GVAS to recognize Gustafsons, B.A.J.A.

GREEN VALLEY--Green Valley Assistance Services (GVAS) presents its fourth annual Fall Gala "Swingin' Under the Stars," Saturday, Oct. 16, honoring community humanitarians Nancie and Ed Gustafson and the Born Again Jocks Association (B.A.J.A.) Sporting Club.

The event will take place in the Madera Room at Torres Blancas Golf Club, 3233 S. Abrego Drive, beginning at 5 p.m.

Tickets for the lavish dinner, entertainment and auction are $75 per person and are for sale at GVAS, 250 E. Continental Road, Suite #102. Angel tickets are also available for $125 per person and include a listing in the tribute book.

The evening will include entertainment by Joey Lessa and Regina Ford, with Allan Riding on piano and Bob Unger on drums. Dinner and dancing will be the focus of the evening. Live and silent auction items will be available to the highest bidder.

Teacher and counselor

For nearly 45 years, honoree Nancie Gustafson taught school and worked as a counselor. She taught a variety of grade levels, specializing in mathematics and special education. A middle school math teacher for 11 years in Nogales, Nancie was named the 1993 Nogales public School District's Teacher of the Year.

Upon her retirement from education in 2000, she worked as GVAS' director of volunteers, developing the Christmas Program, which last year collected and distributed more than 4,000 gifts to approximately 800 families and elderly individuals and provided hundreds gifts to the Arivaca Human Services Christmas Program.

Retired again, Nancie volunteers for a variety of agencies including GVAS, the Santa Cruz Interfaith Council, St. Francis-in-the-Valley Episcopal Church, PEO Chapter and the Lions Club.

Priest and educator

An Episcopal priest and educator, the Rev. Ed Gustafson who has also worked as cattle rancher, is best known in the community as the former executive director of St. Andrew's Children's Clinic in Nogales, Ariz., a role that he filled from 1993 until his retirement in June 2003. He now spends his time volunteering for St. Francis-in-the-Valley Episcopal church, Lions Club bingo, the Country Fair White Elephant and GVAS.

The Gusftasons have raised nine children, including three birth children, four adopted children and two foster children. They have 10 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Entire organization

For the first time, GVAS is honoring an entire organization of community humanitarians. The B.A.J.A. Sporting Club has been a part of the Greater Green Valley community since 1997. With a current membership of more than 400, the B.A.J.A. Sporting Club works to help active seniors in Pima and Santa Cruz counties maximize their retirement years by providing sports programs, recreational activities and social and charitable events.

Along the way, the members have generously given their time and money to support a variety of community organizations including Casa de Esperanza, Green Valley and Amado Food Banks, Country Fair White Elephant, GVAS, Greater Green Valley Community Foundation and Habitat for Humanity.

B.A.J.A. Sporting Club members can also be seen assisting the Copper Hills Little League, volunteering in the Continental School kindergarten classes, and picking up litter along local roadways for the Arizona Department of Transportation's Adopt-a-Highway program.

Through a variety of programs, GVAS serves Green Valley, Sahuarita and the rural communities of Elephant Head, Amado and Arivaca. It provides professional case management, referral and volunteer support families and seniors in need and to people with disabilities.

Temporary monetary assistance is available to low income households, including working families subject to seasonal cutbacks and layoffs, to help with help with rent, trains and coordinates volunteers from participating faith-based organizations to provide a range of in-home support services for frail elderly and disabled people.

GVAS also offers seasonal and holiday programs, serving the back-to-school, Thanksgiving and Christmas need of low-income families and seniors.

rford@gvnews.com | 625-5511 x 39