Fall 2000
Catalysts for Community Empowerment and Corporate Responsiblity
Erin Brockovich keynotes SVTC 18th Anniversary Celebration
We are excited and very proud to be able to invite you to meet Erin Brockovich at our 18th annual benefit celebration on Thursday, November 16 at De Anza College! Her story is very similar to our own toxic history here in Silicon Valley, especially the discovery of the ground water contamination in the early 1980’s. It’s clear that we share a similar destiny (see below).
In a world where heroes are often in short supply, the story of Erin Brockovich is an inspirational reminder of the power of the human spirit. Her passion, tenacity and steadfast desire to fight for the rights of the underdog defied the odds…her victory made even more sweet by the fact that while helping others, she in turn helped herself.
Erin’s story, now a box office hit, Erin Brockovich, is a stirring, funny and unconventional drama based on true events, starring two-time Academy Award* nominee Julia Roberts as the mother of three young children who sees an injustice, takes on the bad guy and wins.
While working as a paralegal at a southern California law firm, Erin stumbled upon some medical records placed in real estate files. Confused, she questions the connection.
She convinced her boss to allow her to investigate, where she discovers a cover-up involving contaminated water in a local community which is causing devastating illnesses among its residents.
Although the local citizens were initially leery of becoming involved, Erin’s persistence and the personal interest she took in their lives made them listen. A kindred spirit, Erin is one of them, and her ability to connect with them on their level makes them comfortable, ultimately earning their trust.
Going door to door, she signed up over 600 plaintiffs, and Erin and Ed Masry – the attorney she works for — went on to win the largest settlement ever paid in a direct-action lawsuit in U.S. history....$333 million. By triumphing over insurmountable odds, she was able to prove herself, and reinvent her life.
(Portions of this story are excerpted from the web site for the movie “Erin Brockovich” Universal studios ©2000)
To celebrate 18 years of campaigns and successes, SVTC is hosting two events as part of its Anniversary celebration. Both events include our featured guest, Erin Brockovich.
A reception dinner will be held at the California History Center. The evening program and awards ceremony will follow at the Campus Center Rooms A & B. Both events are on the De Anza College Campus in Cupertino.
This year SVTC will honor Erin Brockovich with the Debbie Cole Memorial Community Service Award. This award is made in memory of SVTC founding board member Debbie Cole who succumbed to breast cancer in 1994.
SVTC is also presenting two Community Partner Awards this year; one to Chad Raphael, a good friend of SVTC. Chad is an Assistant Professor of Communications at Santa Clara University and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Jesse Smith Noyes Foundation. Chad has helped SVTC with developing media communication strategies and has helped SVTC build bridges among the academic community, the business community, and local non-governmental/non-profit organizations.
Our second Community Partner Award goes to Raquel Sancho, Program Director of the Santa Clara Center for Occupational Safety and Health (SCCOSH). Raquel has worked at SCCOSH, SVTC’s sister organization, since coming on board as community organizer for the Campaign to End the Miscarriage of Justice in 1993. Using her skills as an organizer for GABRIELA a women’s alliance in the Philippines, she has helped SCCOSH develop a series of curriculums for workers, focusing on right-to-know and leadership skills. Together with SVTC Communications Director Leslie Byster, she was responsible for the formation of Health WATCH (Workers Acting Together for Change with women working in the high-tech electronics industry. Health WATCH in turn was instrumental in launching the other campaigns and projects including WeLEAP.
Our summer intern, Ai Kuwabara, will receive the Ted Zuur Memorial Volunteer of the Year Award. Ai , who discovered SVTC on the Internet, was looking for an internship where she could use her communication skills. Born in Japan, Ai is fluent in Japanese and was instrumental in researching high-tech companies’ websites comparing the information in the Japanese versions with the English versions. SVTC will be publishing her findings later this year. We are grateful for the many hours and good cheer she contributed to SVTC.
Richard McMurtry, who last year was our on-loan Environmental Engineer from the Regional Water Quality Control Board, will receive SVTC’s Special Project Award, for his brilliance and humor in helping SVTC splash onto the water ways with our Clean Stream/Clean Bay Clam Project.
Please join us in honoring the achievements of these individuals and in celebrating another year of successes for SVTC. More information can be found on our website - www.svtc.org/benefit2000/fallbene.htm. Space is limited. Call 408-287-6707 to make your reservations and for more information. Tickets will be held at the door.
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