Around Town … with Robert Airoldi: Bride-to-be transforms day of adversity into uplifting celebration

The bride, who wished to remain unnamed, has a sister with special needs

Patricia Jaimes and her husband Gabriel Hermosillo with their daughter Lucy. Photo courtesy Parents Helping Parents

By Robert Airoldi

Robert Airoldi

In a remarkable display of resilience and compassion, a bride, forced to cancel her wedding just days before the event, transformed adversity into an uplifting celebration benefiting Parents Helping Parents, an agency that serves families raising children with disabilities. The event took place at Eagle Ridge by Wedgewood Weddings in Gilroy, offering more than 100 attendees a memorable experience on what would have been the bride’s wedding day.

“We can’t thank the bride, her family, and Wedgewood Weddings enough for making this uplifting event happen,” said Maira Daane, executive director of Parents Helping Parents (https://www.php.com/). “It was incredibly moving to see such care taken to brighten the day for these remarkable attendees.”

The bride, who wished to remain unnamed, has a sister with special needs. When her wedding was abruptly canceled, she aimed to give back to a community that held significant meaning for her family.

“Seeing the joy this event brought them turned a devastating situation into something beautiful,” she said.

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The party featured themed décor, entertainment, dancing, and food. Smiles abounded as attendees dazzled in formal wear and snapped photos.

Expressions Floral and owner Lisa Felice exemplified true understanding and flexibility in a challenging moment, Daane added.

“Their gesture to redirect wedding flowers to bring joy and brightness to others speaks volumes about their empathy and dedication to spreading positivity beyond the confines of a canceled event,” she said.

Cindy Chavez, a member of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, said she’s fortunate to have known the family of the bride for close to 40 years.

“I’m not surprised this bride chose to donate her venue deposit to Parents Helping Parents,” Chavez said. “The bride’s family and thousands of other families have literally been saved by the extensive services that Parents Helping Parents offers.”

We got word from Jesse Rizzo, the chairman of the VFW Post 6309 Youth Activities Committee, that the post will formally recognize local middle and high school student winners of the Patriot Pen and Voices of Democracy Essay Competition. The competition is conducted annually nationwide by the VFW. One winner from each state competes for the national scholarship prize of $5,000 for middle school and $35,000 for high school winners.

The level of participation from the schools in the district was enhanced this year due in large part to the support of the new Superintendent Dr. Anisha Munshi and the leadership provided by the school administration, Rizzo said.

“However, the successful implementation of the competition would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of the classroom teachers,” he said. “Well more than 150 students participated.”

The VFW membership will also be recognizing three outstanding educators who were selected as Teacher of the Year. They are: Lindsay Hock, Gilroy High; Dana Wolfe, South Valley Middle School; and Heather McPherson, Paradise Engineering Academy.

The recognition and presentation of certificates will take place during the post’s annual Christmas dinner Dec. 19.

Gavilan College will receive $1.5 million from the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office during the next five years, to create the “Gavilan College Higher Aspirations Juvenile Justice Program,” beginning in January.

The goal is to expand its Higher Aspirations Program to now serve juveniles who are system-impacted in the Santa Clara and San Benito counties.

“Everyone deserves a second chance,” Gavilan Superintendent/President, Dr. Pedro Avila said. “Gavilan College has the unique opportunity to lead the state’s efforts in helping reduce recidivism, change lives, and build stronger communities. These are perfect examples of our equity efforts in action.”

The funds will be used to develop a program structure, hire a full-time staff member, provide support to the Higher Aspirations counselor/coordinator, and scale the peer mentor program.