Leading by Example | UnidosUS

Johnny Ivanovich-Nuñez: Millennial veteran, coach and donor 

When Johnny Ivanovich-Nuñez was six years old, he and his family left the small town of Mairana, Bolivia for the U.S. They settled in Northern Virginia, where Johnny grew up undocumented. He eventually attended community college and was recruited by the Army. Through his military service, Johnny became a U.S. citizen and went on to have a 12-year career in government. 

“My family’s experience as undocumented residents for 11 years has given me a deep understanding of the stresses and anxieties faced by many families,” he said. This personal experience is what recently inspired Johnny to make his first donation to UnidosUS. 

“With the recent actions of the new administration, I wanted to do more,” Johnny explained, noting that his philanthropy had previously focused on local organizations, like one in the DC-area whose mission fuses two of his personal passions — reading and soccer — for kids. “I wanted to focus on the people being targeted.” His wife, Elizabeth, who had worked for the UN Foundation, suggested UnidosUS due to our legacy of Latino advocacy . After researching the organization, Johnny concluded that his donation would be a wise investment in the Latino community.  

“I’m impressed by the organization’s work and the scope it covers,” Johnny said, explaining that UnidosUS’s national reach— from immigration to education to advocacy — was important to him, as well as our partnership with our Affiliate Network of more than 300 community-based organizations throughout the country. 

A few years ago, at 37 years old, Johnny and Elizabeth took the FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) path to early retirement. “I was fortunate to figure out how to navigate personal finance relatively early,” he said. Now, they live near Nashville, where there are significant Latino and Laotian communities. Johnny volunteers as a soccer coach for 14-to-17-year-olds. As a fierce proponent for financial literacy, Johnny also helps family members with their finances and informally mentors his younger teammates in the pickup soccer league he plays in.

Click here to learn about the impact of donors like Johnny.