Blind Community Center of San Diego

Featured Volunteers

June Clark

June Clark is one of the Blind Community Center’s volunteer accountants and a member of the BCC Singers.

June first moved to San Diego in 1957 from her native Providence, Rhode Island. She subsequently lived in Los Angeles, Orange County, and Kansas City, Missouri, before returning to San Diego in 1987.

“San Diego is the only place I ever wanted to come back to,” she says.

In addition to accounting, June has worked in the airline, aerospace, and fashion design industries.

Besides the BCC singers, June sings with three Southwestern College groups: the Concert Choir, the Chamber Singers, and the Jazz Vocal Ensemble (West Coast Syncopation). She is also a member of Our Mother of Confidence Church Traditional Choir and the Pacific Academy of Ecclesiastical Music (PACEM).

In addition to helping out with the BCC accounting, June volunteers at San Diego Hospice.

She has one son, Wayne, one daughter-in-law, Devonna, and one grandson, Christopher.

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Mary Lou St. Tomas

Mary Lou was born in Mexico City June 21, 1918. In 1950, with her husband Fred and family, she moved to Tijuana, where Fred played Jai Lai and Mary Lou ran a restaurant. In 1960, the family relocated to San Diego. Some years later, when Fred started losing his vision, they heard about the Blind Recreation Center and started attending the various activities. After Fred passed away in 1979, Mary Lou continued to volunteer in the craft class and today we call her the Angel Lady because she helps the visually impaired finish their beaded angels. The name fits Mary Lou perfectly, because, no matter whether it is helping in the craft room or the kitchen or whereever she is needed, you will find this petite lady smiling and helping someone.

In 2005, Mary Lou joined the Chula Vista Harbor Lioness and, as with everything else she has done, she was running from the moment she joined. If we ask for a volunteer for anything, Mary Lou is the first to answer. Whether it is for skirt jerker or a place to hold our next yard sale, up goes that little hand. Lioness Mary Lou has volunteered at the Blind Community Center approximately 16 hours a week for the past 34 years. She misses only when ill or out of town. Her duties vary from helping the blind with their bead work, to preparing lunch for special occasions, or any other task that springs up. She is an inspiration to all of us.

The Chula Vista Harbor Lioness are proud to nominate this 90 years young, smiling little lady, as Lioness of the year for MD-4. She may not be the longest term member, but she is the most cheerful, willing Lioness in the club and her longevity with the Blind Community Center is certainly a sign of her commitment to the blind community and the goals of Lionism.

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Aurora Ortiz, the Little Giant

Legally blind and hearing impaired since birth, Aurora Ortiz originally came to the Blind Community Center to learn how to live with her challenges. Fourteen years later, she's BCC's vice president and volunteer coordinator. She routinely puts in 80 hours or more every week.

Aurora is very active in raising money for the center’s transportation fund, supporting the shuttle vans that get blind and visually impaired members from their homes to the center and back.

Her impairments haven't stopped Aurora from entering and completing most of the local charity walks and marathons. She prefers to walk independently, with just her white cane for guidance, although she is not shy about asking strangers for help if the route is unusually challenging. On those rare occasions, she may be seen walking arm-in-arm between two sighted participants.

For more than ten years, Aurora has raised money for the BCC transportation fund by participating in the Carlsbad Marathon. She will participate again in January and hopes to raise a much-needed $25,000. If you would like to help this important cause, please send a check payable to The Blind Community Center, indicating “Little Giant” in the memo section. A contribution in any amount is welcome and is 100 percent tax deductable.