A community that cares
Founded in South County nearly 15 years ago and located on Llagas Avenue on the north side of Gilroy, Operation Freedom Paws and its staff have been recognized internationally for their unique and intensive approach to helping disabled veterans thrive independently.
The nonprofit organization—whose model centers around pairing clients with their own service dogs—has shaped the nationwide conversation about how to treat veterans and first responders who suffer from often debilitating post traumatic stress disorder and other mental health challenges.
Locally, the Gilroy community has continually shown its support for OFP and its philosophy—including by nominating and selecting the local nonprofit in a number of Best of Gilroy categories for 2026. OFP won Gold for Best Dog Trainer, while garnering Silver for Best Community Organization, and Bronze for Best Place to Take the Dog and Best Charity or Nonprofit.
“We believe in the community, and we believe in participating,” said Mary Cortani, Executive Director and Founder of OFP. “Our staff believe in our mission to save lives—two-legged and four-legged—and they also see the value in being part of the community and making the world a better place. And it is an honor and blessing they have chosen to work for us.”
OFP was founded with a focus on veterans who suffer from PTSD, working with humans in need to help them train their own service dogs that provide healthy ongoing treatment and companionship. Over the years, OFP has expanded to include first responders, children and other community members with disabilities as its clients. And it’s all at no cost to the clients.
Cortani, who learned how to train dogs when she served in Vietnam with the U.S. military, noted that many of OFP’s staff of 32 are also clients.
“We’re showing them that tomorrow can be better than today,” Cortani said. “Recognition is amazing but when our local community recognizes us it reinforces that we must be doing something right, and they see us as a valuable partner in the community.”
OFP will celebrate its 15th anniversary with a gala fundraiser Aug. 29 at Guglielmo Winery. For tickets and more information, visit tinyurl.com/4uynn2hc.
Winners are listed below in the Best of Gilroy Care & Services category.
Best Acupuncture Practice
Gold
Heart Space Healing Acupuncture
Silver
Yang’s Acupuncture Clinic
Bronze
Nancy Butler Acupuncture
Best Auto Body Shop
Gold
Bonfante Collision Center
Silver
Caliber Collision
Bronze
Gilroy AutoWorks
Best Auto Detailing
Gold
RC Mobile Detailing
Silver
Detail Dom
Best Auto Repair Service
Gold
Gilroy Automotive Repair
Silver
Gilroy Autoworks
Bronze
Rom’s Auto Service
Best Barbershop
Gold
Garlic City Barbers
Silver
Frank’s Barber Shop
Bronze
Elevate barbershop
Best Bed & Mattress Store
Gold
Mancini’s Sleepworld
Best Bookkeeping Service
Gold
Green Refund Tax Service
Silver
Datamate Bookkeeping & Tax, Inc
Bronze
The Art of Taxes
Best Business Attorney
Gold
Premier Paralegal Services
Best Car Wash
Gold
Village Car Wash
Silver
RC Mobile Detailing
Best Carpet Cleaning
Gold
Classic Clean
Silver
Marissa’s Clean Rite Carpet & Upholstery
Bronze
Infinity Carpet & Rug Cleaning
Best Charity or Non-Profit
Gold
Rebekah Children’s Services
Silver
Community Solutions
Bronze
Operation Freedom Paws
Best Chiropractic Office
Gold
Bostock Chiropractic
Silver
Gilroy Family Chiropractic
Bronze
Gilroy Health & Wellness Center
Best Community Organization
Gold
Rebekah Children’s Services
Silver
Operation Freedom Paws
Bronze
Garlic City Kitty Rescue
Best Community Volunteer
Gold
Brandi Barnes
Silver
Janet Krulee
Bronze
Michelle Rodriguez
