Staff & Board of Directors
Marietta Bala, Chairperson
by Maria R.
Marietta Bala has spent her life answering a single, powerful call: to bring hope where it's needed most. A seasoned mental health professional with over forty years of experience, Marietta's work has touched the lives across classrooms, clinics, and communities - from the heart of Chicago to villages across the world.
Her journey began with a passion for understanding and uplifting people. With a BA in Social Science/Community Dynamics from Earlham College and Master's degree in Social Work, Public Health, Health Education, Gerontology, and Family Therapy, Marietta built a career rooted in compassion and action. She initiated a groundbreaking social work program for a large high school district, directed social services for a major outpatient clinic, and educated communities nationwide on mental health and chronic disease. Yet her vision was never limited by borders.
Driven by a deep belief that every life matters, Matietta has traveled to 141 countries, working alongside CARE International to evaluate humanitarian programs and standing before Congress to advocate for food security, maternal health, and an end to child trafficking. Whether conducting needs studies in Jakarta or singing in cathedrals in Florence and London with her church choir, Marietta's life has been an anthem of service.
Outside of her service, Marietta's passions are as vibrant as her spirit. She is a leader in mission trips, a teacher of caregiving and grief support, and a spiritual director with the Great Banquet Community. She believes that healing isn't just a goal; it's a way of living - one relationship, one conversation, one act of love at a time.
Her story with Cafe of Life, began in 2000. Looking for a way to put her lifetime of experience to work, she was introduced to Cafe of Life through her church's mission team. What she found was a cause that spoke directly to her heart: a determined organization dedicated to feeding the hungry, clothing the poor, and restoring dignity to the forgotten families of Bonita Springs.
Since 2003, Marietta has led as Chairperson of the Board, guiding Cafe of Life from its humble beginnings to a vital lifeline for thousands. Every meal served, every family clothed, every child given hope - each one is a testament to the belief that no one should be left behind, no one should be invisible because hunger doesn't wait and poverty doesn't pause.
Every life touched carries her fingerprint - and fingerprints of those who have joined her along the way. Marietta has seen firsthand that when a caring hand reaches out, it can lift a soul from despair to hope - and ignite change that echoes far beyond a single life.
Today Marietta invites you to become part of this living story.
Join her. Stand with Cafe of Life. Help change a life - and in doing so, transform your own.
Marietta Bala has spent her life answering a single, powerful call: to bring hope where it's needed most. A seasoned mental health professional with over forty years of experience, Marietta's work has touched the lives across classrooms, clinics, and communities - from the heart of Chicago to villages across the world.
Her journey began with a passion for understanding and uplifting people. With a BA in Social Science/Community Dynamics from Earlham College and Master's degree in Social Work, Public Health, Health Education, Gerontology, and Family Therapy, Marietta built a career rooted in compassion and action. She initiated a groundbreaking social work program for a large high school district, directed social services for a major outpatient clinic, and educated communities nationwide on mental health and chronic disease. Yet her vision was never limited by borders.
Driven by a deep belief that every life matters, Matietta has traveled to 141 countries, working alongside CARE International to evaluate humanitarian programs and standing before Congress to advocate for food security, maternal health, and an end to child trafficking. Whether conducting needs studies in Jakarta or singing in cathedrals in Florence and London with her church choir, Marietta's life has been an anthem of service.
Outside of her service, Marietta's passions are as vibrant as her spirit. She is a leader in mission trips, a teacher of caregiving and grief support, and a spiritual director with the Great Banquet Community. She believes that healing isn't just a goal; it's a way of living - one relationship, one conversation, one act of love at a time.
Her story with Cafe of Life, began in 2000. Looking for a way to put her lifetime of experience to work, she was introduced to Cafe of Life through her church's mission team. What she found was a cause that spoke directly to her heart: a determined organization dedicated to feeding the hungry, clothing the poor, and restoring dignity to the forgotten families of Bonita Springs.
Since 2003, Marietta has led as Chairperson of the Board, guiding Cafe of Life from its humble beginnings to a vital lifeline for thousands. Every meal served, every family clothed, every child given hope - each one is a testament to the belief that no one should be left behind, no one should be invisible because hunger doesn't wait and poverty doesn't pause.
Every life touched carries her fingerprint - and fingerprints of those who have joined her along the way. Marietta has seen firsthand that when a caring hand reaches out, it can lift a soul from despair to hope - and ignite change that echoes far beyond a single life.
Today Marietta invites you to become part of this living story.
Join her. Stand with Cafe of Life. Help change a life - and in doing so, transform your own.
