Making a Difference: Accentmarketing’s Ana Maria Montero.

I am writing to share with you the inspiring story of Ana Maria Montero, Group Account Director at Accentmarketing and the agency’s unofficial Director of Good Deeds.

Her acts of kindness are many, but it seems appropriate to start with one that takes place during her favorite time of the year, Christmas. When Ana Maria lived in Michigan, she first participated in a program where employees would buy one or more gifts for needy families that the company “adopted” during the holiday season. After moving to Miami, Ana Maria began researching which local organization might offer a similar program and found Neighbors 4 Neighbors’ “Adopt a Family”. She contacted them, got all the information and approached agency management about implementing this charitable initiative at Accentmarketing.

With the agency’s support, she kicked off Accent’s “Adopt a Family” program for the first time in 2005. Ana Maria chose the families, contacted them to learn more about their situations and got “wish lists” for everyone in the family, kids and adults alike. She took home the toys, clothing and other “wish list” items brought in by her co-workers, wrapped them and caringly placed name tags on each of the gifts. She also saw to it that the agency purchased a Publix gift card for each family, so they not only had gifts to open, but a nice holiday dinner to enjoy together. Accent’s “Adopt a Family” process worked the same every year until 2007, when Ana Maria met Janie Mae– a down on her luck single Mom with five great little boys. After delivering the family’s Christmas gifts, she realized that while they would have a great Christmas, the family really needed help throughout the year. So she decided we should “adopt” this family for the entire year. Thanks to Ana Maria’s goodness and encouragement, we celebrated each of the family members’ birthdays and special holidays like Easter, Back-to-School, Thanksgiving, etc. , visiting them nearly every month.

Ana Maria’s kindness and desire to help extends beyond families. She loves animals and has organized several drives to get Accent employees to donate food, toys, blankets, leashes and other needed items for organizations like the Humane Society of Greater Miami. She also has a habit of picking up stray dogs and cats, and is relentless trying to place these animals in good homes. Her charitable deeds do not stop there. Ana Maria is a huge advocate for the American Heart Association and is deeply committed to raising money for this important cause, and increasing awareness of the fact that heart disease is the number one killer of Latinas. Year after year she recruits and captains a team of Accentmarketing employees, family and friends to participate in the Miami “Start! Heartwalk” and come each February, she makes sure no one forgets to “Go Red for Women”. Ana Maria believes that helping one person at a time can really make a difference.

She is really making a difference in our agency and our community. I hope you will share her story with your readers.

Photo 1- Jannie Mae Dalmont and her five sons during Christmas 2007, when Ana Maria Montero first met our “adopted” family

Photo 2- Cosette Torres and Ana Maria Montero (on right) coordinate “Back to School” supplies for the Dalmont family last year

Photo 3- Accentmarketing’s Miami staff on Go Red for Women day, an annual agency tradition initiated by Ana Maria Montero

Photo 4 – Aida Phillips, Maria Romero, Genevieve Fernández and Ana Maria Montero at Selecciones’ 2008 Go Red for Women Fundraiser

Kind regards,

Lisette Hoyo
Managing Partner, EVP Client Services Director
800 Douglas Road, Suite 100
Coral Gables, FL 33134
Phone: 305.461.1112