Best Computer Repair
Gold
Phone Pros & Repairs
Silver
Robot Shark
Bronze
Garlic City Computer and Networking
Best Concrete Contractor
Gold
McGraw and Sons Construction
Silver
Noah Concrete Corporation
Best Cosmetic Dentist
Gold
Jernell Escobar, DDS
Silver
Amy Tran, DDS
Bronze
Kinberly Antrim, DDS
Best CPA
Gold
Denise Taylor CPA
Silver
Suzanne Muller CPA
Bronze
Edward Chiang CPA
Best Criminal Defense Attorney
Gold
James H. Dozier Jr. Attorney at Law
Best Dance School
Gold
Lana’s Dance Studio
Silver
M.A.N.O.S. Gilroy
Bronze
Tradiciones Folklorico Academy
Best Day Care | Preschool
Gold
Rose’s Kiddie Corner
Silver
Blossoming Minds Preschool
Bronze
Sandra’s Daycare
Best Day Spa
Gold
Pure Lavender Day Spa & Salon
Silver
Beauty Heaven Spa
Bronze
Metamorphic Skincare
Best Dog Groomer
Gold
Cali Pet Goodz
Silver
Sassy Pooch & Kitty Too
Bronze
Peewee and Friends Mobile Pet Grooming
Best Dog Trainer
Gold
Operation Freedom Paws
Silver
Thriving Canine
Bronze
Primal Canine
Best Dry Cleaner
Gold
Lapels Cleaners
Silver
Classic Cleaners
Bronze
K – Cleaners
Best Electrician
Gold
Gilroy Electric
Silver
Bejarano Electric
Bronze
Cornejo Electric
Best Estate Attorney
Gold
The Law Offices of James A. Ward
Silver
Johnson & Simoni
Bronze
Premier Paralegal Services
Best Eyebrow Threading & Brow Studio
Gold
Rani Eyebrows
Silver
Karv
Best Family Dentist
Gold
Gilroy Pediatric Dentistry
Silver
Gilroy Dental Associates
Bronze
Jernell Escobar, DDS
Best Family Physician (and practice)
Gold
Amy Bannister, FNP
Silver
Samuel Wu, MD
Bronze
George Green
Best Financial Advisor
Gold
Liz Murillo, Edward Jones
Silver
Ellington Financial LLC
Best Flower Shop
Gold
Aparicio Flowers Inc
Silver
Friday Flowers
Bronze
Expressions Floral
Best General Contractor
Gold
Kent Construction
Silver
McGraw and Sons Construction
Bronze
Creative Building Solutions
Best Gym
Gold
Orange Theory Fitness
Silver
Loveher Gym
Bronze
Snap Fitness
Best Hair Salon
Gold
Hair Haven by Tiffany
Silver
Beauty Nest
Bronze
Blond Me Hair Studio
Best Handyman Service
Gold
Fred Sosa
Silver
KB Handyman Services
Bronze
Garlic City Handyman Services
Best Health Care Facility
Gold
Kaiser Permanente Gilroy Medical Offices
Silver
ChildSync Pediatric Occupational Therapy Services
Bronze
Valley Health Center Gilroy
Best Hotel | Motel
Gold
Hilton Garden Inn
Best House Cleaning Service
Gold
Maid Cleaners
Silver
LUV2CLN
Best House of Worship
Gold
St. Mary Parish
Silver
South Valley Community Church
Bronze
New Hope Community Church
Best HVAC Service
Gold
Prime Air Conditioning
Silver
Golden Bear Heating & Air
Bronze
Gilroy Heating & Air Conditioning
Best Insurance Agency
Gold
AAA Insurance
Silver
Farmers Insurance – Stefanie Pinheiro
Bronze
MC Insurance Services
Best Interior Design
Gold
Stefanie Okada-McCabe Inc.
Best Junk Removal
Gold
Gilroy Junk Removal
Silver
Big Ben Hauling
Bronze
Junk Gone Hauling
Best Kitchen & Bath Remodeling Company
Gold
Lazy Suzan Designs
Gold
Michael Marini Construction
Silver
Harris and Son Construction
Bronze
Creative Building Solutions
Best Landscaping Service
Gold
Alpine Landscapes
Silver
Down and Dirty Landscaping
Bronze
Tierra Bella Landscape Construction
Best Local Bank
Gold
Pinnacle Bank
Best Local Credit Union
Gold
Commonwealth Central Credit Union
Silver
PremierOne Credit Union
Bronze
Mirastar Federal Credit Union
Best Local Employer
Gold
Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park
Silver
Pop’s Public House
Silver
Rebekah Children’s Services
Bronze
Gavilan College
Best Locksmith
Gold
South County Lock & Safe
Silver
ACE Locksmith
Bronze
Gilroy Locksmith
Best Martial Arts Studio
Gold
AntDawg’s MMA Training Center
