A luncheon honoring all Valley Churches United Missions’ volunteers was held on Sunday, March 13 at Scopazzi’s Restaurant in Boulder Creek. With over 100 volunteers looking on, the Annette Marcum 2015 Angel of the Year Award was presented to Colly Gruczelak to recognize her service as an intake worker and special events coordinator. VCUM Executive Director Lynn Robinson cited Colly’s team-leading expertise as instrumental in the success of VCUM’s inaugural large-scale fundraiser, Tasting Under The Redwoods, held last August.
In addition to receiving the Angel Award, Colly’s accomplishments were noted in proclamations from Scotts Valley Mayor Donna Lind, 5th District Supervisor Bruce McPherson, Assemblyman Mark Stone, Senator Bill Monning, and Congresswoman Anna Eshoo.
Colly, always active in community affairs, was the first woman Rotarian in Ventura County. In 1987, she founded the Conejo Valley United Cerebral Palsy support group and raised over $500,000 to replace major appliances for clients in UCP homes. She served on the board of the Ventura County Symphony for 15 years and she and her husband established a music scholarship for Cal Lutheran University, which has funded 30 students over the past 30 years. As President of Cal Lutheran’s Community Leaders Club, she planned events honoring Danny Thomas, President and Mrs. Reagan, and the President of Argentina.
Colly is the food writer for the Press Banner and was instrumental in setting up the very popular, now eight-year-old Santa Cruz Mountains Gourmet Dinner Club. She and husband Norm live in Ben Lomond, near their six children and six grandchildren.
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A 501(c)(3) nonprofit with no government funding, Valley Churches United Missions is dependent on donations from the local community to provide supplemental food distribution, crisis rent/mortgage assistance, utility needs, educational supplies, disaster relief, and holiday projects to those in need. VCUM has served residents in the San Lorenzo Valley, Scotts Valley and Bonny Doon since 1982.
For more information, please visit www.vcum.org.