'Unsung heroes' are named 'Unsung heroes' are named (May 18, 2005)

By Marion Softky

Almanac Staff Writer

Five hard-working volunteers are candidates for the national Jefferson Award for public service, which recognizes civic engagement by individual unsung heroes.

The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors recently saluted the five residents, who have each volunteered thousands of hours over many years.

The three with the most impact in the Almanac circulation area are Julia Bott, executive director of San Mateo County's Park and Recreation Foundation, who has raised $5 million for parks; Sister Christina Heltsley, who built the St. Francis Center into a major support for poor and immigrant families in North Fair Oaks; and Larry Whitney, who has strengthened fire safety in rural South San Mateo County through his work with the La Honda Fire Brigade.

The other two nominees are John Kelly, who built and operated Samaritan House, with its many programs for the poor and homeless, for 14 years; and former Daly City Mayor Al Teglia, who has pursued many programs to help children and families in San Mateo County.
Julia Bott

A longtime environmental activist and spokeswoman for the Sierra Club, Julia Bott recognized that the county's parks were suffering from years of under-funding.

She helped establish the Parks and Recreation Foundation, and, as executive director, has raised $5 million for county parks.

Among the projects the foundation has helped fund are: a master plan for an interpretive center at Edgewood Park and Natural Preserve, now ablaze with native wildflowers; the purchase of the 49-acre Mirada Surf, to provide a link in the future Coastal Trail along scenic ocean-front bluffs; and a teachers' guide to county parks.
Sister Heltsley

In five years as executive director, Sister Christina Heltsley has built St. Francis Center into a major source of help for poor and immigrant families in North Fair Oaks.

The center serves 500 families a month with food, clothing and housing. It maintains and operates a 24-unit apartment building occupied primarily by immigrant families with little English and very low income.

A dozen bright-eyed children from her Holy Family School attended the supervisors meeting and clapped eagerly. She started the free school with the proviso that the mothers study English as a second language, and learn about computers.

She has converted a vacant lot once reputedly used mostly for drug deals into a thriving community garden with plots where neighbors can grow food.
Larry Whitney

San Mateo County's rural South Coast is a much safer place because Larry Whitney has been running the all-volunteer La Honda Fire Brigade for nine years.

The brigade responds to some 300 calls a year in an area that becomes tinder-dry in summer. In addition to being on most of those response teams, Mr. Whitney also administers the office, maintains the equipment, and recruits and trains new volunteer firefighters.

Mr. Whitney has raised $1 million in grants to buy a fire engine and other equipment.

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