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50 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • H O L I D A Y 2 0 1 8 LOCALKNOWLEDGE Julie Ann Lozano Nonprofit Volunteer Extraordinaire and Media, Marketing and Sales Expert T rying to jot down all of Julie Ann Lozano's many volunteering gigs literally causes a hand cramp. Most people would be overwhelmed literally causes a hand cramp. Most people would be overwhelmed literally causes a hand cramp. Most people would be overwhelmed by even showing up for one of the organizations she helps out, let alone by even showing up for one of the organizations she helps out, let alone the rest of them. On top of being a Meals on Wheels of the Monterey the rest of them. On top of being a Meals on Wheels of the Monterey Peninsula board member for two decades, along with past president, serv- Peninsula board member for two decades, along with past president, serv- ing three terms on the Monterey Chamber of Commerce board and then ing three terms on the Monterey Chamber of Commerce board and then jumping right onto the board of the Salinas Valley Chamber of jumping right onto the board of the Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce, Lozano works multiple jobs. These include being part of Tony Commerce, Lozano works multiple jobs. These include being part of Tony Tollner's Downtown Dining Team and MBS Business Systems. She also Tollner's Downtown Dining Team and MBS Business Systems. She also organizes the Rio Resolution Run each New Year's Day, which raises thou- organizes the Rio Resolution Run each New Year's Day, which raises thou- sands for various nonprofits. Most importantly, she's a devoted mother to sands for various nonprofits. Most importantly, she's a devoted mother to sands for various nonprofits. Most importantly, she's a devoted mother to son Matthew, whom she raised to be community service minded. Mother son Matthew, whom she raised to be community service minded. Mother and son teamed up on events like the California International Airshow and son teamed up on events like the California International Airshow Salinas, where Lozano served as hospitality director before becoming mar- Salinas, where Lozano served as hospitality director before becoming mar- keting coordinator. Raised during part of her childhood in Germany while keting coordinator. Raised during part of her childhood in Germany while her military father was stationed there, Lozano grew up in Marina and cur- her military father was stationed there, Lozano grew up in Marina and cur- rently resides in Monterey. rently resides in Monterey. Q: You are clearly passionate about giving back to the Q: You are clearly passionate about giving back to the community. How did you get started volunteering? community. How did you get started volunteering? A: My father was a very active volunteer so it comes naturally to me. A: My father was a very active volunteer so it comes naturally to me. After 20 years in the military, he was a car salesman but also a member After 20 years in the military, he was a car salesman but also a member After 20 years in the military, he was a car salesman but also a member and volunteer at the Elks Club, the Crosby golf tournament, and the secu- and volunteer at the Elks Club, the Crosby golf tournament, and the secu- rity team for Laguna Seca. He was always so excited when his events rity team for Laguna Seca. He was always so excited when his events came around and I got my start helping out with him. When my son Matt came around and I got my start helping out with him. When my son Matt was born, I dragged him around with me. It was cheaper than a babysitter! was born, I dragged him around with me. It was cheaper than a babysitter! When Matt went to college on a baseball scholarship, he helped out so When Matt went to college on a baseball scholarship, he helped out so much at his college children's hospital charity event that his coach called much at his college children's hospital charity event that his coach called me. He said he was making Matt the chair of the event because he was me. He said he was making Matt the chair of the event because he was doing a better job than he did. It was one of those proud mother doing a better job than he did. It was one of those proud mother moments. moments. Q: A lot of people want to get involved with volun- Q: A lot of people want to get involved with volun- teering, but feel overstretched already and are con- teering, but feel overstretched already and are con- cerned about the time commitment. How did you prior- cerned about the time commitment. How did you prior- itize work and being a mother and all your community itize work and being a mother and all your community service positions? service positions? A: Lack of sleep! I have such a passion for volunteering and there is such A: Lack of sleep! I have such a passion for volunteering and there is such a need. Businesses no longer have the flexibility to send employees to vol- a need. Businesses no longer have the flexibility to send employees to vol- a need. Businesses no longer have the flexibility to send employees to vol- unteer and for example, at Meals on Wheels, we are at a critical juncture. unteer and for example, at Meals on Wheels, we are at a critical juncture. Many of our drivers