Woman of the Year started ‘No Child Goes Unfed’ at local high schools
Published in the Jan. 22, 2014 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Robert Airoldi
Photo by Robert Airoldi
Cecelia Ponzini is the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce 2014 Woman of the Year and will be honored with other award winners at the Celebrate Morgan Hill dinner Jan. 25.
Even when she had nothing to give, Cecelia Ponzini gave. Now, with the means to give more, she has stepped up her charitable giving. And for those efforts and more, she was named the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce’s 2014 Woman of the Year.
“I was a single parent raising four children,” said Ponzini, who married her husband Gary 10 years ago and is now the chief financial officer at Ponzini’s Community Garage on Monterey Road in north Morgan Hill. “I grew up in foster care in Southern California. I always felt nothing was really mine. I never felt stable. I know what it’s like not to have.”
She sits on the United Way Silicon Valley Board of Directors, is an active member of the El Toro Community Advisory Board known as Los Amigos del Toro, and is in this year’s Leadership Morgan Hill class. Most notably, she co-founded the Edward “Boss” Prado Foundation with her husband in honor of her son, who tragically suffered heart failure at the age of 29. Prado left a legacy of generosity, sensitivity and service to others, Ponzini said. When he was in grade school, even though he was on the free lunch program, when he was able to pack a lunch, he would take extra food for his friends.
In keeping with his legacy, Ponzini established the “No Child Goes Unfed” program at Sobrato and Live Oak high schools with her own funds. “Any child who cannot afford lunch, for any reason, can simply go to the Associated Student Body office and will be given a lunch,” she said. “It is conducted with the student’s dignity in mind and no questions are asked.” The long-term goal, she said, is to become an endowment that can be used to expand the program to middle and elementary schools.
She also created a career closet at Odyssey Community School in San Martin where those who have a job interview can take representative clothes to wear to the interview. If they get the job, they get to take five tops and three pants to keep.
“It’s worked out very well,” she said. This year she is planning a career closet at Central High School.
Former Chamber of Commerce board member Lorraine Welk, who serves on the United Way board with Ponzini, said she learned of her generosity when they painted the inside of the Learning and Loving Center.
“I realized what a compassionate person Cecelia is and how much she does, not needing recognition,” Welk said.
When surprised with the announcement, Ponzini thought there must have been a mistake. “I was like, ‘Are you serious?’” she said. “I don’t expect an award for something I love doing. I was shocked. I’m still shocked.”
Ponzini is one of many who are committed to supporting El Toro Youth Center, operated by Catholic Charities. The center provides quality educational, recreational and social services to low-income youth and their families. While the fundamental goal is to ensure academic success, the center also gives children and teens a safe place to go after school where they can get the help and support they need. Ponzini now supports the center through her foundation.
“I know how to round up support for important causes,” she said. “A lot of people who step forward when I ask are people I have helped in the past.”
Morgan Hill Mayor Steve Tate met Ponzini two years ago when she decided to start the foundation and the mayor supported her idea. “She is such a great inspiration, feeding, clothing and mentoring kids in need, making sure youth and training centers are maintained in bright, welcoming condition, providing or finding support for so many worthwhile causes,” he said. “We are truly blessed to have her and her husband Gary involved in our community.”
For someone who knows what it’s like to be in need, the need to give back comes easy for Ponzini. “I have a lot of people who help me,” she said. “Some I’ve helped in the past, and now they want to help me. I always knew I’d help even more if I could.”
