pm Free Soccer class for the kids – Cathedral soccer field December TBA – Winter Wonderland field trip for the kids
What have you enjoyed the most about “Many Happy Hearts?”
What I have enjoyed most about our organization and being involved with the community is meeting new, powerful individuals especially women superstars, CEOs, while forming relationships with some of the most philanthropic women in our community, through philanthropy. Women that I have known for years and women that I have just recently made their acquaintance. I am in awe of what can be done when powerful women, business leaders, CEOs of their own enterprises, mothers, and grandmothers come together and accomplish so much for themselves, their families, and ultimately our community; that has been invaluable to me. It has also cemented our success in our careers as insurance agents as a very valuable tool in networking with other like-minded-business leaders and clients. Sharing my experiences and knowledge while they share theirs. Supporting their accomplishments and accolades makes me proud of all of them. When sharing our success stories, I believe we inspire others not to be afraid and to go out there and do the same. The fact that my children have grown up knowing that their parents have given back with humility and open hearts has made them compassionate human beings, as seen in the careers they have chosen for themselves, this too has made me very proud to have been a small part of that in their lives.
Of course, last but certainly not least, getting to know the wonderful human beings in the organizations we serve that have become family and the children we serve. They have brought us lasting memories of joy and enlightenment to know that we have meant something in their challenges and journeys. To see their smiles, to know them, so they know they are seen, heard, and loved, to see them in later years in successful positions, graduating from high school, and doing well. When a parent comes up to you and says, “thank you” with tears in their eyes and smiles on their faces as they hug you, or a child who we are celebrating a particular birthday month for comes up and tugs on your pant leg and says with glee, “it’s my birthday today”, it means so much to me. My husband Jose and I leave our events, albeit exhausted but joyous, knowing that we have made a difference in the children’s lives. We hope that we have nurtured their spirits and given them lasting memories of joy, care and above all a sense of normalcy despite the challenges they may face.
Janet Lorenzo-Garcia, CEO
Many Happy Hearts, Inc http://www.manyhappyhearts.com/
Garcia Lorenzo & Associates, Inc www.garcialorenzo.com