Silver
Legacy MMA & Fitness
Bronze
Taekwondo Jeongsin
Best Massage Services
Gold
Pure Lavender Day Spa & Salon
Silver
A1 Feet Spa
Bronze
Gilroy Health & Wellness Center
Best Medical Spa
Gold
Drippy Nurse Jess Med Boutique
Best Mental Health Provider | Therapist
Gold
Integrated Psychological Assessment Services
Best Motorcycle Repair
Gold
Gilroy Motorcycle Center
Best Moving Company
Gold
Mah’s Furniture Transport
Best Nail Salon
Gold
Royal Nails Spa
Silver
Pure Lavender Day Spa & Salon
Bronze
T2 nails
Best Notary Service
Gold
J. Marie Mobile Notary Services
Silver
Premier Paralegal Services
Bronze
Green Refund Tax Service
Best OB-Gyn (and practice)
Gold
Dr Elsie Madrid
Silver
Edillon Pamela A MD
Best Optometrist | Eye Care
Gold
Visual Edge Optometric Group
Silver
EyeC Optometry
Best Orthodontist
Gold
Wafelbakker Anderson Orthodontics
Silver
Gilroy Dental Associates
Bronze
Ming Tommy Tong, DDS
Best Painting Service
Gold
Diaz Professional Painting
Silver
Simmons Perfection Painting
Best Pediatrician (and practice)
Gold
Eric Wong, MD
Silver
Bhatia KK MD
Bronze
Joseph C. Barbara, MD
Best Personal Trainer (and facility)
Gold
Brianna Fortino, Legacy MMA & Fitness
Silver
Wes Piatt, Coast Range CrossFit
Bronze
Karen Fortino, Gilroy Health & Fitness
Best Pest Control
Gold
Western Way Termite & Pest Services
Silver
Z-Pro Pest Control
Bronze
Pest Tech Ready
Best Pharmacy
Gold
Medical Pavilion Pharmacy
Best Photographer
Gold
Sarah Alexandre Photography
Silver
Annastassia Photography
Bronze
Hawk Photography
Best Place to Take a Class
Gold
Gavilan College
Silver
Pacific Point Christian Schools
Bronze
Ciel Community Services
Best Plumber
Gold
Ernie’s plumbing
Silver
MG Plumbing & Rooter
Bronze
Top Hat Plumbing
Best Pool Service
Gold
JC’s Pools
Silver
Pacific Pool Company
Best Property Management Company
Gold
Skylake Management
Silver
Gagliardi Realty
Best Real Estate Agent – Commercial
Gold
Tina Tovar
Silver
Sylvia Rocha Bell
Bronze
Lisa Faria
Best Real Estate Agent – Residential
Gold
Martha Lizarraga
Silver
Danyelle Kjellesvig
Silver
Tina Tovar
Bronze
Lisa Faria
Best Real Estate Company
Gold
Coldwell Banker Realty
Silver
Intero Real Estate Services
Bronze
Century 21 Masters
Best Roofing Service
Gold
Jack Whelan Roofing
Silver
Apollo Roofing Company
Best School – Private
Gold
St Mary School
Silver
Pacific Point Christian school
Best School – Public
Gold
Christopher High School
Silver
Gilroy High School
Bronze
El Roble Elementary School
Best Senior Care | Assisted Living
Gold
Merrill Gardens
Best Shoe Repair
Gold
Wes’ Shoe & Boot Repair
Best Skin Care
Gold
DrippyNurseJess Med Boutique
Silver
Lorrie Ann Prado Health & Wellness
Bronze
Coastal Dermatology And Aesthetics
Best Solar Company
Gold
Sologic Solar
Best Storage Facility
Gold
Gilroy Self Storage
Silver
Extra Space Storage
Best Tattoo & Piercing Parlor
Gold
Cruz Creations Tattoo
Silver
Arise Ink Tattoo Studio
Bronze
The Rock Zone
Best Tire Shop
Gold
America’s Tire
Silver
JC Custom Tires and Wheels
Bronze
Gomez Tires
Best Towing Service
Gold
Bracco’s Towing
Silver
All Pro Towing & Recovery LLC
Best Tree Service
Gold
ABC Tree Service
Silver
Moki Smith Arborist
Bronze
Skylake Tree Service
Best Urgent Care
Gold
Valley Health Center Gilroy
Best Veterinary Office
Gold
Gilroy Veterinary Hospital
Silver
Orchard Veterinary Hospital
Bronze
Princevalle Pet Hospital
Best Waxing & Hair Removal
Gold
Brows & Below
Silver
European Wax Center
Bronze
Perfect Brow
Best Wedding Venue
Gold
Fortino Winery
Silver
Gilroy Lodge on the Hill
Silver
MOHI Ranch
Bronze
St Mary Church
Best Window & Door Company
Gold
South Valley Windows
Silver
Elite Tint Solutions
