“ Edward often packed extra food in his lunch and shared it with kids at school who didn ’ t have anything to eat ,” Cecelia said . “ He was just that kind of kid .”

“ Losing Edward got me thinking back to a time when I was young and struggled to make ends meet without enough food , clothing and other necessities . Without enough education to get a decent job . That was a long time ago , and I ’ ll never forget how difficult and degrading it was . But I ’ ll never forget the people here in the community who helped me back then either . That ’ s what made me realize I could be overcome by my grief or I could do something about it .”

Several years ago , Cecelia talked with her husband Gary Ponzini about her desire to keep Edward ’ s memory alive by giving back to the community in his honor .

“ Gary was one hundred percent behind me in everything I wanted to do ,” Cecelia said . And so in 2013 , she set up a nonprofit and named it the Edward Boss Prado Foundation , establishing a living legacy to honor her son .

“ I didn ’ t have special qualifications or training to set up a non-profit , but Gary knew I had the vision and the desire . Then I spoke with ( Morgan Hill ) Mayor Steve Tate . He said ‘ Cecelia , you can do this and the community will help . People will show up .’ He was right .”

“ People like Mayor Tate and his wife

Jennifer , Connie Murray , Greta and Joel Salmi , Laura Scoto and Melissa Santos helped out back then . Some of them joined the Foundation ’ s Advisory Council . And they ’ re still involved today .”

LET NO CHILD GO UNFED

Through the Foundation , Cecelia established the “ No Child Goes Unfed ” program at Morgan Hill Unified School District high schools . Students unable to afford it get a free lunch ticket at the Associated Student Body office – with no questions asked .

“ We help the kids while preserving their dignity ,” Cecelia said . “ Instead of having to stand in a special line ; they can get right in line with the other kids in the cafeteria .”

Building upon the Foundation ’ s mission , she launched Cecelia ’ s Closet and Food Pantry in 2014 . Just across the street from the Ponzini ’ s Community Garage and Towing Service , the couple had a small rental property that they converted into a base for their non-profit operations .

“ One day I looked at that property and I could just see the whole thing in my mind ,” Cecelia said . Cecelia ’ s Closet and Food Pantry provides nutritious food , hygiene kits , and new or gently-used women ’ s , men ’ s and children ’ s clothing and shoes to underserved families who are referred by Morgan Hill Unified School District , Community Solutions , Teen Force and other local organizations .

“ Our inventory is continually stocked thanks to generous donations from the community ,” Cecelia said . “ Like the school lunch program , we treat people with dignity and respect when they come to us for everyday things we take for granted . We want to send them home with some healthy food , clean clothes and a sense of hope .”

For her dedication to community service , Cecelia was named Woman of the

Year ( 2014 ) by the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce . She said the increased public awareness generated by the award led to an overflow of donations from a very generous Morgan Hill community .

Having volunteered with Cecelia ’ s organization since the beginning , Greta Salmi said , “ Cecelia brings passion , drive , and deep knowledge of what this work means to others . Her ideas are boundless and her commitment to respecting our clients is a marvelous place from which to work .”

FROM SHOES TO SCHOLARSHIPS

Ponzini established another program , Walking with Dignity , at P . A . Walsh , San Martin / Gwinn and El Toro Elementary schools . “ We donate Payless Shoe Source gift cards for the schools to provide to families whose students need shoes . The kids may only have a pair of sandals . We want them to have shoes to keep their feet warm and dry and allow them to participate on the playground at recess , in P . E . classes or in after-school sports .”

The Foundation has also helped students get vision screenings and connect with resources to get eyeglasses when needed . When prom season rolls around , girls who are unable to afford a prom dress can browse through the more than 700 that have been donated to Cecelia ’ s Closet and borrow one , along with accessories , for their big night .

In May , the Foundation ’ s “ Prado on the Go ” Scholarship Program awarded six partial scholarships to graduating seniors at Central , Live Oak , and Sobrato high schools . Cecelia personally reviewed scholarship applications and interviewed the finalists . Scholarships were awarded to Morgan Hill students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher , a letter of acceptance into college , and a dem-

GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN JULY / AUGUST 2015 gmhtoday . com

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