On the Town: Luncheon benefits students on a road to success
I’d say the Glendale Latino Assn. lived up to its mission statement last week when it presented its annual awards and installed officers during a luncheon at the Oakmont Country Club.
Its purpose is to raise scholarship funds for local students, promote activities that improve education and bring together business and professional people.
Well, the banquet hall was packed, which should help fund scholarships being presented in May.
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Miryam Finkelberg, the organization’s president, welcomed everyone, and Fire Chief Greg Fish conducted the flag salute. Rev. Al Garcilazo gave the invocation and Councilman Zareh Sinanyan offered greetings from the city, which, he quipped, was a moot point as half of the city was there.
Amy Navarrete, past president, served as a gracious master of ceremonies. Guest speaker was Martha Rivera, outreach director at Glendale Adventist Medical Center and an instructor at Glendale Community College. She talked about the importance of helping students get an education, which benefits the whole community.
The event culminated with the presentation of the 2017 Organization of the Year to the Verdugo Jobs Center, accepted by Judith Velasco, workforce development administrator; 2017 Man of the Year to Glendale Police Chief Robert Castro; and 2017 Woman of the Year to Nancy Guillen, past president of the Glendale Latino Assn.
The Verdugo Jobs Center is a full-service career center that provides training and education paid for by grant funding. The Workforce Development Board oversees the job center.
Last year, more than 30,000 customers visited the center. A good portion of the people being helped are troubled youth and those challenged by disabilities. The board also conducts individual business needs assessments and coordinates services to assist businesses to ensure that potential layoffs are averted. Eighty-eight jobs were saved in fiscal year 2015-16.
“Our mission is to transform lives,” Velasco said, adding that a major part of that success is working with everyone attending the luncheon — partners in business, labor, the school district, the local college and community organizations.
“It really is a team effort, a community effort to make sure that we maintain economic stability, so I thank you,” she said.
Chief Castro began his law enforcement career with the Glendora Police Department in 1985. He worked his way up through the ranks and was named police chief in 2011. He is a graduate of the West Point Military Academy Law Enforcement Leadership Program and a graduate of California POST Command College.
He became chief of the Glendale Police Department in 2013. He has focused the department’s resources to address homeless issues, traffic safety, technology advancement and, most important of all, he encourages personal and professional development.
Castro said he appreciated City Manager Scott Ochoa’s support of the department’s growth as well as his personal growth, helping Castro find a balance between work and home life. He thanked the audience for the honor, but said he accepted on everyone’s behalf.
“I am very appreciative of all of your support you give the department each and every day,” he said.
Guillen is the chief executive of True Integrity Insurance & Payroll Services in Burbank. She started volunteering 32 years ago as a classroom mom and continued to give time to the PTA, booster clubs, chaperoning and working closely with athletics in many schools and community programs.
She is also involved with the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, Fiesta of the Spanish Horse, Glendale Kiwanis Club, Family Promise of the Verdugos and the Burbank Chamber of Commerce. She continues to support less-fortunate families and the homeless.
Guillen said she appreciated those in the audience for their support of the Glendale Latino Assn.
“We strive to help the students of the community, and, although I take this award, this award belongs to all of you for always supporting the [Glendale Latino Assn.]. Big or small, it makes a difference,” she said. “It allows us to give these funds to the students.”
Presenters were Joseph Stitick, president of the Downtown Glendale Assn., which received the 2016 Organization of the Year; Deputy Chief Carl Povilaitis with the Glendale Police Department, who was the 2016 Man of the Year; and Judee Kendall, president and chief executive of the Glendale Chamber of Commerce and the 2016 Woman of the Year.
The installation was performed by former Glendale Mayor and Los Angeles Superior Court judge Gus Gomez. The 2017 officers taking oath were Finkelberg, returning for a second term as president; Guillen, vice president of scholarships; Navarrete, vice president of marketing; Darlene Sanchez, vice president of membership; Daniel Cabrera, secretary; Monica Molina, treasurer; and directors Maria G. Gandera and Albert Hernandez. Mercy Velazquez, past president and member of the advisory board, was home recuperating from an illness.
Funds raised will go toward scholarships for local high school graduating seniors and Glendale Community College students.
Recipients will be honored during a breakfast starting at 7:30 a.m. on May 18 at Oakmont Country Club. To date, the group has raised more than $144,000.
For more information, visit glendalelatinoassociation.com.
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JOYCE RUDOLPH can be reached at rudolphjoyce10@gmail.com.