Page 27 - Inspire Health November/December 2014
P. 27
grandparents planted the seed. “I created a nonprofit to serve DEBORAH
Her parents fertilized and protected the needs of women because SANTANA Biography
the soil. Deborah Santana nourished and the balance of power in the
developed the early growth into a thriving world still lies in the hands of Deborah Santana is an author,
garden of charity and compassion that men, often bypassing the skills, philanthropist, advocate for peace and social
blossoms perennially. Author, musician, intelligence, compassion, love justice and mother of three extremely loved
inspirational and motivational speaker, and grace of the female gender. children. Her first memoir, Space Between
mother, philanthropist and global traveler, The Stars: My Journey to an Open Heart,
Santana has a passion for people and a creative writing and spent many hours was published in March 2005.
commitment to helping women become answering fan mail. Motherhood brought
healthy, educated and happy. in a period of volunteerism in schools, Santana is founder of Do A Little, a
fundraising and of course, the joys of donor-advised fund at the San Francisco
“I can’t imagine another way of life,” she chaperoning field trips. Continually guiding Foundation that supports women and girls in
explains. Just entering her sixties, Santana’s her children to respect individuality, Santana the areas of health, education and happiness.
shining silver hair, smooth, glowing skin and became one of the “Super Women” of She has received many awards, supports
light, musical voice defy the maturity and her generation. She invested in real estate, varied organizations and has traveled widely,
wisdom she reflects as she speaks from her directed the Santana Corp., sat on a non- encountering everyone from Nelson Mandela
San Francisco Bay-side home. profit board and established the Milagro to young school girls in Kenya.
Foundation with her husband, while
The roots of a giving way of life began partnering with him on career moves. Santana believes life is to be lived with
at the start of the 20th century when her integrity, compassion and love. She tells her
grandparents founded a church in Oakland, With the founding of her self-initiated personal stories to share her strength and
California focused on love of God and love Do A Little foundation in 2008, however, encourage others on the journey.
for His people. Although her mixed-race Santana humbly stepped into the spotlight For more information visit:
parents were denied the right to marry in as an individual. Respecting the blessings of www.deborahsantana.com or contact
the late 1940s, their lives were filled with both heritage and marriage, it was time to info@deborahsantana.com
love and acceptance of the world around bring her own philosophy from front row
them, sharing those values with their to center stage. DISTINCTIONS
spirited and creative daughter.
“I’ve always tried to help people,” she Published Works
“I grew up reading Bible stories, explains the decision to form a foundation 2005 Space Between The Stars: My Journey to
fairy tales, parables and poetry,” Santana focused on women. “Raised in the ‘60s, an Open Heart
recalls in a website posting. “Wisdom was you learn not to leave anyone behind; to Anthology Contributions
imparted from the pages of books and take care of everyone. Can you imagine 2012 Life Moments for Women
from Sunday school, Girl Scouts, and talks growing up in San Francisco in the ‘60s 2012 Nothing But the Truth So Help Me God
around the kitchen table. Our family had an and ‘70s – you had the Black Panthers and 2006 Tutu As I Know Him: On a Personal Note
intention to care for others, which I am so those issues while the flower children were Documentaries Produced
grateful to have learned.” doing yoga outdoors? 2012 School of My Dreams
2010 Girls of Daraja
Married at 22, not an unusually “I created a nonprofit to serve the 2006 The Road to Ingwavuma
early age for children of the ‘60s and needs of women because the balance of Recognitions
‘70s, Santana began a 33-year marriage power in the world still lies in the hands of - Board Member, Artists for a New South
to the internationally revered musician men, often bypassing the skills, intelligence, Africa (ANSA), Los Angeles
Carlos Santana. As she reflects while compassion, love and grace of the female - Board Member, Museum of the African
discussing her memoir. Space Between gender,” she states. Encouraging women Diaspora (MoAD), San Francisco
the Stars: My Journey to an Open Heart, it to grow in whatever ways bring happiness - Founding Donor, Smithsonian National
was a turbulent existence in a loving and and peace, her inspiration in naming the Museum of African American History and
mutually supportive marriage.The feminist foundation Do A Little, comes from a Culture,Washington, D.C.
culture of the ‘70s emerged strongly quote by the Rev. Desmond M.Tutu,“Do 2012 Women’s eNews 21 Leaders for the
emphasizing that women did not need a your little bit of good where you are; it’s 21st Century Award
man to be fulfilled. At the same time, her 2010 Bay Area Blacks in Philanthropy
Christian upbringing taught that a woman — continued on Page 28 — Catalyst Award
was helpmate to her husband. 2007 Mills College Distinguished
Achievement Award
Delicately balancing a life in the 2007 Marin County Women’s Hall of Fame
front row of a celebrity’s spotlight and 2006 Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian
maintaining her own individuality, Santana Award in Marin County
managed a vegetarian restaurant, taught 2004 YOUTHAIDS honor for her family’s
meditation classes, studied Spanish and work with AIDS in Africa
2004 Women of Distrinction Award Founder
Region Soroptomist International of the Americas
2000 UCLA César E. Chávez Spirit Award
November § December 2014 INSPIRE HEALTH 27
Her parents fertilized and protected the needs of women because SANTANA Biography
the soil. Deborah Santana nourished and the balance of power in the
developed the early growth into a thriving world still lies in the hands of Deborah Santana is an author,
garden of charity and compassion that men, often bypassing the skills, philanthropist, advocate for peace and social
blossoms perennially. Author, musician, intelligence, compassion, love justice and mother of three extremely loved
inspirational and motivational speaker, and grace of the female gender. children. Her first memoir, Space Between
mother, philanthropist and global traveler, The Stars: My Journey to an Open Heart,
Santana has a passion for people and a creative writing and spent many hours was published in March 2005.
