By: Vicki Lopes and Kathlene Brookshire, Foster Grandparent Program Co-Directors

“Grandma” Rose Gonzalez, Foster Grandparent Program volunteer at Burroughs Elementary School, was honored as the Senior Volunteer of the Year during HandsOn Central California’s Hands Across the Valley Awards Luncheon.

Much like a beautiful rose bloom – which symbolizes love, honor and faith – Grandma Rose Gonzalez stands apart like a precious hybrid. She has served as an EOC Foster Grandparent Program volunteer for 11 years at Burroughs Elementary School where she has contributed 14,000 hours of service to prepare more than 1,200 students for academic success and personal achievement. The first grade children that Grandma Rose mentors have consistently improved language and reading skill levels by 73% year after year.

She has devoted time above and beyond to mentor one-to-one, children from migrant families who have not yet mastered the requisite language skills to pass on to the next grade level. One particularly precious experience for Grandma Rose was the time she spent with twins that had just arrived from Mexico. She made sure that these young ones would graduate from Kindergarten well prepared for their first grade studies.

Many students have continued to stay in touch as they are grateful to Grandma Rose’s contribution to their scholastic accomplishments. Inspired by a quote from Cesar Chavez, Grandma Rose believes that “Real education should consist of drawing the goodness and the best out of our students. What better book can there be than the book of humanity.”

Congratulations, Grandma Rose! Way to Go!!!