Generous Heart
With a lifelong commitment to helping others, Cheryl Plotkin-Lopez is always looking for meaningful opportunities to make a difference in the world. She and her family launched Building The Future Foundation with a mission to strengthen educational institutions and organizations in Colombia’s most vulnerable communities. Throughout the years, they’ve supporting projects such as building libraries, renovating school sports fields, beach clean-ups, enhancing school facilities, and donating essential goods such as uniforms, sports equipment, books, laptops and computers. Other causes close to her heart include Camilus House, Fill-A-Bag and annual tennis charity events at the Ritz-Carlton Tennis Center in Key Biscayne. “Giving back has had a positive impact on my personal and spiritual growth,” she says. “I live by the belief that giving a little goes a long way.”; BuildingTheFutureFoundation.org.
Caring Support
As the Co-Founder and President of ICU baby, Nichole Aldrich leads with her heart. She and her husband fell in love with Key Biscayne, got married at St. Agnes and moved to the island 15 years ago with their 3 children. After working as a CPA and TV news reporter, she was fortunate to be able to dedicate her time and energy to building a meaningful cause. ICU baby’s mission is to unite NICU families, providing emotional, financial and informational support so that babies and families can thrive in the NICU. Her work with the organization allows her to remember and honor her son, Matthew, who passed away in the NICU shortly after an emergency C-section at 25 weeks. “Starting as a grassroots organization 10 years ago, I never imagined the impact we would have,” she says. “Our growth and expansion of programs has enabled us to support thousands of families.”; ICUbaby.org.
Enduring Legacy
Generous but unlikely philanthropists, the lives of Jocelyn “Jo” Watkins and her late husband, John Watkins, are defined by resilience, faith and purpose. In August 1987, while on vacation, John was struck by a rogue wave that left him a quadriplegic. For decades, Jo was not only his partner, but his devoted caregiver and steadfast source of strength. Following John’s accident, they discovered Key Biscayne and fell in love with the island’s healing sunshine, access to groundbreaking research, and deeply supportive community. In 1989, the couple established the Fa Bené Foundation to support the many charities close to their hearts. In 2013, less than 5 years after John’s passing, Jocelyn furthered their shared commitment to medical advancement in critical research by establishing the John M. and Jocelyn H.K. Watkins Distinguished Chair in Cell Therapies at The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis. In 2025, Jocelyn and her daughter, Suzanne Pestana, created the Jocelyn & John Watkins Family Foundation to continue advancing medical research, supporting faith-based initiatives, strengthening education, and protecting vulnerable children. “Philanthropy is about carrying forward a life rooted in faith, generosity and hope, ensuring that even life’s greatest challenges can become a source of light for others,” she says; KBCF.org.
