Maria Cuomo Cole
Chair Emeritus, HELP USA
Founder, Cuomo Cole Productions
Maria Cuomo Cole is a nationally respected advocate for social justice and an award-winning documentary producer whose career spans decades of work to advance equity, dignity, and opportunity for vulnerable communities. She became Chair of HELP USA in 1992 and, for over two decades, led the organization through a period of extraordinary growth and impact. Under her leadership, HELP USA significantly expanded transitional housing for families, developed innovative affordable, and supportive housing for veterans, and built out a robust portfolio of programs to help individuals recover from homelessness and achieve long-term housing stability.
Throughout her tenure, Maria brought national attention to the structural causes of homelessness and helped shape HELP USA’s reputation as a leader in housing-based solutions grounded in compassion, accountability, and innovation. Today, as Chair Emeritus, she continues to advise the organization on strategy and mission, lending her insight and experience to support its ongoing evolution.
In addition to her leadership at HELP USA, Maria is President of Cuomo Cole Productions, where she has produced several acclaimed documentaries that confront injustice and inspire change. Her films—including the Oscar-nominated Death By Numbers and The Invisible War, and The Hunting Ground, and Newtown—have received Emmy and Peabody Awards and have been distributed by PBS, BBC, and Netflix. Her current film, The Librarians, which addresses the issue of book banning, had its world premiere at Sundance and has been screening at international festivals, with a broadcast on PBS scheduled.
Maria serves on several nonprofit boards and remains an influential voice in national conversations about housing justice, the prevention of gender-based violence, and public health. Her work blends the power of storytelling with a lifelong commitment to social change.
Maria has been recognized for her humanitarian efforts by many organizations, including The American Red Cross, The Eleanor Roosevelt Val-Kill Medal of Honor, The Brady Campaign, John Jay College Criminal Justice Award, The New York Women’s Forum, the Matrix Award from Women in Communication, and The Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation.
Further illustrating her commitment to equality and fairness in this country, Maria is a founding member of The HELP USA Fund, Mentoring USA, Street Soccer USA, and Sankofa.
