A Life of Impact

“Sacred Heart played a formative role in shaping who I am. The values of compassion, integrity, discipline, and service that I learned there have guided my entire career. I remain deeply grateful for that foundation and proud to be part of this community.”

It is that blend of personal history and professional purpose that defines Marina Boulos: a Sacred Heart alum who has spent her life turning values into action. When Marina reflects on her career, she traces the roots of it all back to the halls of Sacred Heart. Today, she is Executive Director of Sun Youth (Jeunesse au Soleil), bringing more than 35 years of leadership from both Montreal and New York’s local and national charitable organizations.

A Life of Impact

Marina's path into social services started at 17 when she began volunteering at a drug rehabilitation centre on Côte-des-Neiges, a commitment she maintained all the way through university. She was influenced by Sacred Heart’s own guidance counsellor, Cathy (McNally) Carbone, who inspired her and had a strong impact on her; and, the televised Dr. Joyce Brothers who wrote widely about relationships and mental health. The impact of these two figures led to her studies in Social Sciences at Vanier College, the completion of a BA in Psychology at McGill University, followed by an internship at the Montreal Women's Centre.

It was there that her direction sharpened, "I realized that I wanted to work in social services from a leadership perspective.” That insight led her to pursue a Graduate Diploma in Applied Management where a case-method approach pushed students to tackle real organizational challenges and develop practical solutions. It was exactly the kind of training that would prove useful for decades to come. "That analytical, problem-solving way of thinking has stayed with me throughout my career and continues to be extremely useful.”

What followed was a career of remarkable breadth. In Montreal, Marina has led organizations including Tel-Aide, Dans la Rue, the Foundation of Greater Montreal, Chez Doris, and YES Employment + Entrepreneurship. She also spent 12 years in New York, holding senior roles with United Way of New York City, a national fundraising consulting firm, the YWCA of the USA, and ultimately serving as CEO of the national I Have a Dream Foundation. Each role added a new layer to her understanding of nonprofit leadership from working with volunteers and boards to shaping an organization’s brand, managing operations, and measuring real community impact. “Every experience prepared me for the next, and all of it continues to inform my work today." 

Service Beyond the Office

Marina's commitment to community extends beyond the leadership positions she assumed. Her longest-standing board service has been with Projets autochtones du Québec, an Indigenous-led organization supporting vulnerable and homeless Indigenous people - a cause she joined when it was led by fellow Sacred Heart graduate Adrienne Campbell, Marina also proudly serves on the Board of Sacred Heart itself.

Strong Foundations and Supportive Network

Marina boarded at Sacred Heart for a year - an experience she describes with warmth. "Being a boarder created lifelong bonds," she recalls. She also loved the school's strong sense of community, built through chapel, ski trips, cultural celebrations, study hall, and cross-grade school events. She also fondly remembers the monthly Loyola High School dances, which she says offered "a small glimpse into the world of boys."

Adjusting to Sacred Heart's strict environment took time, especially given her own traditional and closely supervised upbringing. The value of that structured, values-driven education became undeniable later when she became Executive Director of Dans la Rue where she worked with homeless and runaway youth. "Those teachings instilled in me the importance of hard work, discipline, and strong networks. Throughout my career, people have rallied behind me and supported both my success and the success of the organizations I have led - and that foundation began at Sacred Heart."

Among her favourite teachers was Mrs. Lynne Cochrane, whose English and drama classes were both engaging and enjoyable. She also credits history teachers Ms. Potter and Ms. Mann, science teachers Ms. Vogt and Ms. Simon, and appreciated that religion classes at Sacred Heart extended beyond Catholicism to engage with broader belief systems and perspectives. “All of our teachers were passionate about their subjects and inspired us to be curious, confident, and committed to learning.”

Sacred Heart now offers mentorship opportunities to current students - something Marina would have taken advantage of during her time there. Specifically, broader career exploration and greater exposure to women leaders from different fields; and, she adds, "a gym without pillars would have been nice too."

Lifelong Friendships

Above all, Marina returns again and again to the friendships forged at Sacred Heart. Marina’s fondest memories are of the friendships formed both in class and as a boarder, and the strong sense of belonging she felt. “Sacred Heart was a place where we were encouraged to be our best selves, both personally and intellectually.”

Marina quotes Mother Johnson, “Your high school friends are your friends for life.” For Marina and her friends, that has proven true, forging bonds that have lasted over the years and supporting each other at every stage of life. “Even after all this time, we can still pick up where we left off.” 

The Class of 1981 was also shaped by the tragic loss of a classmate, Patty Forbes, after she ended a relationship, leaving a lasting mark on the school community. Through Marina’s subsequent work with organizations serving women and children, Marina has placed great importance on relationship safety and awareness.