benes dias. welcome to "comunidad del valle." i'm dame yan trujillo. and today la familia is in our studios, the recipients of the la familia award brought on by the community association award of silicon valley. this is your "comunidad del valle." ♪ we begin with the hispanic foundation of silicon valley, the organization that honors annually la familia in silicon valley, the bay area. with us here is the president and ceo of the hispanic foundation, former san jose mayor ron gonzales.

welcome back to our show. >> thank you for inviting me. good to be here. >> there's a lot to talk about but i want to talk about maybe what you miss about being on the 18th floor of city hall. >> well, i think the thing that most people miss about not being in public service is the people. you know, that wonderful city staff that i had the chance to work with both in my own immediate office and then all the city employees, whether they're firefighters, police officers, city librarians, aides, just a tremendous group of people. in many cases you see their families grow, you know, when you're there for eight years as i was. you see children born. you see them growing up as a young child -- children. and that's the part you miss the most. what i don't miss about anything is -- not necessarily the media but certainly the 24/7 part of the job. you're always waiting for the phone to ring. some potential disaster that's happened. and certainly the demands on

your time and your mind. it's good to be re-engauged in the community, as i am with the hispanic foundation of silicon valley. but at the same time it's not 24/7. >> is there a secret chute or a secret passageway in case something happens over there? >> if there is, no one told me about it. so maybe that's a clue right there. >> so many things that you've accomplished. you've been with the hispanic foundation now for a little over a year. is this what you really wanted to do after examining it for a year? >> damian, when we were here about a year ago talking about my position as the president and ceo of the hispanic chamber of commerce and we were looking forward to all the things we wanted to do at the foundation, to be back here about 12 months later and be able to talk about the things that we have been able to accomplish today, and we'll cover some of that as you provide your questions to me, but we are making great progress. it's been a great year. i totally enjoy it. there's not a day in this job

that's like yesterday and i'm sure is not going to be like tomorrow. i'm engaged in the hispanic community and i'm having a great time. and more importantly, our foundation is growing and the people that we're helping in the latino community is increasing. >> and you've grabbed the bull by the horns in the last year. we're going to show you information on the four initiatives that you and the board have proposed to undertake. this is vide of one of the initiatives. but we have a -- here they e. you want to tackle education, research, health, and leadership. tell us about your initiatives. >> these are the four things that our board of directors has decided are the most important issues in the latino community in silicon valley. of course, you can't put together a list like this without talking about education. youth and education is our number one priority. and specifically getting more latinos into the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields. this is where the tremendous gap which exists where latino children are way behind

non-latino students in algebra, science, these kinds of things. we've partnered with the silicon valley foundation and a-learn where we offered this summer program where we had 1,000 students, and you reported on it, going through advanced mathematics classes and algebra 1 classes. >> and everybody in that room was smarter than me. which isn't hard to do, but that was the case. >> they were not only smarter than you and me, you this were really interested. these are students who did not sign up for summer school. no student's going to sign up for summer school. and if they do it's not going to be for math or algebra. so these students came to us not having math or algebra as their favorite subject but when the program's done their test scores are up, they're confident, they're now interested and exciting about math and algebra. >> leadership is another thing. >> leadership is another area. and a specific initiative we'll be launching here very shortly. in fact, at the charity ball. is the latino board leadership academy. and that program is designed to help latinos who want to serve

on boards of directors for non-profits. we're going to train them in the basic things that they need to know to be an effective board member for a non-profit. the other areas that we are focusing on health and the senior community and you recently reported on our cuminando con recto program which teachers latino caregivers how to care for their elders in the final years of their lives. we know historically latinos take care of our own but that's been more complicated in a place like silicon valley, more expensive. so these kinds of programs can help a caregiver care for their elders but also care for themselves. and then the other initiatives is our research area, where we've launched the research and publication of the first ever silicon valley latino report card. and we hope to publish that for the public in spring of next year. convene in our community and talk about what is the state of

affairs for latinos in the areas of education, health, the economy, housing, and environmental sustainability. >> all right. in our next segment we're going to talk about the hispanic charity ball, which is coming up, and we'll talk about all of that also at the charity ball. but there is the web address. it's hssv.org. october 16th at 6:00 p.m. at the san jose fairmont. we'll be back with more with former mayor ron gonzales when we continue. stay with us.

we're back with former san jose mayor ron gonzales of the hispanic foundation of silicon valley. we're talking about the hispanic charity ball and the recipients of the la familia award, who will be right here in our studio in our next segment. and mayor, i spoke with you before about your choice and the foundation's choice of the paine family of san jose. and i told you that even three days later i still had chills across my arms. tell us about the paine family,

if you will. >> well, the paine family illustrates best in our opinion and our committee's opinion, the committee that reviews all the nominations that come in from the general public, nominating various latino families here in silicon valley for this prestigious award. and the paine family best illustrates the criteria that was established this year. historically, for the first 20 years of the charity ball, we've had the criteria where we're looking for a latino family that has a multigenerational commitment to community service. well, that stayed for this year, too. we had that same criteria, too. but we added another criteria, and that was that that service extend beyond our kind of regional community to the united states military. it's well known in our community, maybe not necessarily in the non-hispanic community, that latinos have a long tradition of patriotism and service in the united states military. and we felt this was an

appropriate year to highlight that. so the paine family, and you'll be introducing them here shortly, best ill vait that you can give back to your community, to your nation, to our nation in many, many ways. and i'll leave the descriptions of their wonderful service record both in the united states military and here with the san jose police department. i guess you could say that all four of the brothers have been first responders in many ways. and they have a great story to tell. and of course a great level of service to their own local communities also. >> we do have a short clip that we want to share with you all. it's just video of the family and the medals. we're going to start with the matriarch of the family and the portrait of her now deceased husband in the background. and i'm just -- an amazing display of courage. love of family is one thing that describes this family. and also love of country.

>> well, this is the case. and the thing that many non-latinos don't know is of all the different ethnic groups that exist in the united states latinos have and have been awarded more congressional medals of honor than any other group. so i think it's very important for our community to make sure that others outside of our community are aware of the fact that our contributions to this country, to our nation, and the safety of our nation, whether it be in international waters or international lands or in our own neighborhoods, relies on latinos serving in the united states military and local law enforcement agencies. >> and it started, mayor, that these families who are being recognized are center stage that night at the hispanic charity ball and are recognized -- >> they are the point of the celebration. you know because you've been kind enough to serve as our master of ceremonies on a number

of years now that we have a very streamlined program. not a whole lot of speeches. we have a wonderful dinner at the san jose fairmont hotel. we recognize the la familia award winners and then we get on with the dancing, which is the best part of the day. >> and the other part is one of the brothers, robert, is with tortilla soup. he's a founder of that band. they'll be playing. ron is another -- he'll be djing. they'll be working and receiving their honor that night. >> that's a first. we've never had that situation where someone -- a couple of the paine brothers will have to literally come out of the audience and onto the stage very quickly to get the dancing started right at 9:00. >> all right. let's show you the information, and we'll give you -- give us your final thoughts, mayor, if you will. >> you can't top this event. we're very proud of the fact that the hispanic charity ball is the last remaining black tie analyst event left in silicon valley. and you've been around long enough to know that there were many. but this is the only one that has survived.

20 years of up and down economic times. but it's a real gift from our community and our corporate sponsors and foundation sponsors to make this a great success and to make it a tremendous fund-raiser for the programs we fund. >> i can say this now, i used to sneak into hispanic charity ball when i was in college. but now we're paying back. >> i have an invoice here. >> thank you so muchwogrkin your wogine you're doing. up next on "comunidad del valle," la familia. stay with us. [ male announcer ] taxes.

so who called prop 13 a "fraud" and a "rip off?" jerry brown. who raised the gas tax as governor, and pushed for higher sales taxes? jerry brown. who tried five times to raise property taxes in oakland? jerry brown. who supported higher statewide income taxes? jerry brown. and who says, if elected, he'll ask voters for even more new taxes? jerry brown.

governor jerry brown, again? hide your wallet. we're back here on "comunidad del valle" with the paine family, this year's recipients of the annual la familia award put on by the hispanic foundation of silicon valley. frank, ron, and robert paine are my guests here on the show. welcome to the show. >> thank you. >> tell us about the last name paine, where it comes from. >> from my grandfather. he was german descent, first generation born here in america. and met my grandmother,

hispanic. and neither one could actually communicate with each other. he was a postman. she was working for a doctor. and they would just sit there and basically make goo goo eyes at each other, and they fell in love. >> and the seed was planted. >> yes, it was. >> ron, you've been to the hispanic charity ball before. your thoughts on this year being the honorees. >> it's an honor. i was part of it last year. just seeing the families that are up there, not just the ones that win but also the ones that were nominated. i think it's very important that everyone gets a little moment to be recognized for what they're doing. there are so many people, families that have given to this community that you don't hear about and it was good to hear those stories. >> robert, you're a san jose police officer. you're serving your community as we speak. but at the same time do you feel that since you're being honored

in this way that now there is another challenge for you, that now you have to carry this torch for the next year or so and keep it going? >> for sure. you know, putting on the san jose police badge and the patch all in itself is an honor, and there is a torch that i carry every time i go out there. when people in this community call for help, that's the only thing on my mind, is what am i going to do to help them? and this is icing on the cake to get this award. it just tells me and our family that we've got to continue. we've got to continue doing the right thing. >> a tradition of public service that ron works for nasa right now in the wind tunnel program. he's a former marine. is it former marine or always a marine? >> always a marine. >> frank is a deputy sheriff over in stanislaus county. he also is a marine. we talked before when we did our story with you all about serving your country, duty, honor, country. tell us what that means to you.

>> it's honor and pride. it's giving back. when we talked before, you know, we mentioned sometimes people think it has to be money. it's not necessarily so. it's just giving of yourself. your time. and if you're healthy and strong enough, then you know, be out there for the community. give what you can. >> and ron, you said my big brothers frank and dan, they joined, i'd better enlist too? >> exactly. follow in their footsteps. >> and why the marines? >> the best. if you're going to join. i mean, this is my personal take. and again, no disrespect to the other branches. but the marines in my eyes, they're the best. >> in talking to your mom, we have video of your mom, and in talking to your mom, she couldn't stop thanking the lord for having raised such good children. what's it like? we'll start with you, ron.

what's it like to hear those kinds of words? you probably hear it all the time from your mom because she seems like the type of person who mentions it all the time. but to say it to a stranger like me, how much she thanks the lord for raising such good children. >> sure. well, i think first off is we appreciate her and my dad as much as anything in the world. you know, they laid down the foundation for us. and it was always do the right thing and do good. so once you hear that over and over again you have no choice but to continue doing that. >> you lost your father to cancer a few years ago. we're going to talk about him briefly in the next -- our next segment. but familia, ron. what does familia mean to you? because you're receiving la familia award for your togetherness and for your service to your country and for your service to the community. >> i think the -- what it means to me is it's not just about the payne family, it's about my grandparents and my great-grandparents and the cousins and uncles and everybody

that's come before us because for us to have what we have now it didn't come free and our grandparents did a lot of sacrificing. our parents sacrificed. to give us our start, to give us the chance. so when you're talking about familia, it's all of us, not just who's here right now. >> your parents came as kids from del rio, texas and eagle pass. this is your great grandfather. a general in the mexican army. >> yes. >> i guess that tradition goes way back, that tradition of service to your country. >> yes, it does. and this is -- dan isn't here, but i think this is his case. is it? >> oh, that's yours. tell us bsh frank. brag about this. >> it's a shadow box that was presented to me when i retired from the marines out of lathrop. i did start out of 19th and mission street here in san jose.

and when i moved to modesto, then i transferred to the company b out of lathrop, sharp depot. when i retired i was presented with that. >> toys for tots, there are so many things you participate in. public service doesn't end for you, i take it. >> no. like i say, you're healthy, you're strong, you give back. it doesn't have to be money. it's nice if you have it. and that you can share with others. but if you're blessed with health, then -- and you can give up that time, then do it. i coach soccer, was one of the happiest times. meeting families, meeting young ladies. of course my daughters were on the teams and stuff. so it was something that was enjoyable. >> your brother dan and your two sisters are not here. we're going to talk about them in our next segment. but la familia, the payne family will be honored at the hispanic

charity ball coming up october 16th at the san jose fairmont. join us if you will at hfsv.org is the web address for the hispanic foundation of silicon valley. we'll be back.

we're back here with the payne family on "comunidad del valle." this year's recipients of the annual la familia award. and robert, your brother dan isn't here. he's also a marine. he owns his own companies. but your brother dan helped develop and fine-tune the patriot missile, which is so crucial in saving so many lives. >> yeah. >> overseas. >> yes. he did actually two tours of war in desert storm and desert shield. and normally, when the wars were breaking out, he was one of the first ones to go over there to set up the missiles. and it was pretty tough on the family when he was over there doing that. but in the same -- the same, you

know, term he wanted to do it and he wanted to be there first for our country and to give back. so we did nothing but support him on doing that. >> and frank, you were also in "desert storm." do you recall still the sound of the scuds and everything else, the chaos that was going on? >> oh, yes. that first night that we received incoming, i was actually dreaming i was in disneyland. and i was with my wife. we were m main square. and it was 9:00, 9:30. the fireworks were going off. and it was actually my friend next to me waking me up saying, "we're being attacked." and i'm like, no, i'm in disneyland, i'm listening to fireworks. and he says, "no, you're not. you're in saudi, and we're getting atacked." so that was the beginning of my war experience. >> we always say it, and we've said it more recently now, is that you guys went there, you guys joined the military so that we wouldn't have to, so that we would stay at home. what's that like, to get that

kind of response now considering that there was no response after vietnam? robert. >> i don't look at myself as anything out of the ordinary. i think the people that came before me that served in the military, those are the ones that deserve the recognition. i think the ones that served, you know, in all wars, world war ii and korea in vietnam, you know, those are the ones that deserve the recognition. i did my time. i did it. i'm proud that i served. but do i deserve special recognition? i don't think so. >> i shared the story with you. my father-in-law was in vietnam. we went to visit the vietnam wall on the 25th anniversary. and i was blogging for kntv and on my blog i called him and his two buddies from vietnam, i called them heroes because of their service and they were back at the wall and he got a little mad at me. he says, "i'm not the hero. the heroes are the ones on that wall." and i guess that's the feeling.

>> yes. >> tell us, if you will, about your sisters because your sisters are also being honored, robert. >> sure. i have two sisters. they are the oldest in the payne family. they both live in lake tahoe. they both work for the school system up there. so they volunteer their time up there for the children. i talked to the second to the oldest sister, diana, and just another day she's like oh, i've got to come in early because i've got to get these kids entered into the computer, and it's neverending to them also, giving back to the students up there in lake tahoe. they're on the nevada side. they are a very big part of this family. i told you before, those are our second moms. you know, they -- i was the youngest. so my sisters were carrying me to the neighbors on their way to high school, you know, to the babysitters. so they are a big part of this family. they gave a lot of sacrifice in the beginning and took care of us growing up. >> and we're talking bsh that seems to be a common thread here, is the word "sacrifice." your mom day lot of that.

she sacrificed. she told me she didn't go to your program and whatnot because family came first and you guys were near and dear to her. boy, what a jewel you have. and you talk to her, it's like you're talking to your tia. >> yes. >> what a jewel you have. >> thank you. >> i know this is going to be hard. but if you can, robert, tell us about your dad because he was so instrumental also in what you've accomplished, what your whole family has accomplished. >> well, he was the leader. he was the mainstay of the family. he as well sacrificed. he gave up his school so that he could provide for his family first. and then when he married our mother and started having his family, then he provided for us. i remember as a kid it would be my mom, my brother dan, and my two older sisters. hey, where's dad? well, he'd go to night school,

finish his education. he got his diploma, went to college, got his degrees there, and became a chemist with litton industry in san carlos. me as far as military, you know, i would go and talk to him all the time. he's watching all these war movies. dad, what's going on in and he'd explain to me. and i just remember as i got older, i think in high school, and my brother ron would come up to me. what are you watching? i said it's a war movie. who's what? you know. the same thing my dad did to me i did to my brother. and i passed it on. these are the americans. this is the bad guys. and explain what's going on. >> tell us briefly if you can about having to salute your younger brother, who was your superior. >> my brother dan, he's a year younger than i am, and we went into the marine corps together. i was a member with the reserves. he was also here at 19th and mission but with the lam unit.

he eventually went active duty. then he went to the warrant officers program. i stayed on the enlisted side. so for three years i avoided him so i didn't have to salute him. we ended up going to yuma, arizona, and he was there. so i had my platoon, and he walks up wearing a uniform. bam, i pop a salute. a platoon is formed. and he's sitting there looking at me and he knows i have to hold it until he salutes me. he says formed for what? i go for the warrant officer. for the warrant officer what? i said for the warrant officer to address the platoon. to address the platoon for what? and he kept going on and on and on. i'm holding the salute finally i said you know what, you either give me my salute or i'm going to call mom as soon as this is over. he's like don't do that, he saluted me right away and i just looked at him. >> thank you again. congratulations. la familia at the hispanic charity ball october 16th. we'll see through.