2007-2008

Alice Gardner

Category: 2007-2008

Alice Gardner was born in Oxbow, Sask., Canada. She came to Ojai 26 years ago via Roseburg, Oregon where she made her home with two beautiful daughters. Acting on a tip from a friend, she visited Ojai and found her true home. She met Les in 1985, was married, and bought the Attitude Adjustment Shoppe. She has been very active through the Rotary Club of Ojai West, where she served as President. She works tirelessly with all their activities including the very successful Ojai Wine Festival which generates monies which fund activities in the Ojai Valley.

Hailey Johnson

Category: 2007-2008

Hailey Johnson was diagnosed with neuroblastoma at the age of six. Now twelve, she attends 7th grade at Matilija Junior High School. She has beaten cancer and is on a mission to help other children like her. Through "Hailey's Treasure Chest", she raises monies for children receiving medical treatments for cancer at the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles. Hailey speaks with wisdom beyond her years. Her advice for anyone who finds himself or herself with a life-threatening illness: "Never give up, because if you give up, then there's no chance. Look at me. I'm still here."

Helen Allen

Category: 2007-2008

Born in Boston, Helen worked for the U.S. Government as a cryptanalyst. She had two boys, growing up in Ojai. She arrived in Ojai somewhat by chance. Within a month, she fell in love with Ojai and wished she had been born here. For 30 years, Ms. Allen has been a volunteer at the Ojai Tennis Tournament and teaches tennis to children in the local schools. She also spends her time with the Ojai Youth Foundation. As she puts it: "The joy is mine." For the last 20 years she has worked with clients at the Oaks where she gets paid to "do my fitness exercise." Her motto is: "Work like you don't need the money, dance like no one is watching, and live like you've never been hurt."

Leslie Clark

Category: 2007-2008

Leslie Clark, founder of the Nomad Foundation, is an artist whose career has always included travel. After a master of fine arts degree from George Washington University, she traveled to France for her first exhibition. In 1993 she traveled to Niger in search exotic subject matter. She found that and alot more. Ms. Clark met and supported the Wodaabe nomads. She realized that relatively small sums of money could transform a family's life and she could make a difference. In 1997, she opened the Nomad Gallery in Ojai to show her paintings of Africa along with the work of African artisans. Through the creation of the Nomad Foundation, she has sought to preserve the artistic and cultural traditions of these nomadic families. She organized cultural exchanges, bringing African musicians to the U.S. to promote awareness of the beauty of their art forms and music. Today, projects include nomadic schools, wells, women's co-operatives, microcredit, cereal banks, health and nutritional programs. In 2004, she started Nomad Adventures, Inc. to bring employment to her Tuareg partners, to take humanitarian expeditions to visit and benefit the projects and to share the beauty of the cultures and landscapes of the Sahara Desert. As a member of the Ojai Rotary, she continues her work, bettering the lives of these people.

Mike Caldwell

Category: 2007-2008

Mike has lived in Ojai for 31 years, working in engineering management for Vetco Offshore. His wife, Joanne owned the Ojai Ice Cream Store. Mike's passion is to help improve the education of children within our public schools. He is very involved with the Ojai Education Foundation, San Antonio PTO, and the Rotary Club of Ojai West, where he served as President. He has worked hard to keep the Ojai Band going and has played with the Band for the last 12 years. The Caldwell family has hosted full-year exchange students for 12 of the last 15 years.

Ray Sims

Category: 2007-2008

Born is Cleveland, Ohio, Dr. Sims grew up mainly in Ojai. He attended Monica Ros School, Matilija Junior High, and Nordhoff where he graduated as co-valdictorian. He met his wife to be, Loran, while taking piano lessons from her mother. He went to medical school at UCLA and completed a residency in Internal Medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Married in 1979, Dr. and Mrs. Sims moved to Ojai in 1983 to start his medical practice. He has a thriving geriatric practice, providing care with compassion and concern for their well-being and quality of life. Dr. Sims has been involved with many local organizations, including the Ojai Chamber of Commerce, Ojai Chapter of the American Heart Association and their annual Heart and Sole Runs, medical director of St. Joseph's Health and Retirement Center, football physician for Villanova Preparatory School, a clinic teacher at Ventura County Medical Center and Cedars-Sinai. He has served as Chief of Staff at Ojai Valley Community Hospital, chairman of the Governing Board, and helped obtain initial funding for Ojai Hospital's Operation Picasso, bringing art of local artists to the hospital for everyone's enjoyment.