Today we’d like to introduce you to Angela Garcia.
Hi Angela, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I think I always knew I’d end up in the nonprofit world—I just didn’t have the vocabulary for it as a kid. While other kids were playing house or pretending to be doctors or lawyers, I was playing “office.” I had my fake phone, a desk made from an ironing board, and I wasted a lot of paper filling out those pink “while you were out” notepads to keep up my very important correspondence. I didn’t know what I was the boss of, but I knew I wanted to lead something meaningful.
Fast forward to college: I started as a business major because I figured that was the most straightforward path to “playing office.” But something always felt off—I wasn’t finding that deeper why that excited me. Everything shifted when I took a sociology class. For the first time, I was learning not just about business structures, but about people—their stories, systems of inequality, and the way communities rise and fall based on access and opportunity. I was hooked. I realized nonprofits were essentially businesses built around people, purpose, and impact—and that was exactly where I belonged.
From there, I shifted my studies, completed a thesis on nonprofit volunteer management (yes, I was the kind of student who created a how-to manual as my thesis instead of the typical paper), and earned a Master’s in Nonprofit Management with a focus on leadership. Since then, I’ve spent over 15 years in community-centered roles, from higher education to nonprofit work.
I joined A Gift for Teaching in 2015, thinking it would be a stepping stone. Ten years and five roles later, I’m now the VP of Development & Marketing, leading strategies that connect generous people with meaningful ways to support students and teachers. I’ve had the chance to launch and grow incredible initiatives—like The Great Big Backpacks Build, Kits for Kids, and the Classroom Heroes campaign—and be part of a team that believes every child deserves the tools to thrive.
That little kid playing “office” didn’t know what this would all turn into. But looking back, it all makes perfect sense.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
When I first moved to Orlando, I didn’t have a job lined up—I just trusted that something would work out. My boyfriend was here, which made the transition a little easier, but outside of him, I didn’t know anyone. I didn’t have a network or a circle of friends to lean on for extra support, and that made those first few months feel really isolated.
Eventually, I found an opportunity at A Gift for Teaching. I started in a communications role, and over time, I grew into different positions within the organization. But even that journey came with self-doubt. When I was offered the chance to step into the VP of Development & Marketing role, I wasn’t immediately sure I wanted it—because, deep down, I wasn’t sure I could do it. I questioned whether I was ready, whether I had what it took, and whether I belonged in that kind of leadership position. Imposter syndrome is real, and it doesn’t just disappear because someone gives you a title.
For me, it took quieting the inner doubt, trusting the people who believed in me, and taking a leap even when I wasn’t sure how it would land. No, the road hasn’t been smooth. But every twist and challenge helped shape me into the leader I am, so I wouldn’t change it.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
A Gift for Teaching is Central Florida’s primary provider of free school supplies for teachers and students. We serve public schools where most students are considered economically disadvantaged—and our mission is simple: to ensure that every child has the tools they need to succeed in the classroom.
We operate like a nonprofit version of Target for teachers—except everything is free. Through our Free Teacher Supply Store, mobile programs, and online shopping platform, we provide essential learning materials year-round to help offset the out-of-pocket costs teachers often carry. On average, teachers spend around $500 – $1,000 of their own money every year just to stock their classrooms—we’re here to ease that burden and make sure students have what they need to learn and thrive.
What really sets us apart is how we bring the community together to be part of the solution. One of the biggest ways we do that is through The Great Big Backpack Build—a giveback event we created where hundreds of volunteers, corporate teams, and community partners come together to pack tens of thousands of backpacks for local students. It’s part pep rally, part assembly line. It’s also become an award-winning event that continues to grow, and it’s one of the things I’m most proud of.
What do we want readers to know? Well, that they can be part of this. Whether you’re an individual who wants to volunteer, a company looking to give back, or someone who simply believes that every student deserves a fair shot, there’s a place for you in this work. You can host a supply drive, sponsor an event, join us for a backpack build, or make a monthly gift that directly supports teachers and students. Every action matters. Every pencil, every backpack, every dollar—it all adds to something bigger.
We like to say we’re not just distributing supplies—we’re delivering joy, hope, and creativity. And we’d love for you to be a part of that.
Pricing:
- You can donate any amount that is a meaningful gift to you.
- Sponsorship opportunities are available
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.agiftforteaching.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agiftforteaching/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AGiftForTeaching
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a-gift-for-teaching
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@agiftforteaching
