Rafael Toro

Background

About Rafael Toro

Rafael is an experienced strategist, organizer, and leader who believes in leveraging business connections to foster growth in communities across the country and beyond, bridging economic and resource disparities. With 35+ years of experience, Rafael has developed numerous campaigns at Goya Foods, Inc. highlighting the company’s social responsibility and positioning Goya Foods, Inc. as an iconic institution in the Latino community in the United States.Rafael joined Goya Foods, Inc. as Director of Public Relations in 1985. He first set out to increase Goya’s outreach and brand awareness to a variety of Latin communities including Dominican, Mexican, South and Central American. As Goya has increased in popularity in both the domestic and international markets, Rafael has expanded the role of the public relations department, helping to guide Goya’s crossover into mainstream media. Rafael currently oversees Goya’s Public Relations department including public affairs, media relations, community activities, corporate contributions, food donations, sponsorships, production and cultural programs.Goya Gives, Goya’s charitable arm, was created and launched amidst a year of extensive programming to celebrate Goya’s 75th anniversary in 2011, including MyPlate/MiPlato, a national health initiative to educate Americans on how to eat healthier in collaboration with First Lady Michelle Obama. Through Goya Gives, Goya supports over 300 organizations including Catholic Charities, United Way, Maestro Cares, Inquilinos Boricuas en Accion (IBA), Feeding America and City Harvest. In addition to food donations across Latin America, Rafael has facilitated Goya’s support of orphanages in Colombia, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic, where there is a mentorship program, connecting Goya employees with children at the orphanage.Since 2021, Rafael has worked to promote the Goya Cares campaign; a global humanitarian initiative to protect children by combatting child and human trafficking at the domestic and international levels. Goya Cares functions to raise awareness through a series of educational videos, the creation of a partners coalition, and strategic programming.Rafael holds a Master’s in Education from Cambridge College in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He is a board member of the Christian Rivera Foundation.