DAILY NEWS PEOPLE : LINDA CARRUTHERS.Byline: - Holly Andres Linda Carruthers is a 1998 recipient of a Golden Rule Award, given to outstanding volunteers by 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. agencies. The annual award program is sponsored by J.C. Penney and the Volunteer Center, a branch of the Assistance League of Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, . This week's Daily News Person has volunteered hundreds of hours over the last 10 years at the Pacoima Community Youth Culture Center. She acts as a mentor to many teens, encouraging them to stay in school or to pursue their dream of going to college. AGE: 53. RESIDENCE: Sylmar. BORN AND RAISED IN: Born in Dallas; moved to the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. in 1971. OCCUPATION: Student Services assistant at Los Angeles Mission College Los Angeles Mission College is a two-year community college located in Sylmar, California neighborhood of Los Angeles in the San Fernando Valley, United States. It is part of the Los Angeles Community College District. . MARITAL STATUS marital status, n the legal standing of a person in regard to his or her marriage state. : Single. CHILDREN: Son Terry, 31; daughter La Rhonda, 27. VOLUNTEERISM vol·un·teer·ism n. Use of or reliance on volunteers, especially to perform social or educational work in communities. volunteerism : Carruthers has also volunteered her time at Evergreen evergreen, term commonly used as synonymous with conifer and applied also to all those broad-leaved plants that bear green leaves throughout the year. Of the latter, most are plants of the tropics, subtropics, and other areas where the growing season is prolonged (e. Continuation School continuation school: see vocational education. in Sylmar. She speaks to these students about staying in school and going on to college. HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED?: I knew two friends, Connie Taylor-Broadous and Rose Castaneda, who worked at the center. They talked about the program and got me interested in volunteering there. I knew there was a need at the center. My kids are grown and I have the time to help. WHY DO YOU VOLUNTEER?: I enjoy kids. I click with teen-agers. I didn't have the problems that the kids have today. I get a chance to talk with them about going to college. I do other things with them like going to court with them and taking them to job interviews. They need someone to talk to, and I listen to them. BIGGEST DILEMMA: My biggest challenge is find the time to do all the things I want. FAVORITE DAILY TASK: I always look forward to special events, like planning and giving the Christmas party we have every year at Pacoima Community Youth Center. GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: My greatest accomplishment is the feeling I get when I see kids that I've talked to graduate from college. Many of them hated school, and people didn't want to deal with them. But they accomplished a goal. GOALS FOR THE FUTURE: I would like to learn more about computers. I plan to take some classes at Los Angeles Mission College. WHO RELIES ON YOU THE MOST AND WHO YOU RELY ON: My kids rely on me. I rely on my friends. ROLE MODELS: My parents were my first role models. I was the seventh of nine children. They taught me everything. Another role model is Gwen Watson, the counselor chairperson chairperson Chairman The head of an academic department. See 'Chair.', Cf Chief. at the college. Without her, I wouldn't have all this time for volunteering. HOW DO YOU DEFINE SUCCESS?: My success is that I have one of the most fantastic jobs. I have wonderful co-workers. FAVORITE VALLEY HANGOUTS: I hang out at the Pacoima Community Youth Culture Center. HOBBIES: I like to work in my yard. I'm planning on planting a vegetable garden soon. WHAT WOULD BE A PERFECT DAY FOR YOU?: A perfect day would be to spend the day with my daughter, going shopping, seeing a movie and then going out to dinner. CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: Linda Carruthers Myung J. Chun/Daily News |
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