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Friday, August 08, 2003
Aren’t small towns great? Here’s another example: ChildSpree,
a joint effort between service clubs, businesses and just plain folks,
gets together each summer to make sure underprivileged students in Morgan
Hill have new clothes and supplies for school.
So far this year, the group has raised $23,000 - more is needed so get out your wallets - that will help 200 kids on a shopping “spree” Saturday morning at Mervyn’s in Cochrane Plaza. Mervyn’s is a co-sponsor of the event, supplying employees to help, a 10 percent discount on clothes (even those already marked down).
Gina Six is leading the affair this year, taking over after the recent death of Ken Tougas, a deeply committed volunteer who began the program in Morgan Hill. On Thursday Six and her volunteers, may of those from the Kiwansis Club, stuffed backpacks with school supplies.
The Lion’s Club will cook their famous pancake breakfast for children waiting to shop - all 200 can’t deluge the store at once. Volunteers, taking a list of clothes, shoes and accessories the children need, along with sizes all prepared by the parents, will go along with the kids to make their choices. Volunteers are there to guide: “No, a $100 pair of shoes is perhaps not the best way to spend your $100 back to school money; what about these over here ...”
To raise money for ChildSpree, organizers held a rib feed - co-sponsored by Jesse Nazzal of Betsy’s Restaurant - that raised $5,000 and Rotary Club held a luncheon, which raised $4,000.
Abbott Labs, Associated Concrete, Country Golf Course, Betsy’s Restaurant, the San Martin and Morgan Hill Lion’s Clubs, and the Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center all pitched in to help.
In Morgan Hill people see a need and go right out and fix it. The expected success of this year’s ChildSpree is a fitting tribute to Tougas who looked out for everybody and whom everybody loved in turn.
Details: to volunteer call 776-2791 or 776-3222. For donations call 782-8883 or 776-3222. Details may also be obtained by sending an e-mail to Six at gina@yourmorganhill.com
Community support for ChildSpree another example of why MH is so greatFriday, August 15, 2003
EDITOR:
The South Bay Alliance wishes to thank each and every person who helped to make this year's ChildSpree program a success. Yes, small towns are great!
ChildSpree turned out to be South Bay Alliance's inaugural event, and we are extremely grateful to the Morgan Hill community for its generous support of the program. The past few years ChildSpree was headed heart and soul by the late Ken Tougas. Children and projects that help children were near and dear to him. While many of us have worked side by side with Ken in the past, it was difficult without his presence this year.
One of the nicest things that has occurred during the first half of this year, from Ken's diagnosis, his passing and all the way through to the ChildSpree event has been the overwhelming love and support that has flowed from the community. Everyone knew Ken did a lot for all of us, but as each day passes, more and more people realize the loss this community has had with his passing, and they step up to the plate to help fill the void.
From the Candlelight Support Vigil to the culmination of the ChildSpree event, members of this community from all walks of life have come forward and absolutely shone in their efforts. One of Ken's dreams was to see “everyone working together, there's too many factions.” A collective pat on the back goes out to each and every person who contributed, money, time, facilities and manpower to make the ChildSpree event and other many other efforts happen in the past few months where Ken was missed. Together we're making dreams come true.
For example, at the ChildSpree event we had community members from the Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions from Morgan Hill and San Martin, City of Morgan Hill employees, members from First Baptist, the Fire Dept., Abbott Laboratories, Target, El Toro Youth Center, our family and friends, and many people from the community at large who answered the call for shoppers for the children in news articles they read in this very newspaper. From big businesses to small businesses, church to individuals, city to club members, all came together to work on a common goal; to make a difference in the life of a child.
What our volunteers don't necessarily realize is their donation of time impacts so many more people, like the families of the children they assisted, and the camaraderie that was shared with others in attendance. We had volunteers thanking us, children thanking us, parents thanking us, but it is us, who should be thanking you. We just put out the call, you all made it happen.
While space will not allow us to publicly acknowledge every single person who contributed there are a few that we must recognize. First, is Ken Tougas who approached Dana Lee at Mervyn's a few years ago and started this effort.
Next, is Dana Lee who gives generously of her time and energy and her staff each year. Lori Escobar from El Toro helped us secure the program this year, and was very generous with her time and staff to pull all the pieces together; and then there is Jesse Nazzal.
Jesse (owner of Betsy's Restaurant) doesn't want any publicity, but Jesse was the one piece of the puzzle that made our two largest fundraising events possible. Jesse, his staff and their customers are to be highly commended for their overwhelming dedication to ChildSpree. Thank you also to The Times for the coverage of the program and for helping us to solicit donations from the community.
