Rise Up: Elizabeth Purulla
There are thousands of incredible young people in our city. Throughout the Rise Up campaign, we will be sharing some of their stories. We invite you to rise up and make more stories like these possible.
Elizabeth Purulla
Elizabeth Purulla
Since being a player in the early days of Emerald Youth’s soccer program, Elizabeth Purulla has seen the ministry grow for more than a decade.
Now as a young adult, she serves in a part-time role in Emerald’s after-school program.
“I like how Emerald connects with and reaches out to the community,” she said. “Also, the long-term relationships the volunteers and staff have with children is so important. Those relationships impacted me growing up in Emerald, whether I needed help, advice, or just with anything else going on in my life.”
Elizabeth is passionate about serving youth.
“I really like giving back to the kids today what I was given throughout the years. When people cared for me as a child here, it made a huge difference.”
She also recognizes the importance of her Hispanic ethnicity and serving as a role model to children with a background similar to hers.
“I remember when I was little, I was one of a few Hispanic children in Emerald, and it’s great that I can now use my experience to be a role model. It’s a big responsibility!”