gmhTODAY 13 gmhToday March April 2017 | Page 34

TEACHERS’ AID COALITION EVENT SUPPORTS PUBLIC EDUCATION Greeting Line included: Cecelia Ponzini (Morgan Hill Woman of the Year 2014) Theresa Kiernan (Rotary Club of Morgan Hill President), Ron Woolf (Morgan Hill Man of the Year 2017, Board of Directors Morgan Hill Mushroom Mardi Gras), Donna Ruebusch (President of the Morgan Hill Unified School District Board of Trustees), John Horner (Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce CEO), Steve Tate, (Mayor of Morgan Hill), Larry Carr (Morgan Hill City Council), Rene Spring (Morgan Hill City Council,) Rich Constantine (Morgan Hill City Council), Mike Wasserman (Santa Clara County Supervisor District 1), Jon Hatakeyama (Teachers Aid Coalition Founder and Morgan Hill Man of the Year 2009) On February 11, attendees to the annual Teachers Aid Coalition’s “Chocolate & Wine for Valentines” fundraiser were welcomed by a greeting line formed by community leaders of Morgan Hill at the Morgan Hill Community & Cultural Center. Guests enjoyed delectable foods from local restaurants, and wines from nearby wineries while sampling delicious chocolates. People wandered about silent auction tables with items ranging from opera tickets to sports memorabilia. One item drew much interest—a two- bottle set of Trump Wines. Proceeds from this event will be used to provide local public school teachers with much- needed classroom supplies. LEARNING & LOVING EDUCATION CENTER ESPERANZA YANIRA,LANGUAGE LAB COORDINATOR Born in El Salvador, Esperanza Yanira, the Language Lab Coordinator at the Learning and Loving Education Center (LLEC) is a motivated and passionate person. Esperanza began working at the Center in 2016, helping other students improve their English language skills. She also attends San Jose State University, as a Social Work major and is doing her internship at Community Solutions and the one program that serves youth at risk of committing gang related crimes. Esperanza is married and a mother of three children. Esperanza remembers her first job in the United States as a housekeeper, and how far she has come since then. She is proud to say just how much her life has changed since she first came to the Learning and Loving Center as a student in 2004; the Learning and Loving Center helped her gain the strength and motivation to further pursue a higher education. “I want to be an inspiration for my children, but also for other immigrant women.” 34 GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN MARCH/APRIL 2017 Esperanza Yanira gmhtoday.com