Employees and friends gathered last week to attend A Winter Gala, our agency’s annual holiday party. Over 300 people were in attendance at the beautifully decorated Tornino’s Banquet Hall where they enjoyed a delicious dinner, raffle prizes, and lots of laughter.

During the brief program, several lucky agency employees took home wonderful raffle prizes including gift certificates to DiCiccos Italian Restaurant, gift baskets from Starbucks and National Raisin, and a one-night stay and dinner-for-two at Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino. SOUL’s Susan Hernandez also took first place for her creativity in the Holiday Ornament Contest.

After dinner, Public Relations Specialist Yahaira Garcia-Perea emceed the highly anticipated dance contest. Participants showed off their moves and grooves to the Chicken Dance, the Macarena, Country line dancing, and the Electric Slide. In the finals, Executive Office’s Deidre Braun and Early Head Start’s Erica Murillo eliminated the competition during a dance-off to M.C. Hammer’s “Can’t Touch This”.

Nothing is better than an evening with friends. Thanks to everyone who made A Winter Gala a great success.

Happy Holidays EOC!

Holiday Party Winners

Canned Food Drive

Margie Castaneda - Head Start (La Colonia)
Susan Shiomi - Internal Audit
Susan Luna - WIC
May Yang - Head Start ( Garden Way)
Anitra Graves - Head Start
Evelyn Gonzalez - TLC
Ramona Sanchez - Head Start
Arica Washington - TLC

Ornament Contest

1st place - Susan Hernandez, WIC
2nd- Jody Ketcheside, Sanctuary
3rd - Debbie Grove, Executive Office

A Few Raffle Prize Winners

Yvan Blackburn, Facilities Management - Tachi Palace and Casino/dinner for two

Melanie Cha, Early Head Start - Fuji Camera

Sarah Worthen, Sanctuary - Digital Camcorder and National Raisin Basket)

Sophy Sysaknoi, LIHEAP - $100 Pismo’s Grill