The Cuban native has been instrumental in the success of the Empty Bowls Project, providing financial assistance to the food bank, for more than a decade.
In a celebration of remarkable accomplishments, Aspire Plant City has named Silvia Dodson as the Woman of Distinction for her unwavering commitment to making a positive impact in her community.
The award is presented to a woman who exhibits leadership skills, has been or is a role model and mentor to other women and girls and advocates for positive social change that helps close the leadership gap and create a more equitable society.
Born in Cuba, Dodson (then Azorin) grew up in a large, cohesive family. Her father owned a company that manufactured clay products until dictator Fidel Castro came into power and, under his Marxist regime, began to seize control of people’s bank accounts, homes and businesses as well as indoctrinate children into the communist regime. At nine years old, she and her family quickly left their homeland by plane and sought political asylum in Miami.
“When we first came to the United States we had nothing, my parents left everything behind but my parents wanted to give us freedom,” said Dodson. “We had to go to a food bank and Catholic charities to help us because we had nothing.”
Her father eventually moved to Harlem, Georgia and found work in a brick factory. He moved the family to Plant City in 1963, where he built a successful company, Florida Brick and Clay.
Remembering what a lifeline the food bank was for her family when they needed it helped instill a passion in her for helping others.
“There’s a lot of reasons why people need help and we just need to be there for them,” she said. “That’s my drive, I just feel like I need to give back.”
One of Dodson’s most significant contributions has been her work with the United Food Bank of Plant City, when in 2009 she and other board members founded the Empty Bowls Project to benefit the food bank. The event is now in its 13th year.
Her interest in art from a young age- and easy access to clay- allowed her to use one of her passions to benefit others.
While she appreciates the award, recognition isn’t her motivation when it comes to her philanthropic work. Her motivation comes from honoring her family legacy. “My mom was very involved in the community when I was younger and she taught me to serve God, family and community in that order so that’s why I do it,” she said. “She’s just been an inspiration to me all my life and that’s why I do it, mainly to honor her.”
Her husband, Commissioner Bill Dodson, spoke at the recognition ceremony. “She’s thought of as a modest and kind person and she certainly is but she has a power inside her,” he said. “She’s committed to selfless acts of kindness, lives her life with passion, leads by example and believes in community building.”
He said one of his favorite sayings of hers is ‘less, talk, more doing.’
As she accepted the award, tears in her eyes, her comments were about what you’d expect from a woman who’s dedicated her life in the service of others. “I hope all you will come to the Empty Bowls Project coming up because it raises money for the food bank,” she said.