We wish everyone could have seen the smiling faces of all who were involved, and experienced the gratitude of the parents whose children received the shopping spree, and the hugs and smiles of the children themselves. The littlest ones especially seemed so proud of their goodies and couldn't wait to show their families what they had picked out “all by myself.”
Lastly, but most important of all to remember is the children. We hope the children will start off this school year full of hopes and dreams, and find it within themselves to fulfill those dreams. They have a wonderful community behind them to help them succeed. Thank you to all the folks who do make Morgan Hill, a great small town.
Gina Six and others in the South Bay Alliance Gang, Morgan Hill
Childspree seeks cash, volunteers
Tuesday, August 05, 2003
By Cheeto Barrera
ChildSpree and the Morgan Hill community have raised $23,000 toward helping
200 underprivileged children to be outfitted with back-to-school clothes
and supplies.
Still more help is needed - both for volunteers and cash. The goal for this year is $25,000.
In preparation for Saturday’s ChildSpree, volunteers will get an early start Thursday by stuffing backpacks with school supplies at Mervyn’s, a co-sponsor.
According to Gina Six, who is helping to organize the event, the supplies will be basic materials such as lined paper, binders, folders and writing utensils.
The shopping spree will be held on Saturday at 7 a.m. For two hours Mervyn’s will be only open for participants. According to Six, parents will bring their children to the store where they will be teamed up with a volunteer who will take them throughout the store.
“Each chaperone will be handed a $100 gift card to shop with,” said Six. “Mervyn’s is really good about doing their markdowns prior to the event, and they give us a 10 percent discount on all ChildSpree purchases.”
Mervyn’s will be fully staffed during the shopping spree.
Because of the volume of children involved, not everyone can participate at once. During the time that children are waiting to shop, the Morgan Hill Lion’s Club will offer a pancake breakfast.
Six said that before hand, parents will make a list of what clothes are needed. They will give sizes and any other information.
Six said this would be the event’s first year without volunteer stalwart Ken Tougas, who died May 15 and had been the event’s guiding force.
“South Bay Alliance was formed with assistance from, and in memory of, our dear departed friend Ken Tougas,” Six said. “One of the goals of SBA is to assist Ken's friends in carrying on his dreams for the community.”
To raise money for ChildSpree, two different fund raisers were held. The first, a July 13 Rib Feed, sponsored by the Morgan Hill Kiwanis Club, offered food prepared by Betsy’s Restaurant and music by Dave Barrett's School of Blues featuring John Garcia. The Rib Feed raised $5,000.
The second was a luncheon held by the Rotary Club on July 23, where $4,000 was raised.
Local business have also been helping to raise money for ChildSpree, including Abbott Labs, Associated Concrete, Country Golf Course, Betsy’s Restaurant, the San Martin and Morgan Hill Lion’s Clubs, the Kiwanis Club and the Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center.
Participants will be those who had previously been notified by organizers. Six says that if they are notified by a school that a child was missed, than a special shopping day will be set up.
Volunteers are still needed. Six says that volunteers will take the children through the store, and need to arrive at Mervyn’s by 6:45 a.m. All shopping must be completed by 9 a.m. so the store can open for the regular day.
Donations will still be taken.
Details to volunteer call 776-2791 or 776-3222. For donations call 782-8883 or 776-3222. Details may also be obtained by sending an email to Six at gina@yourmorganhill.com.
Rib dinner at concert benefits back-to-school ChildSpree
Tuesday, July 08, 2003
- Special to the Times
The South Bay Alliance will present a rib feed prepared by Jesse Nazzal
of Betsy's Restaurant on Sunday, July 13, benefiting ChildSpree. As an
added attraction, the event will coincide with a free jazz concert at
the community center’s outdoor amphitheater.
ChildSpree is a back-to-school clothing shopping spree for the local children most in need and paid for through fundraisers and donations. This year’s ChildSpree will be held Aug. 9.
Gina Six, a ChildSpree organizer, said this would be the event’s first year without volunteer stalwart Ken Tougas, who died May 15 and who had been the event’s guiding force.
“South Bay Alliance was formed with assistance from, and in memory of, our dear departed friend Ken Tougas,” Six said. “One of the goals of SBA is to assist Ken's friends in carrying on his dreams for the community.”
This year’s event is being met with enthusiasm. Steve Kudo is working to help set up this year’s event. He says that he is looking forward it, but there is a lot of work.
“We under the gun with Ken’s passing,” he said. “We’re scrambling, but we’re doing the best we can.”
Kudo worked last year’s ChildSpree and says it was a fun time.