commitment to helping women become answering fan mail. Motherhood brought
healthy, educated and happy. in a period of volunteerism in schools, Santana is founder of Do A Little, a
fundraising and of course, the joys of donor-advised fund at the San Francisco
“I can’t imagine another way of life,” she chaperoning field trips. Continually guiding Foundation that supports women and girls in
explains. Just entering her sixties, Santana’s her children to respect individuality, Santana the areas of health, education and happiness.
shining silver hair, smooth, glowing skin and became one of the “Super Women” of She has received many awards, supports
light, musical voice defy the maturity and her generation. She invested in real estate, varied organizations and has traveled widely,
wisdom she reflects as she speaks from her directed the Santana Corp., sat on a non- encountering everyone from Nelson Mandela
San Francisco Bay-side home. profit board and established the Milagro to young school girls in Kenya.
Foundation with her husband, while
The roots of a giving way of life began partnering with him on career moves. Santana believes life is to be lived with
at the start of the 20th century when her integrity, compassion and love. She tells her
grandparents founded a church in Oakland, With the founding of her self-initiated personal stories to share her strength and
California focused on love of God and love Do A Little foundation in 2008, however, encourage others on the journey.
for His people. Although her mixed-race Santana humbly stepped into the spotlight For more information visit:
parents were denied the right to marry in as an individual. Respecting the blessings of www.deborahsantana.com or contact
the late 1940s, their lives were filled with both heritage and marriage, it was time to info@deborahsantana.com
love and acceptance of the world around bring her own philosophy from front row
them, sharing those values with their to center stage. DISTINCTIONS
spirited and creative daughter.
“I’ve always tried to help people,” she Published Works
“I grew up reading Bible stories, explains the decision to form a foundation 2005 Space Between The Stars: My Journey to
fairy tales, parables and poetry,” Santana focused on women. “Raised in the ‘60s, an Open Heart
recalls in a website posting. “Wisdom was you learn not to leave anyone behind; to Anthology Contributions
imparted from the pages of books and take care of everyone. Can you imagine 2012 Life Moments for Women
from Sunday school, Girl Scouts, and talks growing up in San Francisco in the ‘60s 2012 Nothing But the Truth So Help Me God
around the kitchen table. Our family had an and ‘70s – you had the Black Panthers and 2006 Tutu As I Know Him: On a Personal Note
intention to care for others, which I am so those issues while the flower children were Documentaries Produced
grateful to have learned.” doing yoga outdoors? 2012 School of My Dreams
2010 Girls of Daraja
Married at 22, not an unusually “I created a nonprofit to serve the 2006 The Road to Ingwavuma
early age for children of the ‘60s and needs of women because the balance of Recognitions
‘70s, Santana began a 33-year marriage power in the world still lies in the hands of - Board Member, Artists for a New South
to the internationally revered musician men, often bypassing the skills, intelligence, Africa (ANSA), Los Angeles
Carlos Santana. As she reflects while compassion, love and grace of the female - Board Member, Museum of the African
discussing her memoir. Space Between gender,” she states. Encouraging women Diaspora (MoAD), San Francisco
the Stars: My Journey to an Open Heart, it to grow in whatever ways bring happiness - Founding Donor, Smithsonian National
was a turbulent existence in a loving and and peace, her inspiration in naming the Museum of African American History and
mutually supportive marriage.The feminist foundation Do A Little, comes from a Culture,Washington, D.C.
culture of the ‘70s emerged strongly quote by the Rev. Desmond M.Tutu,“Do 2012 Women’s eNews 21 Leaders for the
emphasizing that women did not need a your little bit of good where you are; it’s 21st Century Award
man to be fulfilled. At the same time, her 2010 Bay Area Blacks in Philanthropy
Christian upbringing taught that a woman — continued on Page 28 — Catalyst Award
was helpmate to her husband. 2007 Mills College Distinguished
Achievement Award
Delicately balancing a life in the 2007 Marin County Women’s Hall of Fame
front row of a celebrity’s spotlight and 2006 Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian
maintaining her own individuality, Santana Award in Marin County
managed a vegetarian restaurant, taught 2004 YOUTHAIDS honor for her family’s
meditation classes, studied Spanish and work with AIDS in Africa
2004 Women of Distrinction Award Founder
Region Soroptomist International of the Americas
2000 UCLA César E. Chávez Spirit Award
November § December 2014 INSPIRE HEALTH 27
