Community Spirit Awards to be given to sisters, organization and
business
Gilroy – For those who give to their community, the community is about to give something back.
Local philanthropists and organizations will be honored by the Gavilan College board of trustees this morning with 2007 Gilroy Community Spirit Awards during a Gilroy Chamber of Commerce breakfast. The college will recognize sisters Sue Thurman and Peggy Ghysels, members of the Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center, and Michael McKeever for their contributions to the community.
Thurman and Ghysels, former co-owners of Country Clutter, were chosen because of their “generous” gifts to the community, including to the Gilroy Unified School District, Rebekah’s Children’s Services and Relay for Life. In addition, charity fundraisers such as “Cruiza Palooza” car show and “Classy Chasis” car raffle set them apart, judges wrote in a press release.
“Our philosophy has always been that we need to share and give back to the community because they’ve been so good to us,” Thurman said.
True to that philosophy, Ghysels said that they will continue to perform community service despite their business closing after 12 years. Next on her plate is baking 28 pumpkin pies for the Salvation Army.
“We just always were that type of people,” she said. “If people need things, we’ve always been there.”
The wildlife center was honored because its “educational programs encourage a peaceful coexistence between civilization and native wildlife,” judges wrote. The organization gained attention recently for its work with animals orphaned by the Lick Fire in Henry W. Coe State Park and with Orion, a golden eagle found injured on a golf course.
A representative from the organization could not be reached for comment.
The college chose McKeever’s Dentistry for Children as the business recipient of the awards because of his work with local health and youth organizations. It was also chosen because his office provides free and low-cost dental care for poor local families, judges wrote.
“Rather than have big advertisements, I’d rather donate to the local soccer teams and baseball teams, to support the families that have supported me, (and to) keep those funds in the community,” McKeever said. “I think Gilroy is great and we need to help each other and make it a better community.”
Christopher Quirk covers education and public safety for the Dispatch. Contact him at 847-7240 or cq****@************ch.com.
