Photographs courtesy of the YMCA of Santa Clara Valley
Hester O'Gara (left) and Arianna Pilram have been recognized by the YMCA
YMCA recognizes Saratoga's Pilram, O'Gara
Local volunteers among the 17 valley honorees
By Shari Kaplan
In keeping with April being National Volunteer Month, the YMCA of Santa Clara Valley has recognized 17 individuals from its various valley branches as outstanding volunteers for their work over the past year. Among them are two local women, Arianna Pilram and Hester O'Gara, who volunteer at the Southwest YMCA at 13500 Quito Road in Saratoga.
Pilram, a senior at Westmont High School, has been involved with the Southwest YMCA for four years. She began with the Y-Achievers teen mentoring program, which she says "helps kids stay on track" with college tours, job fairs, SAT-preparation classes and other programs.
Her interest didn't stop there. She's also spent two years as a lifeguard at the Southwest pool, works as a swimming instructor there and serves on its Teen Governing Board, a group of local youth who meet to discuss young people's issues and ways the Y can better serve teenagers.
Along with her past and present Y work, Pilram is the president of Earth Service Corps--a service learning and global awareness organization she visited in Taiwan last year. She also volunteers with Habitat for Humanity and Yosemite's Adopt-a-Park program, and she helps clean up beaches. At Westmont, she belongs to the school's video team, edits the Associated Study Body activities newsletter, swims on the swim team and plays clarinet in the band.
"I have a planner where I write everything down; if I ever lost it, I think I'd wither and die! I also have a bulletin board and two white boards in my bedroom. I don't know how I handle it all!" marvels Pilram, who says she got her first taste of volunteerism in elementary school when she joined a group called The Litterbug Committee.
Although she knows her busy life isn't for everyone, she recommends involvement in various activities as a tool teenagers can use to combat peer pressure or the urges to live unhealthy or reckless lifestyles.
"By staying busy, it helps keep your mind off other pressures," she says.
O'Gara, who learned to swim in 1972 at a YMCA in New York City, has served as a volunteer coordinator for two years with the Southwest Y's Inclusive Swim Program, which is geared toward children with disabilities. In addition to being a hands-on volunteer who jumps into the pool every Saturday morning, she also recruits, supervises and trains other Inclusive Swim Program volunteers.
"It's pretty amazing that we have people who donate their time toward Y programs because they believe in them so much," says Christina Glynn, a Santa Clara Valley YMCA spokesperson. "I'm impressed by people like Hester who commit to a schedule and show up regularly to help people."
A National Charity League volunteer, O'Gara is responsible for ensuring that the Southwest YMCA was recognized by the National Charity League as an approved philanthropic organization, which brought more attention to its programs. The mother of five--who was out of the country when this article was written--also finds time to volunteer with the Cantor Art Center at Stanford University, at Saratoga High School's College and Career Center and with Saratoga High School's homecoming events.
Pilram, O'Gara and 15 other individuals will be honored at the YMCA's annual volunteer recognition dinner, titled Honoring Our Spirited Volunteers, on May 21 at the Double Tree Hotel in San Jose. The dinner also includes entertainment by members of the Central YMCA Cheerleader Camp. Tickets are $45 per person. For more information, call 408.298.3888.
Saratoga, California Since 1955
