Foothill Unity Center Reception Honors Retiring Betty McWilliams

More than a hundred volunteers, friends, family and associates, gathered under a large tent on the Foothills Unity Center property in Monrovia Thursday to honor Betty McWilliams, who will be retiring after 22 years at the helm of the community-based organization.

Through 90 degree-plus temperatures, applause, smiles and tears, they honored McWilliams for her contributions.

There were a number of stories and anecdotes that revealed the nature and impact of Betty McWilliams’ place in her family’s lore — but they also showed the impact of her position as the executive director of Foothill Unity for more than two decades.

The afternoon was opened by board members Greg Vanni and Gary Kovacik, who addressed the group by video from a vacation in Oregon.

Board member Karen Herrera led the program through presentations from a host of community agency representatives and local elected officials, represented by former Baldwin Park Councilmember Cruz Baca.

As her daughter Ann Barrett told the story, a young Betty McWilliams loaded Ann into a baby carrier just a little over two decades ago, strapped the load to her own back, and headed straight up Mt. Whitney—at 14,500 feet, the highest peak in California.

“That’s how she was,” her daughter recalled. “She didn’t want any help, any breaks. She just put me on her back and up we went.”

For over 40 years, Foothill Unity Center has helped neighbors in need with Food, Health, Crisis Case Management, Job Development, Volunteerism and Housing and Homeless services programs.

The multi-service agency serves as one of San Gabriel Valley’s primary provider of integrated services helping individuals and families move out of poverty to reach economic stability.

As Foothill Unity’s website notes, the program model helps to advance equity in the San Gabriel Valley communities of Altadena, Arcadia, Azusa, Baldwin Park, Bradbury, Duarte, Irwindale, Monrovia, Pasadena, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena and Temple City.

“We are providing access and opportunities, removing barriers for the low-income and working poor, providing a safety net to the disadvantaged to prevent homelessness, and supporting the underserved homeless population by addressing their full spectrum of needs for the whole family,” says the mission statement.

Under McWilliams tutelage, the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank (LARF) now considers the Center to be the top food pantry in the County, recognizing it with both the LARF Community Spirit Award and the coveted Tony Collier Award for “leadership in the war against hunger.” The Center has also received the Spirit of Humanitarianism Award from the Volunteer Center of San Gabriel Valley,

True to form, McWilliams said during the event, that she would soon dedicate a new garden on the Foothill Unity property.

“This will be a place of harmony and be a peaceful place in nature,” she said.

As part of her afternoon event, McWilliams was also awarded a $214,000-plus check from Santa Anita Family Services as seed money for a new mental health services program for Foothill.

When asked about her reaction to the afternoon’s emotional event, McWilliam’s response was about the community, not her.

Said McWilliams, “This just pulls together and demonstrates that teamwork has paid off so nicely. It was beautiful to see that the community recognizes how Foothills Unity center, for more than 40 years, treats people with love, dignity and respect. With equity and social justice and all that’s been going on —, that’s something we’ve been doing for a long time.”