A North Texas businessman found his calling in an unexpected way. He's this week's KRLD DIfference Maker.
It was a death in his family that prompted businessman Alfonso Montiel to make a big change.
"First I was a lawyer, then I was in private equity and then I was working with refugees," Montiel said. "And then my favorite uncle died and I was struck by the fact that I hadn't been there for those who were there for me as a child. I'm an immigrant. I was born in Venezuela. Taking care of our eldery is part of our culture and I hadn't done that so I felt like a failure."
That's when Alfonso made the decision to become a hospice volunteer. He wanted to care for people who had no one to care for them.
It was through volunteering for a year that Alfonso found his calling.
"Eventually as a business guy, I thought to myself, 'How can I do this forever?' because I realized I found my calling," Alfonso said.
In order to continue following his calling, he bought a hospice company, just two weeks before the pandemic hit.
Despite the difficult timing, Silverstone Hospice grew significantly and added palliative care.
"One of the things we have done at Silverstone is ensure that everyone that comes and works as a member of our team has hospice and taking care of someone at the end of life as a calling, as a mission, almost as a spiritual pursuit," Alfonso said.
Silverstone Hospice is seeking volunteers of it's own.
As part of Silverstone Hospice's No One Dies Alone Program, volunteers are matched with someone who needs company or needs help with grocery shopping or just simply a companion to read or pray with them or to them.
We're proud to call Alfonso Montiel and Silverstone Hospice this week's KRLD Difference Maker.
"It's very fulfilling," Alfonso said. "It's almost a tingling in the heart."
If you know someone making a difference in the community, send us an email at differencemaker@krld.com.
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