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45 °F Forecast | Road Cams Wednesday, April 14, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend March 16, 2004 Claudino Padilla, who has served the Hispanic community for 20 years, will receive the first Mariana Weibenga Community Service Award today. Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell A Hispanic role model Claudino Padilla’s unity efforts earn him the first Mariana Weibenga Community Service Award By JONEL ALECCIA Mail Tribune From the time he arrived in the Rogue Valley 20 years ago, Claudino Padilla was a quiet voice urging Hispanics toward unity. "He was from the old school," explains Victoria Barnhart, director of the LISTO Hispanic education program. "His view was always that we need to be part of the community." To that end, Padilla, a retired Los Angeles florist, volunteered on nearly every agency, board, commission or committee that aimed to increase Hispanic involvement and success. He worked with governors and city officials as well as church leaders, social service providers and families. Today, those two decades of effort will be recognized when Padilla, 87, receives the first-ever Mariana Weibenga Community Service Award presented by the Hispanic Interagency Committee. The public is invited to an 11 a.m. luncheon in the Rogue River Room of the Rogue Valley Manor Skyline Plaza. Advertisement "To me, he’s a role model on giving back to the community," said Barnhart, who has served with Padilla on several boards and forums. Padilla, who suffered two small strokes recently, has trouble speaking. On Monday, however, he was able to articulate one of the most important changes he’s seen in the Latino community in 20 years. "The Hispanic people are coming here and they’re buying their homes," he said, with evident satisfaction. Figures from the 2000 U.S. Census show that 819 Hispanics were homeowners, about 2.4 percent of the total in Jackson County. Another gain can be seen in the increasing parity between Hispanic and Anglo services at local Catholic churches, Padilla indicated. "Now I think the churches are even," he said. Padilla’s wife, Yvonne Padilla, said her husband had the time and the energy to devote to volunteer efforts. He has served with the Southern Oregon University Hispanic Clearing House, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Clinica Azteca, Centro Hispano, the Multicultural Association of Southern Oregon, ACCESS Inc., Southern Oregon Regional Economic Development, the Sacred Heart Mision Santo Ni�o de Atocha, On Track Inc. and the Hispanic Interagency Committee. The award will be given in the memory of Mariana Weibenga, a longtime community advocate who helped found Clinica Azteca and its successor, La Clinica del Valle. The community service award in her name will be presented annually to a volunteer who enriches Hispanic life. "He’s one of those people you don’t really know how much he’s doing, but he’s brought us unity," Barnhart said. Reach reporter JoNel Aleccia at 776-4465, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times