Heather Cuccia has spent 15 years working in the health care industry, but it was philanthropy that was her calling since her teen years.
“I got involved in philanthropy during my senior year of high school in 1996 at Bishop Kearney,” said Ms. Cuccia. “I started an organization ‘Forgotten Children’ at St. Francis College to provide children ages 2 months to 19 years affected by the AIDS virus with enjoyment of life through celebration throughout the seasons.”
Since her time as a young adult, children and philanthropy have had great influence on her. She does not hesitate to help children.
Cuccia still does a great deal of volunteering and performing. She performs the National Anthem for the Daily News Golden Gloves events, various military and veteran events held at the Fort Hamilton Army Base, as well as MCU Park for the Brooklyn Cyclones. She also volunteers with Wreaths Across America, which provides wreaths to honor fallen soldiers.
Often, this Woman of Distinction is able to use her talent and love for singing to give back and make change in her community and greater Brooklyn.
“I enjoy volunteering my vocal talent to perform the National Anthem for various events and organizations,” said Cuccia. “I also volunteer my marketing and development experience to various organizations in the borough of Brooklyn, such as Operation Birthday Party, which provides homeless children and children in battered women’s shelters with a monthly birthday party.”
Maria Nitti, president of Operation Birthday Party, noted that she met Cuccia about two years ago, when she started to donate her time for Operation Birthday Party.
“[Heather] later took a bigger role at the organization during the holiday season, when she stepped in and got donations and even ran a party,” said Nitti. “It is very rare that you find someone that will donate their time for strangers. Overall, she is a great person. She is kind, loving and sincere.”
“I may not have everything I want, but with the career that I’ve had, the people that I’ve had in my life — I have it all,” she said. “There’s a lot of selfishness in this world that I’ve seen in my lifetime. There is no time to be selfish,” she added. “In my heart, I know that people see your talent and enable you. It’s like when an artist (like Monet) painted paintings — you walk into a room and you want to perform for people. You give them a canvas, the words and the story is told through their eyes.”
The use of her natural talents to helps others makes her a Woman of Distinction.
Neighborhood: I was brought up in Marine Park, and now reside in Bensonhurst.
Occupation: Senior physican advocate.
Company: United Healthcare.
Favorite Brooklyn Place: The most beautiful place with a view of the bridge, the Bluff on Fort Hamilton Army Base.
Woman I admire: I admire my mother, Louisa Cuccia, a teacher of 47 years. She had a presence over children — she had a presence, not just a voice — and if I could do that for just one second in the presence of the children I volunteer with, that is a blessing.
Motto: Everybody is given blessings when they’re born—everything else is an added bonus.
