Leo Alonso, known as “Coach Leo,” has led his teams to
victory many times in the 28 years he’s been involved in
Special Olympics in Northern Virginia. Many gold and silver
medals have been won at state championships, but the real
prize is the positive impact on lives: increased self-esteem,
self-confidence and personal growth. Alonso’s giving heart
and lifetime of service has led to a fan club that loves him
as much as he does them.
Alonso has impacted the lives of thousands of children and
adults with special needs throughout the area, including his
26-year-old daughter Vivian who has Down syndrome, with his
commitment to help others and to share his time and talents.
His work with Porto Caravan No. 104, a local Catholic
fraternal men’s organization of the International Order of
Alhambra, raised $79,000 last year during its Special
Kids/Special Needs second collection at 45 local churches,
thanks to the support of Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde.
Money raised during this October’s Disability Awareness
Month, also dubbed Respect Life Month, will support local
programs serving special needs individuals.
Alonso’s efforts didn’t stop at the field, but went into the
classroom, as well. He founded the Options Program at Paul VI
Catholic High School and the Learning into Future
Environments (LIFE) Program at George Mason University, both
in Fairfax. The programs serve people with intellectual
disabilities and have become prototypes for similar programs,
including Pope John Paul the Great High School’s Options
Program, which is directed by a Paul VI graduate.
Inside the Options classroom, it’s hard to say who benefits
the most, the program members or the peer mentors who learn
valuable life lessons while earning service hours.
“They learn tolerance,” Alonso explained, walking through the
hallways of Paul VI. “There are about 60 or 70 peer mentors,
mostly juniors and seniors, who give up a study hall to help
kids.”
Some 10 students participate in Paul VI’s Options Program
this year, but the entire student body benefits, the
students, teachers and parents. The dignity of all human life
is lived out and a sense of community is developed.
“The captain of the football team sits with the kids in the
cafeteria,” said Alonso. “Of the peer mentors over the years,
at least seven or eight went into special education because
of the program.”
The idea for Paul VI’s Options Program developed at a
Saturday morning school car wash fundraiser in 1997 where
Alonso’s older daughter Marisa was working.
“Vivian and I went to support the school and get our car
washed,” he smiled. “Vivian started washing cars and helping
out.”
His daughter’s friendly and likeable personality was noticed
by the faculty sponsor who mentioned the school was
considering the possibility of including a Down syndrome
student in non-academic classes, having been approached by a
parent. Alonso met with other parents and the principal, who
was supportive of the idea of a program for their special
needs children, patterned after a Seattle school with which
one family was familiar.
“We said if you can get us a classroom, we will raise the
funds,” Alonso said, and he, with the other parents, did
exactly that.
One year later, in a freshly remodeled and painted classroom,
the Options Program began with a full-time teacher. Today,
additional classroom space and teaching staff have been
added, and many students have benefited from the program.
In 2009, Alonso founded Porto Charities Inc., a nonprofit
organization to expand the fundraising capabilities for the
intellectually disabled, offering membership to both men and
women. In addition to supporting programs at Paul VI, John
Paul the Great and George Mason, fundraising goes to St. Mar
School’s “Evangelist” program in Vienna, diocesan “Keyboard
for Kids” program, Gabriel Homes Inc., and other nonprofits
such as Special Olympics, ArtStream Inc., Best Buddies and
Camp Still Meadows.
The Cuban-born Alonso came to America, the “land of
opportunity,” in 1961 at 10 years old, with his mother and
9-year-old brother to escape the communist regime. In this
land where dreams can come true, his determination and work
ethic led to his success in the grocery business. By 1983, he
owned six full-service supermarkets in Northern Virginia and
Maryland, employing 250 people. In 1995, he started a
mortgage business with 15 employees to serve immigrant
Hispanics who were having difficulty obtaining loans. Today,
he is a branch manager of West Town Savings Bank in Silver
Spring, Md.
Over the years, Alonso has served on Paul VI’s board of
governors, as grand commander of Porto 104 of the
International Order of the Alhambra, as a member of the
Reston Optimist Club and Reston Chamber of Commerce, and as
chairman of the Mid-Atlantic Food Dealers Association. He has
received many awards for his achievements, including the 2008
Immigrant Achievement Award from the American Immigration Law
Foundation. He and his wife, Betty, are members of St. John
Neumann Parish in Reston.
When asked which achievement was his greatest honor, he did
not hesitate in his response: “Helping others.”
Find out more
For more information about Porto Charities Inc., contact Leo
Alonso at 703/626-2051 or [email protected] .
