Alexis Meruelo Excited to Begin Journey as Chair of Coyotes Foundation

Alexis Meruelo has spent her career working to build stronger communities, priding herself in helping others by fostering relationships with support, trust, and accountability.
Yes, those who are most in need require financial assistance, but there's something she said is just as important to help drive that success:
Heart.
Meruelo was recently named the chair of the Arizona Coyotes Foundation Board of Directors. In this position she will work with ownership, leadership, and board members to help the Arizona Coyotes Foundation meet its goals, which have continued to grow.

"For me, it's an honor," Meruelo said. "I've always been extremely passionate about the community, being there, and helping others, and to be able to do that on a larger scale through a sports platform, and to help our nonprofits amplify their work is truly incredible."
She currently serves as the Chief Vision and Purpose Officer for the Meruelo Group, where she is responsible for implementing strategy and direction for impact and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs.
"The Arizona Coyotes and the Coyotes Foundation are committed to making a difference in sports and beyond, and Alexis will be an amazing champion for our efforts," said Coyotes President and CEO Xavier A. Gutierrez. "Her tireless work as Chief Vision and Purpose Officer for the Meruelo Group highlight her commitment to cultivating and enriching our community, and she aligns perfectly with our mission to leverage the power of sports to truly make an impact."
She has quite a list of accomplishments, which include launching the Meruelo Family Scholarship, which has provided over $25,000 in postsecondary scholarships for low-income students interested in pursuing careers in the hospitality industry.
She also partnered with the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to host nearly 1,000 guests during the USHCC's Annual Conference, highlighting the strength of Arizona Latinos while showcasing the club's ongoing commitment to diversity.

Those efforts will help elevate the Arizona Coyotes Foundation to their lofty goals, which include becoming a $1 million-per-year steady state giving organization. The Foundation awarded over $500,000 to 48 nonprofits last year, according to Nadia Rivera, the Coyotes' Chief Impact Officer and Executive Director of Foundation and Community Impact.
"Since the beginning of the year, the Foundation has undergone a tremendous amount of change, from our mission to our funding priorities, and it has taken ownership, leadership, and our board members to really lean in on that process," Rivera said. "Our grant process has been revamped for the better to make it easier for nonprofits to access resources, and so having Alexis come when we are at the beginning of really accomplishing some great things is important and exciting."
That aforementioned goal of $1 million-per-year giving may be lofty, but Meruelo is a perfect fit considering she helped lead the cultivation of key partnerships for both Sahara Cares and Grand Sierra Resort Cares, which resulted in over $1 million in philanthropic investment and impactful initiatives in Nevada communities.
She has already met with the Foundation's grantee recipients earlier this year, and said that while the ability to help elevate and fund their mission is the goal, fostering those relationships is truly what matters.
As the board looks to her for guidance to achieve its various goals, Meruelo will lead by example. The key to that is leading with sincerity.
"It has to come from a good place," Meruelo said. "It has to come with purpose, and it has to come with heart."

Meruelo, the oldest child of Alex Meruelo, the Majority Owner, Chairman & Governor of the Arizona Coyotes Hockey Club, wants to ensure her family's legacy continues to flourish, but she also understands the impact of her role, and how it can be used to foster the aspirations of future generations, as well.
As a female Cuban American in both the business and sporting worlds, she knows the example that she's setting.
"I'm open and excited to take on whatever challenges, or exciting opportunities may come, whatever that may be. It's an open book, and I'm excited to write this story for our family," Meruelo said. "As a female, as a Hispanic, I'm proud to be sitting in the seat I'm in, and to represent a position of power for other young girls, to look and say, 'If she can do it, I can do it.'
"It is a big responsibility. Every time that I meet women in businesses, women leaders, Hispanic leaders, and every time I sit down and have a conversation and learn about what they're doing, and share my experience, and my struggles or my growth, I know it's a two-way street. They inspire me."
Rivera said the board will look to Meruelo for guidance and leadership, especially as the Foundation looks to increase its corporate partnerships and sponsorships in the future, which is key considering its ability to give is entirely dependent on money raised.
Meruelo's position as chair further illustrates the team's commitment from the top down to continue its mission of elevating the Arizona community.
"She represents the family, and that's the heart of what the Foundation is," Rivera said. Our funding pillars were designed with both the family's interests and executive leadership's interests in mind.
"Having that representation from the family is key, because it completes the circle."
Meruelo is proud to continue to build that legacy, and wants to ensure the Arizona community knows the Foundation is here to help support it.