After numerous conversations with ADP’s founder, Monica, and then the opportunity to visit farming co-ops in Rwanda and Uganda in 2020 and experience first-hand the impact and successes ADP has in the lives and livelihood of women she met during her visit, solidified Mary’s desire to serve with the organization. Retiring in January of 2021, Mary knew exactly what she wanted to do in retirement and as such, she joined Africa Development Promise, as a volunteer grant-writer in Nov. 2022.

Mary is passionate about serving her communities, both at home and abroad. Her activities demonstrate her dedication to service. Currently, she is President of the Board of Directors of Denver Delta. Inc. is a 501c3 organization whose mission is to promote equity by facilitating access to academic, health, and economic development opportunities in Colorado Black and under-served communities. Their signature program, and Mary’s favorite, is the “Food for Thought Scholarship,” established for college students experiencing food insecurities and lack of proper nutrition while pursuing higher education.

Additionally, Mary enjoys volunteering with the Food Bank of the Rockies where she works in the Kid’sKitchen preparing nutritious meals and snacks for children in daycares and aftercare programs around the Denver Metro area. As an active member of almost 40 years with Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.,

Denver Alumnae Chapter, Mary serves as a Collegiate Advisor to the Tau Lambda Chapter at CSU and UNC, mentoring young ladies in leadership and community service. She has served on the Executive Board, chaired, and participates in many of the sorority’s internal and community service committees.

A woman of strong faith, Mary and her family are very active in their church community. As a member of Cure’ d’Ars Catholic church’s Global Outreach Ministry, Mary has had the opportunity to travel to Tijuana and Ensenada, Mexico, and Gallup, New Mexico, on several home-building missions. She’s spent several weeks in Haiti at an orphanage and school compound, working on projects from building a slat house, planting Maringa trees, teaching composting, remodeling bathrooms, teaching girls to make sanitary products to establishing a full library (system) for the school.

Mary Matthews is a native of Aiken, S.C., but has called Colorado home for almost 40 years. She holds a Master's in Computer Information Systems from The University of Denver and a B.S. degree in Computer Science from Francis Marion University. With over 35 years of service in technology, Mary retired from Raytheon Technologies, where she was a Systems Engineering Manager and Capture Manager for proposal development.

She and her husband of 32 years are blessed parents of 3 young adult children and one beautiful granddaughter. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, traveling, sewing/designing, and mostly serving in her communities.