Lucio Garcia (left) is seen Thursday surprising his friend Noe Zavala with a visit from KGBT Channel 4, which recognized Zavala in this week’s Pay It 4ward for his work raising money for the family of Ruby Ramirez, the 7-year-old girl who died earlier this year after reportedly choking on a balloon. (Staff photo by Francisco E. Jimenez)
By FRANCISCO E. JIMENEZ
Staff Writer
reporter@sbnewspaper.com
Sometimes the best way to inspire acts of kindness is with acts of kindness, and that is exactly what Noe Zavala has done.
Zavala was the latest person to receive the Pay It 4ward cash prize on Thursday, February 21, in the parking lot of Jack in the Box. He was recognized for his kindness after news of his organizing an effort to collect money for the family of the late Ruby Ramirez, who died at the age of 7 earlier this year due to choking on a balloon.
“He had done some fundraising for people who are in need. He had done some diabetic walks, Zumbathon walks for people who have autism. He puts in his time to go out there and collect donations for all these people and these activities going on,” said Lucio Garcia, a close friend of Zavala’s. “That’s why I nominated him, and everything came out okay. I called Channel 4 and submitted his information, and it came out that he is the recipient of the Pay It 4ward.”
Zavala seemed generally surprised when he discovered that he had been chosen to be awarded $400. He had been fooled into thinking that he was showing up to Jack in the Box to participate in a news story.
“I was really surprised,” said Zavala. “I’m surrounded by good people, friends and family. We don’t want any more publicity for that little girl. I just want her mom to be okay and life to go on.”
Zavala was able to raise approximately $2,400 for the Ramirez family, and with the money he just received he plans on continuing to use it for more good around the community.
“I got a couple of people who helped me out, who did favors here and there. I’m going to pass some money on to them. I want to take them out to eat, something like that, just to thank them for helping me,” Zavala said. “We’re going to set up a special needs run, something big. We want to invite everyone from the Valley and make it an annual thing. I’m going to use some of this money for that. We want to call it The Special Needs Run.”
Pay It 4ward is a weekly segment on KGBT Channel 4 News in which viewers nominate someone in the community who is inspiring others to contribute to the community. When asked what separated Zavala from others nominated for the award, Channel 4 News Anchor Ryan Wolf cited his humble demeanor and kindness.
“We saw it when we told him that we were there to talk about him. You could tell that he was shocked,” Wolf said. “He didn’t want anything in return – you could see that it in his eyes. He’s making a difference to other people, he’s making an impact.”
Read this story in the Feb. 27 edition of the San Benito News, or subscribe to our E-Edition by clicking here.
1 comments
I am a runner and I think that doing a special needs run would be a great way to raise money. I would like to help you and support you. I know several business owners who I’m sure would love to support you. Please send me your phone number so we can communicate.