BIOGRAPHY:

"While Aryna and Phil have both individual and common interests, the way they work together creates synergy and exciting results for people of all ages in Ojai", observed Rikki Horne, in her nomination.

Caruthers and Swope have donated countless volunteer hours to the Ojai Education Foundation, the Ojai Tennis Tournament, the Ojai Film Festival, the Ojai Music Festival, the Ojai Women's Fund, the Ojai Valley Retired Men's Club, and the Ojai Valley Community Hospital Foundation Guild.

They met while working at IBM in Los Angeles, married, and moved to Ojai in 2003. Officially, they're retired, but you'd never know it by their busy schedules.

Swope has been involved with the Ojai Women's Fund since its creation in 2016, helping to raise over $120,000 in the past few years. It funds local non-profit groups to fund the arts, education, environment, health care, and social service programs.

Caruthers served as treasurer of the Ojai Education Foundation for 8 years. Close to a half a million dollars in grants and special projects have benefitted greatly the Ojai Unified School District.

Together, they help raise awareness and funding for the Ojai Valley Community Hospital Foundation Guild, including serving as chairs of its Nightingale Ball. "The Ojai Valley Community Hospital is so important to this community," Caruthers said. The fundraising has updated the essential services of the hospital and contributed to its financial stability.

For no prior experience in fundraising, they have managed to elevate the quality of life and well being to the Ojai Valley. "We know more people and have more friends in little ol' Ojai than we did in Los Angeles," quipped Phil.