Helen Santos Rivera

Helen Santos Rivera is a lawyer with a career that has taken her well beyond the courtroom. She's also an entrepreneur and longtime supporter of charitable causes in Puerto Rico, where she has spent years working with older adults and organizations dedicated to helping women and their communities. Today, she is also known for her leadership in the Puerto Rico chapter of the Union of Women of the Americas (UMA).

Originally from Corozal, Puerto Rico, Santos Rivera grew up as the eldest of five children, from a family of merchants. She went on to study law and opened her own office in Cataño. Getting her practice off the ground wasn’t easy. During her first month, she worked six days a week and earned only $20. Hoping to attract clients, she started offering free legal guidance to people in the community. Her efforts eventually paid off.

A family situation resulted in her getting involved in a completely different business. When her uncle was diagnosed with dementia at 56, Santos Rivera struggled to find a suitable place for him to live. The experience inspired her to open Casa Regia in Guaynabo, where he could receive the care he needed. Since then, she's helped establish five residences across Puerto Rico, including Casa de Campo, Residencia Bula Santos I and II, and Hogar Juan de Dios.

Helping her community has been an important part of Santos Rivera’s life. From 2021 to 2022, she served as president of the Club Cívico de Damas de Puerto Rico, where she helped raise funds for the Hospital del Niño. One of the initiatives she pioneered provided equipment for a Montessori learning laboratory designed for children with developmental and communication needs.

She also served as president of the Puerto Rico chapter of the Union of Women of the Americas. In April 2025, she led its Coquí de Oro awards, honoring leaders in medicine, culture, media, and public life. That November, the chapter welcomed 18 new members.

Much has changed since Santos Rivera opened her first law office in Cataño. What hasn’t is her interest in helping people, something that continues to influence many of her professional decisions. Through her elder-care businesses and involvement in women’s organizations, she continues to contribute to the communities she has been part of for so many years.