– Luminary Awards Ceremony 2023
The Luminary Award is a special recognition from the Chief Executive Officer to an individual or group whose actions have shed light on the Road to Recovery, advancing our mission in a very big way.
2023 Luminary Award Recipients:
Lou Huntington: Shares professional wisdom and personal influence. Dedication to legacy and recovery. Lou uplifts families in recovery knowing they have the best chance of sobriety after they complete treatment. Lou relentlessly shares his passion with his many friends and colleagues and lends his name to promote Sun Street Centers’ work throughout the community. Over the past five years, Lou and his wife, Roberta, have sponsored many initiatives, helping us raise substantial funds to meet the growing needs of the communities we serve.
Rose Moreno:Expertise in behavioral health and committed to youth and families of Monterey County. Rose has been working with us for the Monterey County Health Department for the past 15 years. She is our contract expert and has guided us through the addition of Medi-Cal services, and the expansion of State of California Prop 47 services in King City. Her passion has always been youth and families and she is an amazing advocate for prevention activities in Monterey County, working with schools, attending all youth-led events, and supporting any initiative that helps kids succeed.
Todd Sergot: Business savvy, community minded, client focused, and an innovator. Sergot Consulting has been instrumental in our growth during the past 5 years as we incorporate a medical model into our social model programs. He has evaluated our services, assessing our program goals through the eyes of our clients. He has worked with us on a variety of technological growth, including electronic health records, electronic human resource records, and internet voice phone systems. Todd has supported our risk management working on business continuity plans and safety response.
Max Baggett (award received by his son): Talented Builder, commitment to safety and stability, and leads from the heart. Max rebuilt our property in King City over the last 5 years. This included renovating a dilapidated motel, and an old party store/bakery/service station and incorporating two prefabricated sober living homes. He also built a new community center. We now have a beautiful campus, thanks to his construction expertise, in King City, including men’s and women’s residential and outpatient recovery services, Darlene Acosta Youth Center, and Huntington House.
Steve Adams: Inspirational civic leader. Commitment to improve the lives of families in King City. Steve was our partner when Prop. 47 funding for King City services was put forward. He seized the opportunity, leading with savvy and a passion for kids and community. He vigorously embraced our vision to turn a run-down motel and party store into a residential treatment center, a youth center, sober living housing and a community meeting room – building our King City campus to benefit all residents of South Monterey County.
Oly Gomez: For 20 years of advancing the mission of Sun Street Centers. Oly is a committed Board member, passionate about recovery services. His business knowledge has been invaluable to us during the growth of our organization over the past 5 years. Oly is connected to the community and has been a strong advisor, helping us build key relationships. His company, Dataflow Business Systems, never fails to support our efforts. Award Recipient 2019
Jack Harpster: Human Service Consulting, brought the concept of program evaluation to the staff at Sun Street Centers over 5 years ago. Thanks to his knowledge, communication skills, and analytic abilities, he has been able to help Sun Street Centers “shine the light” on positive and measurable community outcomes reflected in all of the dedicated work of Sun Street Centers’ employees. Award Recipient 2014
Community Foundation for Monterey County: The Community Foundation has been a partner in many ways that have helped us succeed and thrive over the past 5 years, as a conduit for philanthropists in the community they have established opportunities to match donors with nonprofits doing specific work they believe in, such as the Futer Essential Human Services, Nancy Wheelis Dodd Fund, and Andrew & Phyllis D’Arrigo Fund. They have created an opportunity for nonprofits to develop their own successful endowments through the Stewardship Fund process. They have helped nonprofits develop staff to become the leaders of tomorrow through the LEAD Institute. We thank, Dan Baldwin, President/CEO and his team for their leadership. Award Recipient 2013
Cathy Schlumbrecht: Cathy is a Senior Vice President at Comerica Bank. She spearheaded the new IMPOWER grant to women alumni that are pursuing goals that will help them become new community leaders. She and her colleagues at Comerica have supported Castle of the Dead, with funds and volunteers. Cathy cares deeply about our mission of treatment and recovery from addiction, including appreciating our volunteers who work so hard to fight this disease. Award Recipient 2013
Bruce Taylor: We are grateful to Bruce’s timeliness and willingness to meet our offer for the sale of 37 Central and his generous pledge over 5 years. We are now out of debt and able to take solid action on our future. A life saver and true humanitarian, Bruce’s actions will have long term positive effects on families in the Salinas Valley. Award Recipient 2012
Cyndy Pierson: Cyndy was the Chair of our first official fundraising campaign in 2010; this was a capital campaign which we named “Renovations for Recovery” (R4R). Cyndy devised a campaign strategy; including Team Captains and a ‘horse race’, motivating us to complete our goal of $100,000! The campaign was to renovate the dorms at men’s residential to create a healthy and homey environment. She also designed and decorated the dorms. Award Recipient 2012
Anne C. Leach: Chair of our Advocacy Committee and Fundraising campaign for two consecutive years 2011 and 2012, the Road to Recovery (R2R) campaign has raised over $250,000 in the past two years under her leadership and advocacy; as well as, raising awareness in Salinas about our mission. Award Recipient 2012
Jean Goebel: Director of the Housing Authority County of Monterey was given the Luminary award for the consistent support of the Housing Authority to advance our mission of long-term recovery from alcoholism and addiction. Jean and her entire team have been a “beacon of light” for homeless families for over 16 years. Award Recipient 2014
Jim Lugg: Retired executive of Fresh Express/Chiquita and long term Sun Street Centers volunteer received this honor for the many ways he has” lit the way” for progress in our efforts, including chairing the Salinas PARTS Coalition, introducing us to influential members of the community who have provided program sponsorship, and being there to support our men in recovery and their families at our monthly awards nights. Jim has been a member of the Board of Directors for nearly 6 years and was former Vice President. Award Recipient 2014
Margaret D’Arrigo-Martin: Margaret is a business leader from Taylor Farms that has been supporting women and children in our program through the IMPOWER Women’s Leadership grant at Pueblo del Mar, and through the Castle of the Dead Pumpkin Patch, and she donated our most valuable live auction item at out Helping Hands Auction. She loves children and empowering women and is always willing to offer a bright new idea to move our mission forward. Award Recipient 2013
Jim Lewis: Our landlord at 7 & 9 Suns for over 17 years, Jim has made it possible for us to continue to offer sober living housing to our alumni from men’s residential. He really cares about the men in recovery and wants them to succeed. Jim is a donor and provides in-kind support, he even orchestrates occasional BBQs. We are grateful for our relationship with Jim Lewis. Award Recipient 2013
Helping Hands: Jerry Bunker, Mark Bunker and Alan Tarp – A visionary and collaborative idea, Helping Hands cofounders (Jerry, Mark and Alan) welcomed us to partner with them for three consecutive years in a fundraiser and community awareness event – an Annual Reverse Draw and Steak Dinner. We have helped each other grow and get the word out about both our missions. Award Recipient 2012
Warren Wayland and Sheryl Merrill: Thanks to the excellent idea and resources of Warren Wayland, and the brilliant creativity and execution from Sheryl Merrill, our ‘signature’ event, Castle of the Dead Haunted House and Pumpkin Patch has come alive! Building momentum over the last 2 years, it brings positive attention and support to two healthy and safe activities for families – substance abuse prevention and recovery, and girls’ softball. Award Recipient 2012
Martin Dodd: Truly the ultimate luminary, Martin Dodd, our co-founder, and innovator of Social Model theory, has created a place of hope, healing and recovery from alcoholism and addiction. His legacy lives on as he continues to teach new employees and men at our residential program at Sun Street about the power of environmental change and redemption. Award Recipient 2012
