Born in Cuba, Ampy Suarez emigrated to the U.S. with her family in 1967, settling in the Miami area. Early on, Ampy knew she wanted to work with abused children but it wasn’t until her then 8-year-old daughter brought home a friend from school who was in an abusive situation that her call to work with abused children came to fruition.

Ampy is a licensed minister and as the director of educational services at HOPE Youth Ranch, she works with children who have known much heartache. Yet she feels fortunate to do so. “I couldn’t think of doing anything else with my life.”