About Paquita’s Angels

Who We Are

Paquita’s Angels is a boutique nonprofit organization that provides school uniforms to in-need public elementary school students in South Florida. A uniform may seem like a small thing to some, but to a struggling family at the beginning of the school year, it’s a God-send.

Co-founders Scarleth Padilla, a retired marketing executive, and her mother, Aleyda Nuñez, who has worked in the school system for almost two decades, began Paquita’s Angels with a vision to help struggling families in South Florida overcome their circumstances and reach for a brighter future through education.

Along with their main mission of providing school uniforms to South Florida children, the mother-daughter duo wishes to continue to honor their late matriarch’s legacy in helping the community in which she lived in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

Who is Paquita?

Francisca Maldonado de Nuñez, Aleyda’s mother and Scarleth’s grandmother, best
known as Doña Paquita, was a woman who did the most she could to help those in need around her. She worked with diligence, treated everyone with respect and gave hope to the people whose lives she touched as a nurse and after she retired.

While she was alive, she did much of her work through her beloved Catholic Church,
Iglesia San Miguel Arcangel, and in secret, so most of her family did not know the full impact she had on her community until after her death. Abuelita Paquita’s compassion and humility live on in the memories of those whom she worked to help.

Doña Paquita’s legacy will continue through the work we do, providing for those who cannot provide for themselves and empowering them to move forward so they can also help the next generation. We hope to make her proud and bless others as we have also been blessed. As she always said in that gentle and soft voice to everything we said – “God willing”.

Scarleth’s Story

When Aleyda came to South Florida from Honduras in the 80’s, life was not everything the American Dream had promised. Working hard as a single parent, Scarleth’s mother worked very hard to make ends meet. Aleyda had grit, dedication, and drive that would see herself work multiple jobs, revalidate her teaching certificate and helped Scarleth achieve her educational dream. Scarleth attended public school and, all the while, saw how hard her mother worked to provide for her and allowed her to go to the University of Miami on a full scholarship.

After revalidating her teaching degree, Aleyda worked for the Miami Dade county public school system for over 20 years before retiring to take care of her granddaughter, Francesca. Not only did she have the passion for teaching and loved to be able to help children achieve academic success but she sadly saw firsthand the financial burden many families faced in South Florida public schools.

After a successful career in marketing at multiple luxury consumer brand companies such as NBA, Perry Ellis, COTY and Fossil, Scarleth has turned her focus back to South Florida, where her daughter now attends public school. Following in her grandmother’s footsteps, she is determined to make a difference for the families in need of South Florida.

What We Do

Our first major initiative in the South Florida area is to provide uniforms to school children whose families are experiencing financial hardship who are enrolled in the public school system.

Buying uniforms for each child at the beginning of the school year can be a heavy burden for families in need. We currently provide school uniforms for families in need at 3 schools and are rapidly expanding with hopes to provide even more in the future.

Meet The Team

Help Us Forward

If you would like more information about how your school can provide uniforms for families in need, how you can support Paquita’s Angels financially or volunteering opportunities, please email us at info@paquitasangels.org.

Have Questions?

Do you have questions about our Paquita’s Angels Uniform Packages or about how your school can get involved? Know of a resource or partner we should connect with to provide better support for our South Florida kids? Our team will answer you within 1-2 business days. Thank you!