Saratoga News

Photograph by Robert Scheer

Jane Asher was recently honored for her community contributions, particularly to Cupertino Community Services.

Volunteer gains much by giving away

By Shari Kaplan

As a child growing up in rural Cupertino, Saratoga resident Jane Asher says her parents consistently taught her about the values of sharing and generosity.

Although she wasn't always too keen on trusting her favorite toys to her younger brother, Asher learned the value of sharing and how to put it into practice. When she became an adult, "share and share alike" became more that just a motto--it became what she does with even intangible assets, such as time.

"In life, time is even more precious than money," says Asher, who has filled her life by giving away time through volunteerism and community service.

For this reason, Asher's colleagues at Cupertino Community Services--the cause to which she devotes the most time--nominated her for honors at the Junior League of San Jose's 29th annual Volunteer Recognition Luncheon held April 3. The luncheon honors dozens of people nominated by individuals and businesses throughout Santa Clara County for volunteerism and community contributions.

"One thing about volunteering is that you get to meet so many different and sharing people," Asher says. Meeting so many people is her favorite aspect of volunteer work and what she jokingly says may be her one "selfish" motive.

"I had parents who were very loving and very caring. They taught me to share everything. It was a natural thing; I saw it all the time," she recalls. "I like to share, and I hope that my sharing will lead other people to do the same."

Asher became involved with CCS about 3 1/2 years ago, when a friend recruited her to serve as treasurer on the board of directors. It's been onward ever since; in her second year she found herself vice president, and now she is president.

The nonprofit organization encourages the sharing of community resources to provide for basic human needs. It offers emergency assistance, food, clothing, shelter and housing assistance, educational programs and many other support services to children, adults and seniors in Cupertino, Saratoga, Los Gatos and West San Jose.

"Her creativity, leadership and sensitivity have affected many lives throughout [these] communities," program director Julie Leung says of Asher.

Not content to simply serve on the CCS board--a large job in itself--Asher has also been known to trade business attire for jeans and a T-shirt and get grubby alongside CCS clients in landscaping around a fourplex the organization runs as transitional housing for homeless people.

Last year, Asher also chaired the annual CCS Barbecue and Auction, which broke all previous records for fundraising, according to Leung.

Asher's first taste of community service came many years ago through a local branch of Quota Club International, whose main focus is on hearing impairment--education about it and advocacy and treatment programs for it. After Quota and CCS, Asher joined the board of managers of the Northwest YMCA and also joined the Rotary Club. In conjunction with another of the Quota Club's programs, Asher mentors a teenage mother who attends Cupertino High School.

"Jane has an incredible energy; if you could harness it you could make a fortune," says CCS executive director Mary Ellen Chell of Asher's ability to juggle so much. "Jane will do whatever it takes to get a job done and will get it done in a timely fashion."

When not volunteering with her many causes, Asher runs a business of her own--Sentinel Management, a property management firm. In her free time, she enjoys reading as well as fishing and antiquing with her husband, Jim.

[ Back to Contents Page | Saratoga News Home Page | Archives ]