Good Deeds

“I believe we all benefit from making the lives of the less-fortunate better.” That’s the motto of Dwight L. Hill, Executive VP of Sabadell Bank, a guiding principle that has seen him commit himself to a host of groups and projects aimed at improving the lot of struggling individuals and families. From disaster relief to taking care of at-risk children, Hill has had a hand in a wide range of local and national organizations, devoting already scarce time and resources toward pushing forward their important missions.
For Hill, the commitment to charitable work goes back over 20 years, to his time in the Leadership Miami Program. “I gained perspective on the issues our community faces and developed my own goals on helping improve the quality of life in South Florida,” he recalls. Hill decided there were a trio of important problems he wanted to help solve. The first was to turn around the lives of kids in unsafe living situations or without guardians. He found a perfect match in Children’s Home Society, which provides a wide array of services for children who have no one else to care for them. Hill served on the organization’s board for over 10 years, including a stint as chairman.
But that was only part of Hill’s work. The banker also wished to lend a hand to the city’s homeless population. “A safe and secure home is a cornerstone need,” he says. Hill decided to pursue this goal through Carrfour Supportive Housing. The organization provides guidance, resources and support to over 1,200 individuals living in housing projects, helping them find solutions to keep them off the streets.
As if that wasn’t enough to keep him busy, the disaster of Hurricane Andrew pushed Hill to take on yet another challenge. “I saw firsthand the devastation a natural disaster can leave behind, and the ripple effect it can have on the community,” Hill recalls. In the wake of the hurricane, Hill teamed up with the American Red Cross of South Florida & The Keys. His contribution was so significant he was recently named chairman of the organization’s board. “The Red Cross is there for our community in ways large and small — from helping the victims of house fires and major natural disasters to aiding our veterans who are returning home after serving our country,” he points out.
Hill will be passing the torch to a new Red Cross chairman in June, but is already eyeing his next project. “I’m growing more concerned about the quality and future of our natural environment,” he says. “Being active in community services like the ones I’m involved with is not only good for the people and the community served, but for the individual who gives their time and resources.”