Arely Ruiz: Future Leaders at the Woman’s Club

PRESIDENT, CORAL GABLES WOMAN’S CLUB

Arely Ruiz spent her early childhood in Brooklyn, the daughter of Cuban immigrants. She credits this period with fostering the “pay it forward” mentality that has defined her personal and professional life. Her father had fled Cuba with little to nothing, and, a few months later came her mother – and a few months after that, an ultrasound that showed baby Arely was on her way. At age 11, the family moved to Miami, where Ruiz went to high school before attending Boston University. She returned, she said, “because I didn’t want to be left out of what was happening here.” She got a job at the South Florida Business Journal, where she worked for seven years in advertising – except for one year as membership director of the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce. After the SFBJ, she was membership director for the Bankers Club, the Doral Country Club, and the La Gorce Country Club, before starting Arely PR in 2011. In 2015, she joined the Coral Gables Woman’s Club.

“I WANT THIS CLUB TO BE SUSTAINABLE FOR YOUNG MEMBERS. HERE, WE ARE SO LUCKY TO HAVE THREE DIFFERENT GENERATIONS OF MEMBERS….”

LATEST ACHIEVEMENT

In May, Ruiz was inaugurated as the president of the Coral Gables Woman’s Club for the 2024-2026 term. She previously occupied the position from 2018 to 2020. What brought her back was the feeling of unfinished business; COVID-19 sidetracked most of her projects, which she now believes will come to fruition. One of her overarching objectives is to move the club into the digital era, already commenced with the launch of the organization’s digital newsletter. She is also committed to continuing the Woman’s Club historic mission: providing free dental care to needy children. Since its inception in 1938, the Woman’s Club has provided dental care to 90,000 low-income children, paid for through community events sponsored by the club.

WHAT SHE SAYS

“I want this club to be sustainable for young members,” Ruiz says. “Here, we are so lucky to have three different generations of members, each of which bring different viewpoints – which is good, but difficult at times. I want to keep those young members engaged and grow the membership of the club, which has gone from 43 four years ago to more than 100 today.” Ruiz says she will also push to expand the fundraising events held in partnership with various charitable groups. “We need to expand our footprint in the community by supporting not only our Children’s Dental Clinic but other nonprofits as well. That is our mission.”

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