DAILY NEWS PEOPLE : DAVID PERAZA.Byline: - Andrea Hescheles So many needs, yet so little time. But not for David Peraza. Although he maintains a busy schedule - working from 50 to 60 hours a week - Peraza still finds the time to do volunteer work for various projects through LA WORKS. Whether it's painting a school, playing interactive games with children at a shelter or feeding the homeless, Peraza is there to lend a helping hand. LA WORKS is a nonprofit A corporation or an association that conducts business for the benefit of the general public without shareholders and without a profit motive. Nonprofits are also called not-for-profit corporations. Nonprofit corporations are created according to state law. volunteer action center that creates ``hands on'' community service projects addressing a wide range of community issues, from hunger and homelessness to health care and the environment. ``They deal with such a wide variety of issues that I get the chance to not only focus on one specific area but a whole variety of areas and issues. There are so many different opportunities.'' AGE: 30 RESIDENCE: Valencia BORN AND RAISED IN: Sylmar OCCUPATION: Product planner, monitoring production schedules for about 150 different products made by Applause. MARITAL STATUS marital status, n the legal standing of a person in regard to his or her marriage state. : Single. VOLUNTEERISM vol·un·teer·ism n. Use of or reliance on volunteers, especially to perform social or educational work in communities. volunteerism : ``I am a project leader and volunteer with LA WORKS. I do volunteer projects once or twice a week. The projects range from working with children, seniors, animals and the homeless. Through LA WORKS, I have also volunteered time with Habitat for Humanity Habitat for Humanity, nonprofit ecumenical Christian organization that enables low-income people to own affordable, livable housing. Headquartered in Americus, Ga., it was founded in 1976 by businessman Millard Fuller and his wife. , Salvation Army Salvation Army, Protestant denomination and international nonsectarian Christian organization for evangelical and philanthropic work. Organization and Beliefs The Salvation Army has established branches in 100 countries throughout the world. and United Way.'' HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED?: ``I always wanted to get involved, but was not sure how or where to get started. I was a chairperson chairperson Chairman The head of an academic department. See 'Chair.', Cf Chief. of a volunteer committee at work that contacted LA WORKS, and we started organizing volunteers within the company. I got involved in being a project leader, and I had the opportunity to work closely with LA WORKS, helping to organize volunteer projects in the community.'' WHY DO YOU VOLUNTEER?: ``The question should be `Why not?' There are so many worthwhile causes out there that need help - whether it's children or animals or the elderly. A lot of people these days only think about themselves and what's in it for them. It's a real rewarding feeling for me when I can say that I made a difference in somebody's life. It makes me feel good about myself.'' BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: ``It's disappointing when I still see so many projects left to do - kids without mentors, seniors that need someone to spend time with, schools that need to be improved and homeless people that don't have enough to eat. If everyone in the community would work together, most of the problems facing our society these days can be, at the very least, minimized.'' GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: ``Personally, having helped raise my sister to be the wonderful person that she is. For the last several years, I have been a father and brother to her. I'm very proud of the way she turned out.'' As for volunteering, Peraza says the several projects he has done at schools in the Valley have all been very successful. `` At the end of the day, when you look at all the work that was accomplished at the school, you feel good knowing that your work will be there for many years to come and that many students will be able to benefit from your efforts that day.'' FAVORITE VALLEY HANGOUTS: ``Sagebrush sagebrush, name for several species of Artemisia, deciduous shrubs of the family Asteraceae (aster family), particularly abundant in arid regions of W North America. The common sagebrush (A. Cantina can·ti·na n. Southwestern U.S. A bar that serves liquor. [Spanish, canteen, from Italian, wine cellar.] , El Torito The format developed by Phoenix Technologies and IBM that has become the standard for creating bootable CD-ROMs on the Intel platform. El Torito provides only the format. In order to make a CD-ROM bootable, the correct boot images must be placed on the disc, and the target computer must , movie theaters and comedy clubs.'' FAVORITE ACTIVITIES: ``Hiking hiking Walking, often among hills or mountains, as recreational sport. It represents an activity in its own right and also figures in backpacking, camping, hunting, mountaineering, and orienteering. , bike riding, camping and off-roading.'' HOBBIES: ``Doing volunteer work and collecting movies.'' CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: David Peraza David R. Crane/Daily News |
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