ARC: Garibay honored as volunteer, Carrillo as employee at annual luncheon
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
Published: December 26, 2008
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula Times
Clients, supporters and employees of ARC Ventura County were lauded at a recent awards luncheon highlighting the organization that serves developmentally disabled adults and those who offered outstanding service. Held December 11 at Spanish Hills Country Club, ARC Executive Director and Santa Paula City Councilman Fred Robinson greeted the crowd, noting, “This is a special time of the year to honor those” who have shown devotion and service to ARC.
ARC Board President Pauline Powers presented the Hazel Kay Benefactor Award, named in honor of the late longtime Santa Paula resident and ARC activist. The award was created as a “permanent tribute to and in memory of Hazel,” who gave so much time, energy and support to ARC. The award, said Powers, “ensures Hazel’s memory... not that anyone could ever forget” the often ribald Kay.
Kiwanis International Division 42, which has created four Aktion Clubs with 140 developmentally disabled members and often spearheads ARC projects and programs, was the recipient of the award, accepted by Lieutenant Governor Wes Miller, who noted that Kiwanis and Aktion is “very proud to give back to the community.”
The Outstanding Community Service Award went to Albert Garibay of Santa Paula, who presenter Harriet Weigel, an ARC director, said “has volunteered so much of his time to help the Arc of Ventura County and the people we support.” Garibay - who Weigel said has a passion for serving ARC clients in Santa Paula and Ventura - is a “complex man, a diamond in the rough” with the “sensitivity to see beyond the exterior of an individual and sense their inner feelings.”
His first visit to ARC was as Santa, and “I saw the tears in his eyes as he watched a participant eager to see Santa stand in his wheelchair and reach out to him.” Garibay became “glued to ARC and his newfound friends,” and Weigel said Garibay “serves with vigor, never says no, and constantly finds ways to promote Arc in the community. We love him, and so do our participants.”
Other recipients of the Outstanding Community Service Award were Bert and Linda Lamb, Baron Brothers Nursery, and Janis Hansen of Janis’ Art Workshop.
Eddie Carrillo, a job coach at Santa Paula’s Heritage Valley Program for four years, was the recipient of an Outstanding Employee Award. The manager of the mobile auto detailing business, “Eddie always presents himself in a professional manner” and, Powers noted, “he works as a team player and gets along well with everyone he comes in contact with.”
Carrillo demonstrates kindness and respect toward his crew, “as well as caring for their needs,” and Powers said the mobile auto detailing crew would soon be starting a “new and very important project... working with the City of Santa Paula to provide graffiti removal three days a week” to supplement the ongoing SPPD Graffiti Abatement program.
“Eddie loves being part of the community, and is always a driving force in seeing that Heritage Valley Arc is involved in local community activities,” such as the Fillmore and Santa Paula Relays for Life, Kiwanis Citrus Parade and Festival, Optimist Club Christmas Parade and other community events. Powers said this year Carrillo “instructed our drill team - Heritage Valley Arc Angels - and marched with them in the Christmas parade,” just one example of how he “continuously goes above and beyond his job responsibilities.”
Other recipients of the Outstanding Employee Award were Sheryl Abayon, Amber Lundeen, Christina Velasquez and Lupe Vitela.
Outstanding Community Employer honors were given to Jim & Rob’s Fresh Grill and Smart & Final stores in Oxnard and Ventura.
