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Rebekah Children's Services, NonProfit of the Year Rebekah Children’s Services’ mission is to see the community flourish by building pathways to hope, happiness and well-being. They offer a number of programs to help their clients such as a foster care program through which 14 children were adopted into loving homes. They operate a Family Resource Center where they teach parenting classes and literacy programs. With the creation of Kneaded Bakery in 2012, about 50 apprentices have moved into higher paying fulltime employment or have transitioned into higher education following the completion of apprenticeships. They also operate a Non-Public School where students annually benefit from the differentiated instruction, therapeutic support and small class sizes. Cafe 152 Bread Company, Small Business of the Year Cafe 152 Bread Company owners, Bruce and Audrey Haller have contributed to organizations such San Jose Conservation Core; Rebekah’s Children Services’ Kneaded Bakery; Sobrato High School’s FFA Ag Boosters; Miller Red Barn, Gilroy Demonstration Garden and the Gilroy Chamber’s Business and Education Committee’s Rock-the-Mock, along with other student related organizations. They believe that it is important to provide for children and educational programs. They believe it is important to give back to your community and help people and organizations strive to be successful in all they do. Joyce Duarte, Firmann B. Voorhies Volunteer of the Year Joyce Duarte has been a volunteer with the Chamber of Commerce for more than 26 years. She has served on the Ambassador Committee for the entire time. You can often see her at the monthly After-Hours Mixers and Chamber breakfasts checking people in, selling raffle tickets, and doing whatever it takes to create a successful event. She is seen at most ribbon cuttings as well. She always assists at the annual Garlic Festival helping to check-in volunteers and directing them to the appropriate beer booth to work their designated shifts. Joyce believes it’s important to give back to the community because there are so many people who need help. Joyce is the owner of Joyce’s Col- lectibles which is located inside Collective Past Antiques. She has been in the antique business for 30 years. When asked who inspires her most, she said, “All the volunteers before me especially Erwin and Barbara Boggs.” GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN APRIL/MAY 2018 Michael Kong, Susan Valenta Youth Leadership Award Michael is currently a senior at Dr. TJ Owens Gilroy Early College Academy and his greatest passion in life is improving the lives of others. Whether that is helping others with homework, inspiring them through his music, listening to their troubles, or praying with them, he tries to make time to pay it forward to his friends and family as much as he can. Michael says, “Serving others fills my life with endless purpose as I know I will never run out of people to help. Michael’s advice to others is, don’t make life more complicated than it needs to be; simplify your tasks into small steps, and you’ll see that you can break down your mountain of aspirations into smaller, less intimidating steps. Michael says, “As you take care of each small task, keep a positive mindset and don’t allow a small setback to stunt your progress.” gmhtoday.com 35