After a forced break due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, this year we honored Kristy Miranda, a long-time AmSoc member, board member, and—unfortunately—only a short-time President of the American Society.

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The presentation was held virtually, and the award was presented by past recipient Sue Banman Sileci, who wrote:

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“When I first heard of Kristy Miranda, she was volunteering with a group she organized to visit Casa Limiar every week to help out. She later became the Community Action Committee (CAC) liaison for Casa Limiar and then began helping to organize the traditional American Society Angel Party. Kristy took charge of the Casa Limiar children, finding sponsors for each of them within her community of volunteers who regularly visited the house.

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When Eileen Tasso stepped down as head of the Angel Party, Kristy took over that role. For several years, she has served as Co-Head of the Angel Party, bringing an exceptional eye for detail and a standard of excellence that made the event stronger, more organized, and more impactful. At the same time, she became Chair of the Community Action Committee of the American Society, all while continuing to lead the Angel Party.

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Kristy was then nominated President of the American Society and assumed office with great plans. However, just weeks later, her husband Paulo learned that the family would be transferred to Chile.

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Despite this, Kristy incredibly continued serving as President of AmSoc and remained Co-Head of the Angel Party, regularly flying to São Paulo at her own expense to attend board meetings and Angel Party preparations. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, it became necessary for her to pass on the leadership of the American Society to those still living in São Paulo. Even so, she continued as Co-Head of the Angel Party and played a crucial role in delivering a truly memorable event—bringing the party directly to the children in their homes.

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Kristy always wears a huge smile. If something is in trouble, she fixes it. If something is going well, she makes it better. Even at a distance, she continues to be an active member of AmSoc and an extraordinary organizer of the Angel Party. Our hope and dream is that the Miranda family will someday return to Brazil, so we can once again enjoy Kristy’s huge smile—and even bigger energy—here with us in São Paulo.”