Holly Hoey addressed the Maryvale community on Friday, November 15, as part of the Leadership Day of Service sponsored by the 10-year celebration of the Patricia J. Mitchell '65 Leadership Institute. Ms. Hoey is the Senior Vice President and Chief Principal Gifts Officer for the United Way of Central Maryland, celebrating 25 years with the organization. Click here to view her bio.
At the United Way of Central Maryland, she works every day to make sure people have access to basic needs like food, housing, education, and jobs. She works with donors and volunteers who give their time, talent, and treasure to make the community a better place.
"We serve together to help change lives."
Ms. Hoey is passionate about service. She challenged Maryvale students to find their purpose, saying, "A purpose-filled life is one where you live with a deep sense of meaning and intentionality. It's about identifying what matters most to you and aligning your actions, choices, and energy with those values, passions, and goals. A purpose-filled life isn't just about achieving success, it's about feeling connected to something greater than yourself—whether that's through relationships, personal growth, helping and serving others, or contributing to a cause."
Ms. Hoey credits where she is today to the women before her who provided her opportunities to lead, serve, grow, and use her voice to make change and mentor others. She pointed out two key mentors, PJ Mitchell '65, who the leadership institute is named after, and Patty Brown '78, the Chair of the Maryvale Trustees.
To Ms. Hoey, a mentor is someone who gives something of themselves to others.
"A mentor is somebody you trust. Someone you can go to for advice. A mentor is somebody who will sometimes tell you things you don’t want to hear. A mentor is somebody you can lean on and believe in when it’s hard to lean on or believe in yourself," expressed Hoey. She added, "A good mentor helps build confidence and skills in others."
She asked all Maryvale students to think of who their mentor is or who they want their mentor to be.
Ms. Hoey closed with a quote from anthropologist and author Margaret Mead, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.”
