Congratulations to Eric Espinoza, our Volunteer of the Month. Volunteer Services Manager Michele Gingras says, “Eric is a wonderful volunteer who is a great contributor to the program department. He is friendly and positive and has a genuine desire to help and get the job done.”
Why we love him: Eric was a Shea client as a small child; he and his father, Danny, have been an integral part of The Shea Center for about 35 years. Eric has participated in the Annual BBQ and Family Faire, prepping for and participating in the event each year. He processes informational packets for meetings, new clients, and summer camps. He serves as the ‘office courier,’ picking up and dropping off donations for the Gala and BBQ silent auctions. Eric has been a member of the BBQ implementation committee for over 10 years and has been the ‘official coffee brewer’ on the day of the BBQ for over 20 years! He helped build the structure for The General Store and, most recently, became a team member of Expand the Vision, the property-wide construction improvements at The Shea Center.
Road to The Shea Center: “I was referred to what was then called Orange County Riding Center around 1983 by Betty Romero, the founder of Irvine Therapy Services.
Years of service: “I became an official volunteer about a year and a half ago, but have been serving in various capacities for over 30 years.”
Lessons learned: “I’ve learned quite a bit about the philanthropy process and various aspects of business. I’ve also learned how to effectively utilize the skills I learned over a period of years in various job positions and to become a good team player. I’ve also learned about being flexible and versatile.”
Favorite Shea Center memories: “Watching the gradual expansion of the facilities from a small patch of dirt with a small arena, outhouse, and teardrop trailer for an office to a state-of-the-art facility able to change the lives of many people. I am proud to have been a part of said improvements and being able to watch the current group of clients improve themselves.”
When not volunteering at Shea, he can be found doing this: “Participating in the concert band and jazz band at Irvine Valley College, and concert band and orchestra at Saddleback College.”
He finds his bliss…: “Volunteering because I can see my work benefitting the current and future group of clients and can tangibly see the benefits of my time as a client.”
