Ady Named ‘Woman of Distinction’
The Commerce/Bell Gardens Soroptimists honored Industrial Council President Debbie Ady at the club’s annual fashion show on Nov. 4th at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.
Ady, presented with the plaque by Soroptimist President Barbara Martine, from Datapage Inc., was given the “Woman of Distinction” honor for her leadership in the effort to establish a child development center for Commerce residents and local businesses.
Ady, who in addition to her role in the Industrial Council is the secretary of the corporation of Commerce Casino, has made the issue of child care services one of her highest priorities and is determined to bring a childcare center to the community.
“Her efforts in the development of a child care facility in the city have impressed all who work with her,” said Soroptimist member, and Industrial Council board member, Martha Hecker. “Her role in the Industrial Council has consistently supported Soroptimist activities.”
Hecker said, “We nominated her because, in analyzing her involvement in the community, her contributions aligned well with those of our club, including child care, Rosewood Elementary School, child abuse, youth scholarships, women in government and several others.”
“The Soroptimists could not have picked a better person to honor,” added Industrial Council Executive Director Dayle Frisk. “Nobody has a better attitude about the importance of child care than Debbie.”
“There are 5,600 children between the age of three and five years old living in the zip codes of 90022 and 90040, yet there currently exists only 580 licensed child care spaces in these zip codes,” said Ady who used the opportunity created by the Soroptimists to call attention to the issue.
“While this project will make only a small dent in the community’s needs, it will make a dent. So while I have done little else but be a cheerleader for the project, I welcome the opportunity to raise the public’s awareness for the proposal.”
The event, labeled “A Christmas Song”, attracted more than 300 participants including members of the Commerce City Council. This year’s event raised $8,000 which will be distributed to Soroptimist-supported charities including a large percentage to the child care project.
Ady’s participation in the development of a local childcare facility began when she was asked to join the subcommittee organized to develop the blueprint for the planned program.
The Montebello-Commerce YMCA will operate the center and will collaborate with the City of Commerce, Rio Hondo Community College, Beverly Hospital and the Montebello School District to ensure the overall development of children between the age of three to five years old.
Ady said the facility would follow the YMCA’s six pillars of character: respect, responsibility, honesty, fairness, caring and citizenship. “If we can instill these characteristics into our children at an early age, then maybe they will not have to live in a world filled with ethnic and religious discrimination and hatred.
By exposing them to a broader view of the world around them, the cycle of domestic violence can possibly be broken,” she said.
To date, the YMCA has been awarded more than $700,000 in Proposition 10 funds for the development and operation of the center. The grant will also entitle the YCMA to continue receiving additional operating funds on a yearly basis.
Proposition 10 is a citizen initiative approved by California voters in November 1998. The Proposition allows funds to be spent on a broad range of programs to support and improve the development of children under the age of 5, without regard to income or residency status.
The proposed center will serve up to 120 children and will be available to families that live and work in the City of Commerce and surrounding communities.
The Commerce Childcare Council Subcommittee meets every 4th Wednesday of the month at 10:00 a.m. in the City of Commerce.