gmhTODAY 24 gmhTODAY Feb March 2019 | Page 31

“My daughters are involved in the community and learning on their own that there’s no bet- ter feeling than helping others in need. I try to instill in them my faith in God and pray they allow Him to take the wheel. I want them to grow up knowing that we can move mountains, together.” Claudia Sandoval Fund Development & Community Relations Rebekah Children's Services Claudia Sandoval began working with Rebekah Children’s Services 16 years ago, at age 21, and she has evolved along with the agency to fulfi ll her current role as Fund Development & Community Relations Director. She oversees planning, implementation and evaluation of community relations and development activities to support the RCS mission and goals. Her previous roles with RCS include Community Relations Coordination, Family Resource Center Coordinator, and Program Supervisor in Prevention and Education. Claudia also collaborated with RCS as a Caseworker under contract with the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services in Gilroy. She has worked to develop a rapport with clients, educating them in life skills and family wellness, and encouraging youth to make positive changes for a better life. Claudia devoted fi ve years as a State Certifi ed Advocate for domestic violence and sexual assault prevention—a volunteer effort on behalf of Community Solutions—while she was a student at DeAnza College. Prior to that, Claudia was a Professional NFL Cheerleader for fi ve years with the San Francisco 49ers and E2K Sports. Among the highlights of pro cheerleading were performing around the world, and greeting US soldiers back from their tour of duty. She serves on the board of One Giving Tree, as Membership Chair for the Latino Family Fund de Gilroy, as a Gilroy Rotary Club member, and as an Ambassador for the Gilroy Chamber of Com- merce. She also volunteers with the Gilroy Garlic Festival and Second Harvest Food Drive. Claudia has a Bachelor’s degree in Social and Behavioral Sciences from CSU Mon- terey Bay. She lives in Gilroy and is the proud mother of three daughters aged 5 to 18: Olivia, Isabella, and Taylor. 31