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NEWSLETTER: November 2013
In this issue:
Pumpkins in the Park
Our 19th annual Pumpkins in the Park festival was a smashing success thanks to the support of our fantastic sponsors and volunteers. New features such as carnival games, a kid's straw maze, and Children's Discovery Museum's train and costume swap added to the fun. Many thanks to all who volunteered their time and to those whose financial support made the event possible.
GRPC Sponsors - Adobe, Mike & Christy Akatiff, Joseph J. Albanese Inc., Blach Construction, Bright Green San Jose, Cisco, City of San Jose, Cortese Brothers Farms, Cosmopolitan Catering, eBay inc, Flagship, Garden City Sanitation, H.T. Harvey & Associates, Hugh Stuart Center Charitable Trust, Pacific Gas & Electric, Philips Lumileds, Martinelli's, NBC11, Radio Disney, Republic Services, SanDisk, San Jose Mercury News, San Jose Water Company, Silicon Valley Law Group, The Sobrato Organization, Target, ValleyCrest Landscape, Venezia, Watershed Watch, West Valley Construction
Event Supporters - A-1 Heating,
Air Systems Foundation,
AJ Auto Detailing,
The Alves Family, The Austen Family, Bay Hydraulics,
The Caputo Family, Gizdich Ranch,
Hardcastle Autobody,
Sheryl Hinshaw, JR Construction,
Kaiser Permanente,
Lindy Roofing,
Precision Flooring,
Rose Garden Auto Care,
Sam's Downtown Feed & Pet Supply,
San Jose Water Company Employees' Community Fund,
South Bay Construction, The Starbird Family, and The Steene Family
You can check out all the pics from the big day in our FlickR album. And here is a fun video we put together that really captures the day.
Community Runs
Need some training runs to keep you on pace for our Feb. 2nd San Jose Water Company sponsored Super Guadalupe River Run? Sign up for the Turkey Trot and Santa Run and help support community organizations such as Second Harvest Food Bank and Christmas in the Park.
Gratitude
To our amazing volunteer board of directors, to the people who volunteer weekly in the office or gardens, to those who come for a corporate service or team building day, and to those who provide financial support -- thank you for supporting the vision of an iconic park for our community. Happy Thanksgiving!
Packard Foundation Grant
With budget cuts at many schools eliminating funds for field trips, we depend on foundations to help underwrite the costs of our science education programs. We are thrilled that the David and Lucile Packard Foundation recently renewed a two-year, $100,000 grant for our hands-on children's programs. We appreciate the Packard Foundation's financial support and are inspired by their confidence in our program.
Adult Education Survey
What adult classes would you like to see us offer? Please help us better serve the community by taking a moment to complete this survey...just click here.
Volunteer Corner
Here is a list of all the volunteer groups that put great effort into the Guadalupe River Park & Gardens in October 2013: Alpha Gamma Sigma San Mateo, Alpha Phi Omega of San Jose State, Boston Scientific, California San Jose Mission, Cisco, Cupertino High CSF, Greater Opportunities, Independence High School Key Club & iHeart, Intel (shown above), Latin American Student Organization, Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, Mission Bay, Morgan Autism Center, National Charity League, One Brick, PADpro, Pioneer High School, SAP, St. Christopher Elementary, and Yerba Buena HS
And that's just the groups...we also had countless individuals.
Meet Board Member Michael Parrish
 Dr. Michael Parrish is Dean of the College of Science at San Jose State University. Prior to moving to SJSU in 2006, he was a professor and chair of the Biology Department at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois.
Michael earned BA degrees in biology and chemistry from UC Santa Cruz and a PhD in anatomy from the University of Chicago. He is a specialist in vertebrate paleobiology. Welcome to the Board of Directors!
Meet Volunteer Helen Ale
 Helen is a student at West Valley College in the park management program. She has a BS in nutrition/dietetics from UC Davis, an AS in fire protection and technology, a culinary degree, and is also a nationally registered paramedic!
Helen has lived in San Jose for most of her life and enjoys hiking, camping, working out at the gym, going to movies, and learning new skills. She chose us for her internship so she could give back to the community through our education and outreach programs and learn about natural resources by taking care of trees in the Historic Orchard. Thanks and keep up the great work Helen! |
