Featured Stories

Vallie Bishop

Vallie Bishop became involved with Rebekah Children's Services  initially over 18 years ago while she was owner of the Gavilan Honda Dealership in Gilroy.  Vallie serves on the Community Advisory Board, Festival of Trees Fundraiser Committee , Casino Night Fundraiser Committee, Royal Tea Fundraiser Committee, is a member of the Leave a Legacy Society. She has been a valued donor ever since she began her volunteer activities with RCS.  In addition, Vallie has provided annual large barbecues for the Board, staff and children of Rebekah Children's Services.  Although Vallie Bishop no longer runs a large business in Gilroy, she has continued her volunteer and generous financial support of RCS.  She included Rebekah Children's Services in her estate planning (RCS' Leave a Legacy) over 7 years ago.

San Francisco native keeps her heart in Rebekah Children's Services

Living in San Francisco in the same house her entire life, Laurie Prescott says when she returns to the City after travels elsewhere “seeing ‘The City’ while crossing the Bay Bridge, still makes my heart go pitter pat every time.”

Laurie grew up in what was called the “Silver Crest” now called “Bayview” area of San Francisco.  Her father, a former restaurant owner, died in 1955 when she was 12.  She and her mother lived on proceeds from the sale of her father’s restaurant and Social Security, keeping the family home.  She attended Edward Robsen Taylor Elementary School, Portola Jr. High; Lowell High School and transferring to Galileo High School; City College San Francisco from which she has an Associated Arts degree in Liberal Arts; San Francisco State University with a BA in Broadcasting with a minor in Speech.  She pursued, but discontinued her Masters program in elementary education at Simpson University, which is now in Redding.  Growing up in a multi-cultural community that was predominantly Italian, Laurie was surprised how much Italian she understood, when one day a paraprofessional was talking to her mother in.  Laurie had studied Latin for four years in High School and Cantonese for two years at Galileo Adult School.

Donor Profile - Legacy Society Member: Diana Carranza

Diana Carranza, the oldest of 3 children in the Carranza family, Linda Rawlinson, her sister and younger brother, Dorian grew up in a family where supporting the needs of others always “just happened”. It is one of the family values instilled in their lives while growing up. So naturally, they developed a continuing sense of philanthropy and benevolence.