The B&F St. Brigitta Foundation was formed by Brigitta Steidl and Florida Galicia Torres.  St. Brigitta of Sweden is known as the patron saint of widows, thus Brigitta and Florida, having been widows themselves, decided to come together and form The B&F St. Brigitta Foundation.

 

As of June 11, 2010, the B&F St. Brigitta Foundation became official as a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation (tax EIN:27-4695266).

 

Our goal and objective here at B&F is to be able to provide education and financial aid as well as preventing illiteracy.  We hope to provide aide to widows, widowers, farmers, and the less fortunate residing in the Philippines.

 

 

CEO/Founder

 

Florida aka Flor, was born on March 5, 1949 in San Fernando Camarines Sur in the Bicol Region of the Philippines.  She is the youngest child amongst 12 siblings of the late Alejandro Oliveros-Galicia, who was a farmer and Amparo Sibulo- Coronel, who was a humble housewife.  Florida came from a  poor family.

 

Despite all odds, she finished her elementary studies at San Fernando Central School, and high school at Camarines Sur High School in Naga City.  In 1966, she took her pre-nursing at the University of Nueva Caceres, and obtained a Bachelor's degree in Nursing at Colegio de Santa Isabel.  Upon graduating in 1971, Florida was honored with an Award of Excellence in Clinical Nursing Services. 

 

On April 12, 1973, Florida became one of the 6 nurses that were selected to come to the USA.  She was one of the first Filipino nurses that were recruited to work at the Southeast Alabama Medical Center,Dothan Alabama.  She arrived with only $50 USD in her pocket.  She became a staff nurse and charge nurse in the Medical/Surgical Department and the Coronary Care Unit.  On July 16, 1979, she transferred to California working through Nursing Registry while her application at Kaiser Hospital was being processed. 

 

Once Florida was accepted, she worked in the Critical Care Unit as a staff nurse, relief/charge nurse, hemodialysis, pediatric nurse, and a treatment room coordinator for general/surgical/plastic department.

 

One of Florida's lifetime goals, was to create a foundation to help the poor.  Since she came from a poor family, she wanted to give back and help those get a new start on life, so that they too can have the life they've always wanted.

Florida is also an active member of the Blessed John XXIII Catholic Church in Fontana, CA.  There she is a Liturgy and Eucharistic Minister and member of the Filipino Ministry.