Gloria Key, Recipient of PASS HUmanitarian Golden Heart Award

Originally from Tandag City, the provincial capital of Surigao del Sur province in Southern Philippines, Gloria Espinoza Key now resides in Chicago, Illinois, USA. She is blessed with five children who are now grown-ups and successful in their own careers. Gloria has been chosen to be among the recipients of the prestigious Humanitarian Golden Heart award given by the Philippine-American Social Services and Human Resources (PASS). The award is in recognition of her numerous participation and concerns in social and civic contributions around the community.

With her effective help in the annual fundraising event of the Pilipino American Social Services (PASS), she became the Calendar Mom in 2011 and Calendar Grandma in 2014. Gloria’s social-civic engagements included the membership in Jose Rizal Lion’s Club (as treasurer for 2016), and USA Regional Ladies of Rizal.

Gloria Key, now a widow after the death of her husband Earl Paul Key, also volunteers as a community organizer for Alliance of Filipino Immigrants Rights and Empowerment (AFIRE). She is greatly involved in organizing caregivers and working hard with the National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA) coalition in passing the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights for the State of Illinois.

Besides her civic accomplishments, Gloria has shown her devotion and commitment to the Catholic Church by being one of the lay leaders performing diverse pastoral activities. She often serves as leader, organizer and motivator of various church groups. She was the former President of the Divine Mercy Community (DMC) from 2010 to 2011 and Divine Mercy Crusade of Illinois doing Home Enthronement as a way to propagate the devotion of the Divine Mercy.

In the Philippines, she served as  the President of the Surigao del Sur Public School Teacher Association (SSPSTA), wherein she introduced the mortuary fund assistance to teachers which has been implemented successfully until the present. She was also one of the recipients of the Diploma of Service by the Philippine National Red Cross For her unflinching social involvement in emergency and disaster-related activities.

The Office of the Presidential Assistant for Poverty Alleviation (OPAPA) under the Presidency of President Fidel V. Ramos designated Gloria as a special coordinator for Women Sector of Surigao del Sur province.

Throughout her fruitful life, Gloria received several awards and recognitions. Among the recent ones was the Certificate of Recognition given by ZAMNAI for providing personalized home care services to those most in need, giving quality assistance in a thoughtful and attentive atmosphere allowing people to live life to the fullest in their own home, thus helping them to live with dignity and independence.