“The kids had a great time, the escorts had fun, all in all it was a great experience for all”
The Rib Feed will be held along with the second of the Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center's free summer concerts on Sunday, July 13, from 4-6 p.m. Dave Barrett's School of Blues featuring John Garcia, will play in the outdoor amphitheater at Dunne Avenue and Monterey Road.
ChildSpree is co-sponsored by Mervyn's Morgan Hill. The store provides backpacks, a 10 percent discount on all ChildSpree purchases during the event and offers store and employees’ help during the two hours the children shop for $100 worth of new school clothes. Each year, the goal is to provide for 200 children.
A minimum $10 donation each for each rib dinner includes Jesse’s popular ribs, baked beans, Jesse's one-of-a-kind garlic bread and a green salad. Beverages will also be available for purchase. The barbecue will be set up in the parking lot, so rib enthusiasts can either take dinners home or stay and enjoy the concert.
Only a limited number of tickets will be available at the event so buying tickets in advance is suggested. Tickets will be available at Betsy's Restaurant in Tennant Station; Cochrane Storage, 411 Woodview Ave.; San Pedro Storage, 222 San Pedro Ave.; Jody's Junction, 35 E. First St., Heritage Bank, 18625 Sutter Blvd.; Morgan Hill Times, 30 E. Third St.; or the MH Community Center (ask for Laura), Monterey and Dunne.
The SBA also welcomes volunteer chaperones for a child at the Aug. 9 ChildSpree event. Please phone one of the above numbers to volunteer.
Checks for donations to ChildSpree are welcome and should be made payable to South Bay Alliance - ChildSpree, P.O. Box 1179, Morgan Hill, CA 95038. Anyone with a service or product that could add to the event is encouraged to call.
For further details, visit www.YourMorganHill.com/ChildSpree
To reserve barbecue tickets by phone, call 776-2792 (message phone) or
776-3222. voice).
Ken Tougas - volunteer extraordinaire
Tuesday, May 20, 2003
There are some people a community just can’t do without. Ken Tougas
was such a guy.
When Tougas died Thursday, he left such a massive, gaping hole in the volunteer community that it will take 20 people to replace him. There was hardly a senior or child-related event or project that he wasn’t instigator of, chief cook and bottle-washer of, fund-raiser or bush-beater for.
The man was amazing. Morgan Hill is fortunate in its volunteers but no one was more involved in more things than Ken. At age 66, his volunteer resumé, amassed since he moved to Morgan Hill in 1983, covers two single-spaced pages, with one entry per line. And the list is probably incomplete. No one, least of all Ken, can remember everything he did for us.
Tougas was the guiding force behind Toys for Tots and ChildSpree. He was a founding board member of the Community Action Group (CAG) which serves the seniors in Morgan Hill and Gilroy. He was a member of Kiwanis, of the Morgan Hill Lion's Club, worked with the Brown Bag program that distributes groceries to senior shut-ins on fixed incomes.
He supported the John Boccardo Family Living Center in San Martin, transitional housing for families.
He was a board member for the Morgan Hill Grange Hall, but also acted as rental agent, janitorial service, repair person, visionary, procurement agent and cook.
He arranged for youth dances at the Grange for Cornerstone, the Youth Advisory Committee and Youth Empowered for Success (YES) groups. Ken arranged for Jesse Nazzal from Betsy's Restaurant to cook for the seniors on long weekends when the senior nutrition program would be closed for a holiday.
An incomplete list of projects and groups that have benefited from the Tougas touch includes El Toro Youth Center, MACSA, Vials for Life, Senior Advisory Committee, Downtown Association, Children's Safety Fair, SHARE program, Second Harvest Food Bank, Council On Aging, FBLA at Live Oak, Croy Fire Relief efforts, and many city boards and commissions over the years.
He was behind Thanksgiving food baskets for needy families, active in Reach Out, Veteran's Affairs, Healthy Kids, Retired Senior Volunteers, Senior Legal Assistance, Community Solutions, AARP and the Charter School of MH.
Tougas also served on the board for the Bridge Counseling Center.
The community will come together Wednesday to honor this man and celebrate his life. The best way to honor him is to jump in and help keep his treasured projects going. Pick one and sign up. Give Tougas a living memorial.
Thanks, Ken. We’ll really, really miss you.
Here are some ways to help fill the void:
Volunteers are always needed to tutor the Boccardo Family Living Center’s children in computers, English and math. 6-8 p.m. Monday through Thursday. 686-1300, ext. 22.
Toys for Tots and ChildSpree are seasonal (December and August). Watch for calls for help. And be sure to answer.
On Wednesday the City Council will honor Tougas with an official proclamation citing his years of service to the community. His son, Scott will attend in his place. 7 p.m., May 21, City Council Chambers, City Hall, 17555 Peak Ave. Details: 779-7271.