About Us
Our Story
On May 11, 2019, as I watched my oldest daughter graduate from college, I was deeply moved—not just by her milestone but by one of the most inspirational speeches I had ever heard. The guest speaker, a former student, shared her story of founding a community magazine despite having no experience. Her determination to succeed, even in the face of uncertainty, struck a powerful chord with me.
I had long dreamed of starting a newspaper as part of my nonprofit organization, but life had other plans. My husband’s active-duty military service took us to Zimbabwe for three years, putting my aspirations on hold. When we returned to the U.S. in 2016 after his retirement, I faced health challenges that further delayed my plans. A rejection from The New York Times for an article I had submitted led me to doubt myself as a writer, and I set aside my dream. To fill the void, I joined Vet Voices, a nonprofit program that gave my life renewed purpose and reminded me there was still hope.
That commencement speech in 2019 reignited my passion. Hearing the speaker’s story made me realize it was time to stop letting fear and procrastination hold me back. The very next day, I created the first page of my newspaper, initially called The Haines City Herald but soon renamed The Northeast Polk Gazette after my husband encouraged me to think bigger. That same day, I also founded and registered my nonprofit organization, PR Media, Inc.
Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic forced us to suspend newspaper production. However, we pivoted to focus solely on our nonprofit mission and rebranded as the Compassionate Hearts UNITED Foundation, Inc., to better reflect our commitment to supporting charitable causes. With this newly created charitable organization, our goal transformed into providing resources to nonprofits and foster a community of compassionate individuals dedicated to making a difference.
Today, I am proud to share the Compassionate Hearts UNITED Foundation, Inc., with you. This foundation represents resilience, hard work, and the belief that dreams can become reality. I invite you to support our mission—whether by donating or spreading the word—so we can continue helping others and building a network of compassion. Thank you for believing in us and our cause. Together, we can achieve great things.
With Love and Gratitude,
Dr. MC Reyes, Founder & President of the Compassionate Hearts United, Foundation, Inc. (CHUF)
Meet Our Team
Dr. MC Reyes, Ph.D. / Founder & President
Dr. MC Reyes is an Army Veteran, a retired Army Wife, and the Founder and President of the Compassionate Hearts UNITED Foundation, Inc., as well as the CHUF Mental Wellness Academy.
Dr. MC Reyes holds a Ph.D. in Social Psychology, focusing on Antisocial Behavior as well as Posttraumatic Growth.
Dr. MC Reyes was selected as one of the recipients of the 2021 Spirit of Community Award presented by the Florida Commission of the Status of Women, the 2020 Winner of The Spirit of Philanthropy Award presented by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Greater Polk County Chapter and the GiveWell Foundation, as well as the "2019 Veteran of the Year" for the City of Haines City for her support and dedication to her community. Most recently, Dr. Camacho-Reyes was honorably recognized by Congressman Darren Soto for her great impact and many contributions to her community. As part of this recognition, Dr. Camacho-Reyes' biography will be officially entered into the congressional records.
Dr. MC Reyes is a Certified Adult and Youth Mental Health First Aider with the National Council of Behavioral Health, a Bilingual Crisis Counselor with the Crisis Text Line, and a Certified Youth Resilience Coach. Dr. MC Reyes is member of the National Society of Leadership and Success, the International Honor Society in Psychology, as well as the National Honor Society for Veteran college students.
Dr. MC Reyes' book Cleaning Out My Closet: My Road from Self-Discovery to Emotional Healing is currently available in Amazon and Walmart.
Mr. Edwin Camacho-Alcazar / Operations Director - Puerto Rico Region
Edwin, born in Manati, Puerto Rico is our new Lead Operations Representative for the Region of Puerto Rico. He comes to us with vast experience in the logistic area. He is joining us in hopes of furthering our charity program, by strengthening the relationship between our organization and the beautiful island of Puerto Rico.
We Made The News
