Gavilan honors Community Spirit winners

Residents, businesses and non profits feted
The winners of the Gavilan College 2010 Community Spirit Awards
have been announced. Winners were selected in each category for
each community the college services, including San Benito County,
Gilroy and Morgan Hill.
In San Benito County, the award for an individual will go to
Elaine Kovanda, a founder of the Community Pantry and volunteer for
the Hollister Downtown Association, Boy Scouts, Baler Basketball
boosters and the Baler Education Foundation.
Residents, businesses and non profits feted

The winners of the Gavilan College 2010 Community Spirit Awards have been announced. Winners were selected in each category for each community the college services, including San Benito County, Gilroy and Morgan Hill.

In San Benito County, the award for an individual will go to Elaine Kovanda, a founder of the Community Pantry and volunteer for the Hollister Downtown Association, Boy Scouts, Baler Basketball boosters and the Baler Education Foundation.

In celebration of their 100-year anniversary, the business award will be presented to Tiffany Ford, supporters of many local causes including San Benito High School, the Balers, the YMCA, San Benito County Chamber of Commerce and more. They are also planning a breast cancer awareness event for this October.

The San Benito county award for an organization goes to the Women’s Club of Hollister, which has been active in the community since 1913. Their contributions include hosting a benefit tea for the San Benito County Free Library, providing annual scholarships for high school students, providing book donations for Kids at the Park, collecting prom dresses for the Cinderella project, sponsoring participants in the Northern California Youth Leadership Seminar and organizing a children’s art contest.

The Gavilan College Community Spirit Awards were created in 1999, when the Gavilan College Board of Trustees passed resolution #739. The awards recognize contributions to the communities that form the Gavilan Joint Community College District.

Each year, three sets of awards are presented, for the communities of Morgan Hill, Gilroy, and San Benito County. In each community an individual, a business, and a nonprofit organization are selected.

The nomination process and final selection are guided by a representative committee from Gavilan College.

Nominations are accepted all year, and anyone may submit a nomination. The nomination form can be found at www.gavilan.edu/pio/Community_Spirit_Awards.html.

The San Benito County Community Spirit Awards will be presented Oct. 27, at 7 a.m., at Running Rooster, on San Benito Street.

In Morgan Hill, the award for an individual goes to Gina Six Kudo, creator of YourMorganHill.com and an organizer of Toys for Tots donation drives and the Letter for our Troops project, coordinator of ChildSpree for many years. She is a supporter of local groups including Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center, the 4th of July Parade, the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce and the Morgan Hill Rotary. 

The award for a business goes to Rosy’s at the Beach, not only a restaurant, but a community gathering spot and communications hub. Owners Rosy and Rich Bergin have donated to many events and organizations in Morgan Hill including Community Solutions, Leadership Morgan Hill, local schools, Rotary of MH, Relay for Life, MH Dog Park, Centennial Celebration, Downtown Association, Taste of Morgan Hill, and the MH Chamber of Commerce.

The award for an organization will be presented to the Learning and Loving Education Center for their work in providing educational opportunities and outreach to low-income immigrant women and their children. The Learning and Loving Center offers English and computer classes, nutrition, parenting, and health education, and has even helped students to establish a business: Eco-Care Professional Housecleaning.

For the community of Gilroy, the award for an individual will be presented to Dina Campeau. Soon to be leaving Gilroy for several years, Dina has been a force in the community, providing leadership to the South County Collaborative, spearheading the Substance Abuse Prevention Partnerships in both Morgan Hill and Gilroy, facilitating the Gilroy Homelessness Task Force and the South County Community First 5 Partnership and representing South County on the Santa Clara County Homeless Collaborative Board.

The award for a business goes to Christopher Ranch for its ongoing sponsorship of the Garlic Festival and Gavilan College programs such as STAR, music and athletics, with a special “thank you” to Bill Christopher and his volunteerism as an auctioneer for countless nonprofit events.

The Gilroy award for an organization goes to the Gilroy Arts Alliance, (now merged with the Theater Angels Art League.)

The Arts Alliance has transformed the former Salvation Army store into a Center for the Arts with retail, workshop and exhibit space, all through volunteer labor.

As Theater Angels, these volunteers have contributed to the community for decades, creating the Arts Alive program for Gilroy schools and putting in a foundation under the Willey House, which was then donated to the city.

The Morgan Hill Community Spirit Awards banquet will be Oct. 7, at 7:15 a.m., at the Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center. The Gilroy Community Spirit Award banquet will be Oct. 13, at 6:45 a.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn.