NEWS BRIEFS

PAM GOULD RESIGNS FROM SHEPHERD’S HOPE

Pam Gould, president and CEO of West Orange nonprofit Shepherd’s Hope, has resigned. Her last day will be Jan. 31 the organization announced Friday, Jan. 20.

“Pam Gould has decided to chart another path of service, which cannot be pursued while at Shepherd’s Hope,” Shepherd’s Hope Board Chair John Miller said in a prepared statement. “Pam’s leadership has been instrumental to guiding Shepherd’s Hope through the challenges the pandemic presented the last several years. On behalf of our Board of Directors, I thank Pam for her many contributions and wish her the very best in her next chapter of community service.”

The Shepherd’s Hope board will begin a search for a permanent president immediately. Founder Dr. Bill Barnes will serve as interim CEO.

Shepherd’s Hope provides free health care access for the uninsured through urgent and specialty care and connecting where appropriate to ongoing care. The organization provides services in West Orange from its Winter Garden headquarters, 455 Ninth St., Winter Garden.

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hardly hold objects in her hands.

As of Friday, Jan. 20, Valeria also tested positive for COVID-19.

Financial Fight

Valeria is the oldest daughter in a family of five. In addition to her father, Carlos, the family includes her mother, Leidys; sister Valeska, 15; and brother Vicente, 9.

The family fled from Venezuela and came to Florida in 2017 seeking political asylum.

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the Arraiz Ramoses are among more than 850,000 people who fled the country and are waiting to establish residency in the United States for the same reason.

The family does not have any relatives in the U.S. to support them emotionally or financially, and they are still working on mastering English.

Carlos Arraiz is a salesman in a furniture store in Orlando, while Leidys Ramos recently was hired by a local restaurant to work in the kitchen. Leidys Ramos was only on her second week at the job when Valeria got sick. Now, she has lost her job because of her time spent with her daughter in the hospital.

Although the family is facing a lifealtering turn of events, the bills won’t stop coming.

The parents have two other younger children to feed and rent to pay.

A friend of the family, Renata Harris, launched a GoFundMe page for the family Sunday, Jan. 8. However, the family recently had to close the page and open a new one because they need the money that is already there.

Sweet Student

Marisol Gerritsen, West Orange High School Spanish teacher, has been working with the family to offer support in any way possible.

She shared Valeria is one of her top students in her AP Spanish Literature & Culture class, as well as a studious and dedicated student.

Gerritsen visits Valeria when she can after work; she feels it is her duty as a teacher to help when someone is in real need.

“Valeria is a very good student,” Gerritsen said. “She’s sweet, very responsible, respectful and has a lot of friends at school that care about her. All the teachers love her. She is in my smallest class on period six. It is an advanced course at university level in high school. We are like family. We make coffee; I bring them food, cupcakes and cookies; and we read stories, poetry, drama and novels.”

West Orange High has given Gerritsen some food items and gift cards to take to the family over the last few weeks. Gerritsen also has brought flowers, chocolates and books, with the hope Valeria will be able to read.

“The West Orange High School PTSO is committed to helping this special Warrior family in their time of need,” the PTSO stated.

Valeria is part of the Spanish Honor Society at the school. She also loves modeling, dancing and baking.

She won Miss Latina Tampa 2020 in the pre-teen category and is known for her flavorful birthday cakes.

When asked to describe their daughter, Valeria’s parents said, “She is amazing, a good person, nice, respectful, beautiful, friendly and awesome.”