An Inspiration

My Favorite ... Mentor

She is 90 years young and the CEO of a school (Speech and Language Development Center; Buena Park, Calif.) for 300 multiply impaired children that she and an associate started 50 years ago. She maintains a daily schedule that people half her age would find difficult to duplicate. She is amazing by any measure. And, she inspires many to volunteer - including me.

I have been a member of the school's board of directors for 14 years, the first eight while living in California and subsequently as a resident of Texas. During all of this time, I have had the incredible privilege to work with Aleen Agranowitz, Ph.D. (the Ph.D. received after she turned 70). She has been a constant reminder of what it means to be determined and to have a vision, goals and personal fortitude to bring them to life.

She is my reminder of the importance of giving something back to your community, profession, church or wherever the spirit to volunteer takes you.

-Don West

VP Client Services, State National Companies