This year’s recipient of the prestigious Citizen on the Square Award went to Carlos Rivero, owner of Don Quijote.
The Citizen on the Square Award is meant to honor community leaders who have invested their time improving life and culture on the square, have demonstrated the courage and determination to champion just causes, and are individuals that passionately help to make downtown Valparaiso a better place to live, work, and play.
A celebration took place at Don Quijote Restaurante and Imports on January 19, 2012, in honor of Carlos Rivero, who is deserving of such an award. Carlos acts as an advocate for the youth and the homeless, as well as donates time, money, and resources to various charities. He helps make downtown Valparaiso a better place.
Carlos, as he likes to be called, said, “This is a great honor and it is an incredible thing that should be shared with many people that make the downtown the way it is and it just keeps getting better and better.” Humbly, Carlos stated, “I feel it’s an award everyone should get in their life, but I am embarrassed too; embarrassed because there are people that deserve this award as well, that work hard to make this community what it is. All of you made this award possible; it is not for one person, it belongs to many people, many people working together for this community.”
There were many in the community that spoke about the humility, dedication, commitment, and generosity that Carlos has demonstrated.
Sheriff David Lain said, “Carlos is someone who is passionate about what he does and is committed to this community.”
Mayor Jon Costas, via video, stated, “Carlos has done a great job bringing life to the down town.” He joked, “If you ever run for Mayor, Carlos, I’m out because you have the heart of the town.”
Jim (Jano) Janesheski spoke about Carlos saying, “Carlos demonstrates positive energy and it is contagious. He brings out the best in people. Positive begets positive and he brings out that positive. He is a dynamic person and he is unselfish in giving back to the community and that is what this award is all about, to encourage people to do good.”
Carlos received a standing ovation from the honored guests in attendance. Tim Daly, Valpo City Council, closed the evening stating, “The only way Carlos would accept this award was if it would strive to inspire other people to make the community better.”
{vimeo}35575986{/vimeo}