Ana Vargas-Smith

Ana VargasSmith founded the Santa Clara Parade of Champions nonprofit in 2018, reviving a legacy event that originally welcomed home World War II veterans and supported community rebuilding after the war. Growing up in Santa Clara, she volunteered with the organization as a youth and was inspired by her love of history and family roots to reinstate it as a formal nonprofit after the original founders passed away. With a degree in business administration with a marketing concentration, she applies her experience in project management and collaboration from the global high-tech industry, including work at Sony Electronics, to lead the all-volunteer board. She sits on additional nonprofit boards such as the Chamber and Rotary Club. The organization provides scholarships to youth, supports veterans, and aids families facing medical crises while preserving local heritage and multiculturalism.