GILROY
– They serve the Gilroy community year-round, filling their
respective niches in a way that deserves to be recognized. Last
night, an outstanding business, organization and volunteer received
that recognition from Gavilan College in the form of a Community
Spirit Award.
GILROY – They serve the Gilroy community year-round, filling their respective niches in a way that deserves to be recognized. Last night, an outstanding business, organization and volunteer received that recognition from Gavilan College in the form of a Community Spirit Award.
Since 1999, Gavilan has honored local stewards who make significant contributions to the community. Board of Trustees President Laura Perry and Gavilan College President Steve Kinsella presented the awards during the Chamber of Commerce Mixer held at Gavilan.
“I think it’s wonderful. It means a lot to me to receive this award because part of my mission statement is to give back to the community,” said Michele Campbell, who received an award for her business, The Wize Owl bookstore. “So in the 11 months we’ve been open, to receive this award kind of justifies that we’ve done what I set out to do.”
Campbell has lived in Gilroy for five years and opened The Wize Owl because she saw a need in the community for a quality bookstore. She used to work in Silicon Valley at an electronics company she owned along with her husband Duane.
Gavilan chose to honor The Wize Owl because it offers personal attention and is an example of how much a new business can contribute to community life, said Jan Bernstein Chargin, public information officer for Gavilan.
Campbell’s attitude sums up the spirit of all three award recipients: “I’ve gotten so much out of Gilroy, I just wanted to give back,” she said.
The organization recipient, Community Solutions, serves Gilroy by providing education and counseling services to youth, families and the elderly, including foster children and the mentally ill.
“It’s always a particular honor when you’re honored within the community you serve,” said Erin O’Brien, chief executive officer.
The nonprofit organization is a strong advocate for domestic violence victims and has done much to educate the public, including reaching out to the Spanish-speaking community.
“I’d like to think it was also reflective of the perceived quality of the agency as a whole,” O’Brien said.
Besides offering domestic violence education and support, Gavilan noted that Community Solutions helps those with drug and alcohol problems, teen parents and anyone needing assistance in a personal crisis.
The individual’s award went to Connie Rogers, president of the Gilroy Historical Society and board member for the United Way Silicon Valley representing South County.
“The Historical Society has a wonderful relationship with Gavilan College,” Rogers said.
In 1989, the society saved an East Sixth Street Victorian-era house that was due to be torn down and moved it to the Gavilan College campus, where carpentry students restored it. Now, the Mayock House serves as a faculty lounge and meeting area.
Rogers, who was named Woman of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce in 1980, has long been volunteering in Gilroy. She sat on the parks and recreation committee, the planning committee and served as a councilwoman from 1993 to 97.
“Maybe that just shows longevity as someone who’s been involved in a lot of community activities,” Rogers said.
