Man, Woman, Volunteer, Small Business and Large Business of the
Year celebrated at recognition dinner for their community
involvement
Gilroy – One man works behind the scenes, silently hanging Christmas lights and building booths for charity. Another collects food and toys for the needy. Two sisters raise funds for breast cancer research, while another woman works to raise money for artists and athletes. A teacher devoted to her students and a hospital committed to serving its patients, all have one thing in common: All were honored for their community involvement at the San Juan Oaks Golf Club for the 2005 Gilroy Chamber of Commerce Recognition Dinner Saturday night.
“I think the people were what made it so much fun,” said retired teacher Frank Locicero who attended his first awards dinner. “It was really well done.”
More than 315 people attended the gala event, which raised about $7,000 for local scholarships.
Locicero was there to watch a former sixth-grade student, Karen La Corte, receive the Woman of the Year award.
“She was very much as she is now,” he explained. “She was definitely a leader and an innovator. You could rely on Karen for anything. And I’ve noticed she’s carried that with her throughout her life. She really cares about people.”
A member of the Arts and Culture Commission, La Corte was honored for her efforts organizing the 2005 Just Believe fashion show, which benefit the Leadership Gilroy Foundation and for raising money for various Gilroy baseball teams.
“There are some people in this room who I think I am a fashion-show, leopard-skin diva,” La Corte teased the audience during her acceptance speech. “This is like my opening night on Broadway.”
Looking every inch the fashionplate, La Corte’s meticulous attention to detail is apparent both in her clothing and her charity work, making each endeavor as successful as the Dolce and Cabana dress she wore.
“The most fulfilling thing in life you will do is to give back to others,” she said.
One man who knows a lot about giving back is Bruce Williams, the 2005 Man of the Year.
After arriving in Gilroy 15 years ago, Williams hasn’t stopped to rest since.
The manager of Heritage Bank divides his time between volunteering for the Gilroy Rotary Club, the Gilroy Exchange Club, the American Red Cross and Rebekah Childrens Services.
Williams also can be found collecting food for St. Joseph’s charities, or helping at the Glen View Elementary School’s reading program.
“When it was first announced I was very humbled and speechless,” he said. “It’s a real honor and a privilege to be the 2005 Man of the Year.”
He joked to that volunteers are invaluable.
“Don’t ever question the value of volunteers,” he said. “The Titanic was built by professionals.”
Janice Krahenbuhl and Joe Duarte were recognized for their consistent and quiet contributions to Gilroy.
Krahenbuhl worked for more than four decades in the Gilroy Unified School District, most of which were at Rucker School as a math resource teacher. She is retiring in June and many of her former students and their children attended the awards dinner to honor their beloved teacher.
Known for her sometimes quirky assignments, Krahenbuhl gives new meaning to hands-on teaching, taking students on field trips to cemeteries and restaurants for a taste of Gilroy history and culture. Many of her former students have gone on to become educators as well.
For her work, she was honored with two standing ovations from the audience.
Duarte who is known more for his work ethic, than his conversation accepted the award with just two sentences, neither of which mentioned his volunteer efforts.
“I think that was Joe you saw,” explained Susan Valenta, president of the Chamber of Commerce. “He just has a servant’s heart.”
Every year, Duarte stores the Chamber of Commerce’s Christmas decorations at his home and helps put them and take them down. And for six days straight, Duarte will help the Brew Crew construct booths, check IDs and deliver supplies at the annual Gilroy Garlic Festival.
The Chamber also recognized Country Clutter as the small business of the year, and Saint Louise Regional Hospital as the large business of the year.
Both businesses have given to the community in their own way. For example, through the sister act of Sue Thurman and Peggy Ghysels at Country Clutter, the store has raised funds for breast cancer research and donated proceeds of its gift wrapping service to Rebekah Childrens Service.
And Saint Louise has overcome financial difficulties to become one of the premier health care facilities in South County, and donating millions of dollars in community benefits.
“This was everybody’s shining moments,” Valenta said.
