Jan Peat won’t let the coveted pewter statuette of Ronald
McDonald out of her sight. The Ronald Award is one of the highest
honors McDonald’s gives to franchise owners who are committed to
community involvement.
Jan Peat won’t let the coveted pewter statuette of Ronald McDonald out of her sight. The Ronald Award is one of the highest honors McDonald’s gives to franchise owners who are committed to community involvement. Jan and her husband, Steve, who own three franchises in Gilroy, won the award more than a month ago, but the excitement hasn’t diminished.
“It’s so cool that it’s sitting in our bedroom,” Steve Peat said. “My wife doesn’t want to take her eyes off it.”
“When I am ready, I will bring him to the office,” Jan said, and then quickly added, “It’s not just one of those awards that they give all the time. It’s something that you may go a whole lifetime and not receive the award or know anyone who got it. It’s a very special award in the McDonald’s community. We were surprised and honored.”
The Peats were selected to receive the award out of 561 McDonald’s restaurants in the Pacific Sierra region.
“They do great things in the community that they serve,” said McDonald’s Field Service Manager Jennie Watt, who nominated them for the recognition. “They have a track record of what they’ve been doing. That’s why they have been awarded this Ronald Award.”
To start, Jan has served on the Chamber of Commerce board of directors for seven years and is a past chairperson, while Steve is a member of the Gilroy Rotary Club and president-elect of the Gilroy Foundation. Besides their time, they also donate prizes to silent and live auctions for fundraisers, host fundraisers at the restaurants, and lend their support in whatever ways they can.
Their philanthropic attitude began while growing up in the East Bay – Steve in Albany and Jan in Hayward – where they learned the importance of a strong work ethics from their parents.
“We come from modest backgrounds,” Steve Peat said. “We’re not folks who were born with a silver spoon in our mouths. We’ve had to earn everything we’ve ever gotten. When you come from that background, you appreciate everything you have.”
Steve and Jan met while attending California State University, East Bay. He was majoring in communications, and Jan was studying social sciences. They were married during their last year of college.
To help pay his way through college, Steve Peat began working as a crewperson under the golden arches in Berkeley in 1966. The job spurred a lifelong passion for McDonald’s, which Steve Peat calls the “quintessential all-American company.”
He worked his way up through the ranks in various management positions and then for McDonald’s corporation, eventually advising other people about how to start their franchises.
“I just saw great growth opportunities,” he said. “When it came time for us to settle down and not want to be transferred around, we decided that we wanted to get our own franchise. We put our name on the list along with everyone else.”
Steve and Jan had the opportunity to purchase their first McDonald’s in Sacramento in 1993. Jan left her job as a preschool teacher to join Steve in running the business.
“It was an opportunity for my wife to join me. It was a way to work as a family,” Steve Pete said.
Three years later, they sold their Sacramento restaurant, purchased three restaurants in Gilroy and moved to their new home in the heart of Gilroy. They immediately became involved in serving the community where they lived.
“Whatever happens when you move to Gilroy – that volunteerism spirit that happens – they got it,” said Jane Howard, executive director of the Gilroy Visitors Bureau. “When I think of philanthropic leaders in the community, I would put them right on top as one of the best.”
Foremost, the Peats are ardent business people. Soon after moving to Gilroy, they purchased two McDonald’s restaurants in Santa Cruz, one in Scotts Valley and another in Capitola. They continue to be on the lookout to add more restaurants to their collection.
The youngest of their two children, Cathy, 34, and her husband, Gabriel, help manage the restaurants and plan to buy their own McDonald’s franchise some day, carrying on the family tradition.
The Peats also mentor many of their employees, giving them opportunities to advance to leadership positions, as Steve did.
“I love the idea of taking younger people and watching them grow,” Jan said. “It’s really a great feeling to know that you have helped this person by coaching them. You watch them growing to be business people. I would like to do more of that. My goal is to see them succeed. I want them to be the best that they can be.”
The Peats channel their positive energy outside the restaurants as well. They are involved in community organizations and projects such as the Mujeres Pueden program, Gilroy sister cities program, Rebekah Children’s Services, Gilroy Visitors Bureau golf tournament, Community Solutions, Gilroy Pop Warner Football, Leadership Gilroy, Gilroy Little League, Gilroy Las Madres, Gilroy Memorial Day Parade, and the Downtown Car Show and Spaghetti Feed.
“It would be difficult to find a group or organization that has not benefited in some way by their generosity,” said Susan Valenta, president and CEO of the Gilroy Chamber of Commerce. “From a business perspective, they are role models from a local corporate level, and that is clear from the recognition the McDonald’s Corporation has bestowed on them. Gilroy is fortunate to have this dynamic team as part of our community.”
The Peats also work to benefit charities outside of Gilroy. In Capitola, they sponsor Capitola Chamber of Commerce activities, such as Surfin’ with Santa. In this unique event, Santa surfs onto Capitola Beach the Saturday after Thanksgiving, along with his reindeer. The Peats supply the goody bags for Santa to give to the children.
The Peats are also founding members of the Spring Lamb Barbecue that raises money for the Stanford Ronald McDonald House. Heading into its eighth year, the barbecue is held at Campo di Bocce in Los Gatos and raises roughly $80,000 each year.
“They are just wonderful, outgoing and caring people,” said Frank Bisceglia, chair of this year’s Spring Lamb Barbecue. “They come in and contribute in any way that you would ask them to help and in a way that things just get done. They don’t look for anyone to raise the flag. They are just wonderful people to know.”
