SELBUC In the Local News
Cinco de Mayo
Award Luncheon Celebration 2008
Latino Celebration 'breaks down
barriers'
By MELISSA HAYES
Burlington County Times
MOUNT HOLLY — The Burlington County Superior Court and three
individuals were recognized for “breaking down barriers”
during Servicios Latinos de Burlington County's Cinco de
Mayo. The
“Breaking Down Barriers Awards Luncheon” recognized the
efforts of people and organizations in the county to
assist Spanish-speaking residents.
Executive Director Angela Gonzalez founded the
non-profit organization eight years ago after she
watched her mother struggle to schedule doctors'
appointments because she did not speak English.
The organization is housed in the Burlington County College
building on High Street and offers English as a second
language classes, citizenship classes and general
assistance to Spanish speaking residents. The awards
were presented during a brightly decorated luncheon at
BCC's Mount Holly campus. The traditional Mexican lunch
featured Martin Carrion, a mariachi singer. Superior
Court Assignment Judge John A. Sweeney accepted the
award on behalf of the court system. “One of our core
values is fairness and fairness is about equal treatment
of individuals,” he said. The court system employs a
full-time Spanish translator and also was recognized for
its outreach programs including its Advisory Committee
on Minority Concerns. Timothy Irons, of Haines &
Haines/T.C. Irons Agency, a commercial insurance
company, also received the award. Gonzalez said Irons
helped her secure insurance for the nonprofit
organization and he also has hired bi-lingual employees
to work with the many Portuguese and Brazilian
contractors who buy insurance from his company. “I think
it's very important that as a business in
Burlington
County, in New
Jersey, in the
United States of America,
you do break down the barriers,” Irons said.
Servicios Latinos honored one of its community
volunteers, Ann Jingoli of
Mansfield, for her work with the
organization. Jingoli helps prepare clients for their
citizenship interviews and also helps find needed items,
such as furniture and clothing for clients.
“I like to help people because there are so many
people that need to be helped,” she said. “When I see a
person, I don't see their color or nationality. I see
them as human. I think we should all be treated the
same. Wendy
Stella Gomez, manager of Sam's Club in Cinnaminson, was honored with the “Latinos Making a
Difference Award.” During her acceptance speech, she
presented the organization with a $700 donation from
Sam's Club. Gomez
was recognized for working her way from a part-time
cashier to managing a $70 million club and encouraging
others to do the same. Her store is also involved in
many charitable causes. “Giving back is a very rewarding
experience and that's my challenge to everybody here, to
go back and make a difference,” she said.
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