Who We Are

Cheerful multiracial women with different skin color looking in

Who we are

Committed to the Community we Serve

Founded in 2022, the Poinsette Foundation is a living family heirloom committed to empowering and amplifying the voices of underserved women and children of color.

Meet Mia Poinsette

Founder and Executive Director

Mia Poinsette is the owner and Chief Executive Officer of The Driven Group, a multi-million transportation provider with five locations that provides safe and reliable school bus services to nearly 4,000 children throughout Maryland and Washington, D.C.

Relocating from Maryland to Central Florida in 2022, Mia is also the founder and Executive Director of the Poinsette Foundation. The 501(c)(3) self-funded nonprofit organization invests in initiatives that amplify women’s voices, curate social experiences, and fulfill the immediate needs of underestimated children of color. Since launching in 2022, the Poinsette Foundation has amassed nearly 80 community partners throughout Orange and Osceola counties.

Mia is a third-generation Girl Scout who credits the organization for planting her early seeds of leadership, entrepreneurship, and community involvement.

Mia demonstrates additional commitment to her community by serving as a board member for the Girl Scouts of Citrus Council, Women United, the Boys and Girls Club, Women’s Executive Council, Women on the Rise, and was additionally appointed by Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer to serve on the Mennello Museum of American Art’s Board of Trustees. Mia is a past Board member of the Central Florida Urban League Young Professionals and the University Club of Orlando – where she became the first Black woman to serve on an Executive Board in the organization’s 98-year history. Active on the Research and Grants committee for Central Florida Foundation’s 100 Women Strong, Mia proudly holds additional memberships with Florida Executive Women, the American Heart Association’s Circle of Red, and several local chambers.

Mia is a graduate of multiple leadership programs including the Black Boardroom Leadership Institute’s 2022 inaugural leadership track, Leadership Orlando Class 103, and the 2023 ATHENA NextGen Cohort. Mia is a current participant in Leadership Osceola Class of 2024.

Recognized for her impactful footprint in the community, Mia is an honoree in the Girl Scouts of Citrus Council’s 2024 Legacy of Excellence: Phenomenal Black Women in Central Florida Exhibit. Mia is also the recipient of the Osceola Magic 2024 Game Changer Award, Heart of Florida United Way’s 2023 Change Maker: Women United Impact Award, the Women’s Executive Council’s 2023 Women of Achievement: Central Florida Influencer Award, Women’s Executive Council’s 2023 Betty Barnes Outstanding Service President’s Award, Women on the Rise’s 2023 Community Impact Leader Award and Women on the Rise’s 2023 Inspirational Deeva Award.

Mia earned an undergraduate degree in philosophy from Johns Hopkins University and holds a Certificate in Board Governance from Rollins College’s Crummer Graduate School of Business and the Edyth Bush Institute for Philanthropy & Nonprofit Leadership. Strengthening both philanthropic and civic passions, Mia is currently pursuing a graduate degree in government and public policy at Harvard University.

Speaking Engagements

2024 Panelist at The Nonprofit Impact Summit
2024 Keynote Speaker at City Year Orlando’s Women’s Leadership Event
2023 Community Hero Speaker at the Boys & Girls Club Seminole County Faces of the Future Fundraising Breakfast
2023 SHEtalks Speaker at Orange Appeal Magazine’s 13th Annual Orlando Women’s Conference
2023 Guest Speaker at Women’s Executive Council’s August Luncheon

Advisory Board Members

William Poinsette

The Driven Group

Sheena Jackson

Rosen Hotels & Resorts

Elizabeth Peeple

You Are Life Consulting

Charminta Brown

Valencia College

Tadar Muhammad

CareerSource Central Florida

Rewriting the story together

We are immensely proud of the work we’ve done so far. In just one year, we’ve supported and collaborated with 80+ community partners. As an organization, we strive to be…

Authentic

We embrace authenticity by being true to our identity and purpose.

Transformative

Through our curated experiences and funding, we aim to bring about positive transformations in the lives of women and children of color.

Fun

We foster a vibrant and joyful atmosphere that uplifts and enhances the lives of the women and children we engage.

Transparent

We maintain transparency by openly sharing information about the allocation of our funding and resources.