Around Town … with Robert Airoldi: Family of talented artist with cerebral palsy do-nates generously

Suzie used her left foot to hold a paint brush and created amazing works of art

By Robert Airoldi

Robert Airoldi

Hope comes from many sources like Suzie Tabata, a talented artist born with cerebral palsy who spent time during her life as a client of Hope Services. In her memory, the Tabata Living Trust recently made a donation of nearly half-a-million dollars to the nonprofit.

With unstoppable perseverance, Suzie pursued her interests and creative outlets with passion. She learned to type with her toes and to communicate through a word processor, and she learned to use sign language.

Art is where Suzie truly shined. She used her left foot to hold a paint brush and created amazing works of art.

Sue Bell, director of human resources at Hope Services, has a piece titled “Fluffy and Zeek,” named after Suzie’s pets. “The art was made by Suzie when she was my client many years ago,” she said. “I cherish it and continue to proudly display it.”

Suzie’s parents, Janet Tabata and Flyer Crata, had been long time donors to Hope Services and included the organization in their giving.

“We are profoundly grateful to them and the Tabata Living Trust for this generous donation which will be especially impactful as we recover from the global health crisis during which time we continue serving clients,” said Chip Huggins, president/CEO of Hope Services.

When California’s shelter-in-place order in mid-March forced Chabad South County Jewish Center to pause their regular programming, they understood the need to adapt to the community’s unique needs during these times.

They canceled their community Passover Seder and moved weekly adult education classes to Zoom. They then reached out to local seniors and home-bound families, offering their assistance and a helping hand.

“There are many people here who were isolated without family or other support,” said Chabad’s director Rabbi Mendel Liberow. “And we found that many people were feeling alone. But that’s what Chabad is about, being there for the Jewish community in a time of need.”

They began with check-up calls on people living alone and offered to have volunteers do their shopping for them. They also launched a social service program where more than 100 care packages were delivered to the elderly and home-bound.

“Social isolation is challenging,” said Liberow’s wife and co-director Chani. “People were so grateful for the love that went into it. The packages were a reminder that the community is thinking of them.”

Words of gratitude from the recipients pushed Chabad to expand the program to the community. They started delivering Shabbat care packages every Friday so people could celebrate at home. Packed with fresh challah, hot chicken soup and traditional candles, the bags and the love behind them were welcomed by people feeling the drag of quarantine.

“Thank you once again for your care and concern,” wrote Carol Moran on Facebook after receiving her Shabbat bag. “It was so good to see your masked face at my door. I want to thank you for all you do to make things better in our community.”

Chabad is now turning to the community for support by purchasing tickets in their summer raffle fundraiser with a chance to win a $10,000 prize. Tickets are available at www.JewishMH.com/raffle.

With potential vaccines still in trials, the number of cases and deaths due to COVID-19 still rising, and a potential resurgence because of the reopening of businesses, the fight against the coronavirus needs to continue.

As an American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine Diplomate, Dr. Kusum Atraya has found a way to help. She is collecting not-in-use CPAP and BiPAP machines from the community, which will then be used by volunteer organizations like VentilatorSOS and The Ventilator Project to be converted into ventilators for those suffering from COVID-19 worldwide.

“As a sleep specialist dentist, I treat patients with sleep apnea and snoring with custom made dental devices, so many of my patients have CPAP machines collecting dust in closets,” Atraya said. “Because the machines are difficult to get used to, patients often switch to oral appliances or stop seeking treatment altogether. So, I thought there must be more people in the community with unused units who might like to donate them. My goal has always been to help people, so I thought this was something I could do to give back to the community.”

Atraya is urging patients who are not able to use their CPAP to consider donating these devices.

As a thank you for donating a device to the cause, she will give a free consultation and $500 off an oral appliance, an alternative treatment for sleep apnea and snoring.

Atraya will be collecting CPAP and BiPAP machines at both of her offices in Gilroy and Morgan Hill. Please call the Gilroy office at (408) 842-5037 or the Morgan Hill office at (408) 778-7700 prior to delivering your CPAP device to their offices, as they are not fully reopened yet.

Thank you, Dr. Atraya.

South Valley philanthropist Cecelia Ponzini has been named the 2020 Woman of the Year for Assembly District 30 by Robert Rivas (D-Hollister). The award ceremony at the Capitol in Sacramento was postponed indefinitely because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, Rivas presented the official plaque to Ponzini at her home.

“Cecelia is a special part of this community, contributing so much of her time and energy to the needs of others,” Rivas said.

Many families in Gilroy and Morgan Hill struggle with the issues of poverty and homelessness, which Cecelia faced in her youth. As a result, her philanthropic vision was to create a beloved, local, and honest charity dedicated to serving children and families in need. She started with one organized charity, and her efforts continue to grow.  In the past five years, the Edward Boss Prado foundation has served more than 10,000 families.

The foundation now manages more than 15 programs that serve the residents of several cities within the District and beyond, including Hollister, Gilroy, San Martin, Morgan Hill, and recently expanding to San Jose and to victims of the fires throughout the state.

A well-deserved honor, Cecelia!

Looking for authentic Mexican food? Just follow the “Gilroy Taco Trail” to find some of the best the South Bay has to offer. A new campaign hosted by Visit Gilroy and the Gilroy Chamber of Commerce spotlights 28 different places in Gilroy to find tasty tacos and more.

Visitors who are hungry for Mexican fare can look for Gilroy Taco Trail decals in shop windows or pick up a Gilroy Taco Trail map to plan the ultimate taco tasting tour.

“People usually associate Gilroy with garlic, but we also have some amazing Mexican restaurants that are extremely popular with local residents and visitors alike,” said Jane Howard, executive director of Visit Gilroy,

The new Gilroy Taco Trail maps are sponsored by Arteaga’s Food Center and are available at the California Welcome Center Gilroy (located in Gilroy Premium Outlets Building A, near Forever 21), the Gilroy Chamber of Commerce, and participating restaurants.

For more information, go to www.VisitGilroy.com/tacotrail.

See you on the taco trail!

Robert Airoldi is the editor of Gilroy Life. Reach him at [email protected].