Meeting Melanie Nazari at one of the many social outings she might be found hosting or attending, you would never suspect the depth of hardship she has faced in life. Foremost, you’d be struck by her gracious demeanor and ever-present smile, as well as the full attention she grants to every interaction. A true people person, Nazari has a presence about her that draws people to the many causes she champions as a result of these personal challenges and deep values.
A native Corpus Christian, Nazari was raised in the spirit of doing your best at everything you do. The eldest daughter of Gayle and David Villarreal, Nazari was moved to excel early in life as head cheerleader and class president, graduating from college at the University of Texas, where she studied radio, television and film and received a minor in journalism—by the age of 20. Her spirit for adventure took her to California for several years, where she worked in television and experienced the challenges young women face across numerous industries. The sands quickly shifted for her future: one day appearing in “The Young and the Restless” and the next facing a diagnosis of borderline lupus, which would send her back to Texas to be closer to family.
“When I came back to Corpus because I was sick, not six months later, my mom had her first stroke,” Nazari recalled. A year later, her mother would suffer another stroke, and then a third, which resulted in her use of a wheelchair. Nazari credits her mother’s strength and constant spirit of gratitude as a motivating factor to live her life with the same resilience and purpose. It was in the grief and eventual healing of this experience that Nazari first heard the call to something bigger than herself.
While working as an events director in Kings Crossing, she organized her first event in support of the Lupus Foundation of South Texas in 2005. “I had just gotten out of college, and [Kings Crossing] needed revenue and events,” Nazari said. “It was fun and successful. I not only got to donate money to the Lupus Foundation, but I was also honoring my mom, who has had lupus for 45 years.”
A life dedicated to duty for multiple causes soon branched out into those of motherhood and marriage, which Nazari said pushes her to want to do even more. When she’s not chairing events or organizing luncheons for different foundations, she’s an active parent at her children’s high schools. “I live my life with purpose, regardless if it’s making sure my kid is at the dentist, getting lunches packed and everyone off for the day, or chairing a 500-person event and making it go off without a hitch.”
As someone who spent her youth in the pageant circuit, where she learned early personal empowerment as well as the strength in finding community, Nazari is no stranger to healthy competition, especially in the interest of service.
Each year, the American Heart Association (AHA) challenges its members to use their influence within their respective communities to draw attention and funding to fighting cardiovascular disease in women. The number one killer of women, cardiovascular disease such as heart disease and stroke claims the lives of women every 80 seconds in the U.S. alone, affecting many more than all forms of cancer, respiratory disease and diabetes combined. A Woman of Impact signifies one woman in her community who champions the cause, mobilizes her network and raises the most lifesaving funds in the region for AHA.
This year, as the Woman of Impact from Corpus Christi, Nazari brought 66 women into her Circle of Red and raised $114,700—a record total for the Coastal Bend. Additionally, she was recognized as one of only two women in Corpus Christi to ever be inducted into the AHA’s Centennial Club, a testament to her position as the fifth-highest earner nationwide in 2025. Nazari’s army of 66, or “Melanie’s Heartthrobs,” as she lovingly refers to them, encapsulated diverse women looking to make change, from her 16-year-old daughter to her 93-year-old grandmother, as well as her personal friends and colleagues in the community.
In accepting her award at the annual event, Nazari highlighted her mother’s experience with CVD as her motivation. Closing her speech, she evoked the words of Pope Francis, “Life is good when you are happy, and much better when others are happy because of you.”
The desire to do more doesn’t end when it’s rewarded for Nazari, but when the need is met. And for many, the need is ongoing. With a focus on causes dedicated to women and children, Nazari hopes to lend her time and resources in continuing to bridge the gap for those in need right here in the Coastal Bend.
Her work with New Life Refuge Ministries took aim at supporting and protecting child survivors of sex trafficking. She recently chaired the second-ever New Life Refuge Ministries Gala, where she helped raise over $100,000 for children right here in our community. Nazari and her husband, Vic, set their sights on plans for delivering services and resources directly to children in the Coastal Bend through a nonprofit organization.
As an agent of change and foremost as a mother to Madison and Maddox, Nazari hopes to lead by example. “I try to teach my kids if you’re going to do something, do it full form,” she said. “For me, I serve God, my husband, my children, family and community. When I’m doing that, I am most fulfilled.”
Sparking action in every area of philanthropic work she pours her all into, Melanie Nazari’s bold efforts and generous spirit are improving the Coastal Bend and the lives of those in it.
