The Gavilan College Board of Trustees has identified the recipients of the 2013 Community Spirit Awards, spreading the honors to individuals, organizations and businesses from Morgan Hill, Gilroy and Hollister.
Award banquets are planned for 7:15 a.m. Oct. 3 at the Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center; 6:45 a.m. Oct. 16 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Gilroy; and 7:30 a.m. Oct. 23 in Hollister at a location yet to be determined.
Rich Firato, a volunteer in Morgan Hill for more than 10 years, has served on the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors for three years, where he helped bring the Friday Night Music Series to an all-time attendance high of between 250 to 500 people every week for 12 weeks.
“Rich thinks outside the box and is an idea person,” the Gavilan College release states. “He was able to build (by himself) a Taste of Morgan Hill concert venue, free to the community, in 2012.”
Firato, the 2013 Chairman of the Board for the Morgan Hill Chamber, also built Morgan’s Cove in his backyard, an event venue for fundraising events such as ones for the Morgan Hill Rotary, Leadership Morgan Hill, Community Solutions, Sobrato High School and the Chamber of Commerce.
“He has made great strides in partnering with the downtown association to bring a cohesiveness to Morgan Hill,” Gavilan trustees noted. “He works well with everyone and his goal is make Morgan Hill a better place to live and work.”
Morgan Hill-based Affordable Solar Roofs, a leader business in South County for environmental excellence since 1995, was also honored for its “green-friendly” contributions, as was Morgan Hill’s Community Solutions, which helps individuals and families face overwhelming challenges in their life.
“As I worked with the staff through calls and cases related to domestic violence, I began to learn more about their organization and all they do to help our community,” said Morgan Hill Police Chief David Swing. “I have seen firsthand the opportunities they have provided for the clients they serve.”
In Gilroy, a Community Spirit Award was presented to retired Lockhead engineer Roy Guist of Manzanita Magic. Guist carves pendants and other jewelry out of Manzanita burls and sells them at the Gilroy Farmer’s Market, Gilroy Arts Alliance and other local festivals. Guist is assisted with sales by family members, including his wife, Sue.
The Guists donate their proceeds to the South Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship for its scholarship program for Gavilan College nursing students. This year, the group provided $6,000 in scholarships.
Another Gilroyan worthy of the Community Spirit Award is Maria Skoczylas, a retired school teacher and permanent volunteer and advocate for the homeless. Skoczylas, who has been active in helping the homeless since 1987, has volunteered at the emergency shelter during winter months at the Armory in Gilroy for many years; was involved in the Homeless Task Force; and has served on the Board of Directors for South County Housing.
Skoczylas, a board member of the Gilroy Compassion Center, was instrumental in South County Housing’s Sobrato Apartments, a 60-unit transitional housing project on Monterey Road. Additionally, she helped with the creation of 26 new units for the disabled.
“She has a heart of gold and is such a wonderful person and gives tirelessly to help others make a better life for themselves,” the release states.
Leadership Gilroy, a nonprofit that has worked to train the leaders of the city’s businesses, nonprofit organizations, government commissions and elected officials, was a third Gilroy recipient of the Community Spirit Award.
In Hollister, recipient Dennis Osorio was recognized as a valuable volunteer for San Benito County’s event sound and entertainment systems, as well as a member of the Hollister Downtown Association’s Lights On Celebration and Street Festival & Car Show committees.
The San Benito State Company, a nonprofit performing arts association dedicated to producing local musical and theatrical workshops, plays and performances, founded in 1999, as well as Tonascia Farms, a local business growing organic spring mix, cilantro, peppers and conventional garlic, were also named Gavilan College Community Spirit award winners.
The Community Spirit Awards were created in 1999 in order to promote and recognize service to the communities Gavilan College serves. A representative committee of the campus community reviews nominations and selects the award-winners. Anyone may nominate an individual, organization or business in the community for an award. A nominee who is not selected may be re-nominated for the next year.
For nomination forms and more information, go to www.gavilan.edu/pio, or call (408) 848-4724.