are in their 60s-80s and are retiring. We don't have Many of our drivers are in their 60s-80s and are retiring. We don't have very many younger people. They are afraid to commit. But you don't have very many younger people. They are afraid to commit. But you don't have to drive every day. You can be on call or help out once a week or month. to drive every day. You can be on call or help out once a week or month. The need continues to grow. We have an elderly population who can't The need continues to grow. We have an elderly population who can't cook and shop for themselves. Everyone can find an hour or two a week cook and shop for themselves. Everyone can find an hour or two a week cook and shop for themselves. Everyone can find an hour or two a week to help—whether it's with animals, seniors, children or nature—and you to help—whether it's with animals, seniors, children or nature—and you can make it a fun experience with your kids. People find they get way can make it a fun experience with your kids. People find they get way can make it a fun experience with your kids. People find they get way more back from the experience than they are giving. more back from the experience than they are giving. Q: Probably most people don't realize how many food Q: Probably most people don't realize how many food insecure residents are living in our County. insecure residents are living in our County. A: Besides providing three meals a day, we also are the only human con- A: Besides providing three meals a day, we also are the only human con- nection a lot of these people get. A lot of seniors we serve don't have nection a lot of these people get. A lot of seniors we serve don't have family here and when the drivers deliver the meals, that is the only contact family here and when the drivers deliver the meals, that is the only contact they get during the day. We have a very generous community but unfor- they get during the day. We have a very generous community but unfor- tunately a lot of unmet need. tunately a lot of unmet need. Q: How did you get involved in the Rio Resolution Run? Q: How did you get involved in the Rio Resolution Run? A: I was working full time for Tony Tollner [of Downtown Dining] and I A: I was working full time for Tony Tollner [of Downtown Dining] and I needed more flexibility to raise my son when he was younger. Tony said I needed more flexibility to raise my son when he was younger. Tony said I needed more flexibility to raise my son when he was younger. Tony said I could quit, but not leave, so he has me help with specific projects, like the could quit, but not leave, so he has me help with specific projects, like the could quit, but not leave, so he has me help with specific projects, like the run. He came up with it 28 years ago when he was on the board of the run. He came up with it 28 years ago when he was on the board of the Family Service Agency to prevent child abuse and they couldn't make pay- Family Service Agency to prevent child abuse and they couldn't make pay- roll. He was an active runner and he thought a run on New Year's Day roll. He was an active runner and he thought a run on New Year's Day would get the year off to a start on the right foot, so to speak. The regis- would get the year off to a start on the right foot, so to speak. The regis- tration fee covers the cost of the run and Rio Grill provides the brunch, tration fee covers the cost of the run and Rio Grill provides the brunch, T-shirt and prizes. The way the nonprofits make their money is by provid- T-shirt and prizes. The way the nonprofits make their money is by provid- T-shirt and prizes. The way the nonprofits make their money is by provid- ing volunteers and soliciting scholarships for the event. 100 percent of the ing volunteers and soliciting scholarships for the event. 100 percent of the sponsorship dollars goes to the nonprofit before we even start the run. sponsorship dollars goes to the nonprofit before we even start the run. sponsorship dollars goes to the nonprofit before we even start the run. Our nonprofits have made between $20,000 to more than $50,000 for Our nonprofits have made between $20,000 to more than $50,000 for Our nonprofits have made between $20,000 to more than $50,000 for their cause. their cause. Q: What is the most moving part of volunteering for you? Q: What is the most moving part of volunteering for you? A: My favorite moment is when the Make-A-Wish kids come out to A: My favorite moment is when the Make-A-Wish kids come out to see the practice show at the California International Air Show in Salinas see the practice show at the California International Air Show in Salinas the day before the event. It is the best feeling. We are all clapping and the day before the event. It is the best feeling. We are all clapping and cheering and the kids feel like rock stars and get up close with the per- cheering and the kids feel like rock stars and get up close with the per- formers and the planes and the monster trucks. The parents get to have formers and the planes and the monster trucks. The parents get to have a day where they are not thinking about medical stuff. We want them all a day where they are not thinking about medical stuff. We want them all to have a day of fun. to have a day of fun. —Brett Wilbur —Brett Wilbur