Seattle’s Child is proud to partner with the state Department of Children, Youth and Families Strengthening Families Washington to honor outstanding caregivers doing important work on behalf of children. Throughout February, we’ll introduce you to Unsung Heroes from around the state: biological parents, grandparents, foster and adoptive parents. Some volunteer at local schools; some have started nonprofits; some mentor others in their communities. Enjoy the stories of 2024’s unsung heroes.
NOTE: Seattle’s Child is running these stories unedited, as written by the people who nominated them, in keeping with the DCYF Unsung Hero process.
Gabriela A. Ituarte, Bremerton
It’s with great pleasure that I write to you today to nominate my wife, Gabriela A Ituarte (a natural altruistic human being), to be considered for the Unsung Hero Award in recognition of her tireless efforts and outstanding job in parenting and leadership in contributing to a better society in Kitsap County. Gabriela is a wonderful clinical psychologist, a recent founder of the We Are Better Together Foundation, a great coach, a very loving wife, a mother of two beautiful, bright young children, and a caring parent of one very spoiled dog and two spoiled cats.
I believe that Gabriela is a great choice for an Unsung Hero Award because she has shown strength, courage, and empathy not only in our home but also in our community. Gabriela consistently displays values of humility, charisma, passion, love, humanitarianism, honesty, integrity, creativity, and public service. I have witnessed firsthand Gabriela’s outreach and contribution to a better community.
Gabriela has successfully increased our community outreach programs. She consistently spends her free time volunteering in the community to further solidify ties with the local community and its resources. She volunteers at church and our kids’ school. Gabriela also helps encourage the people she works with, including our kids and myself, to commit to personal development and caring for our fellow community members, and our pets and to care and protect our environment for a better, cleaner planet. I believe many of my own successes in life are because of Gabriela’s continued commitment to inspire and motivate all of us.
A good example of Gabriela’s commitment to the community is when she organized a food drive for the homeless, a coat and blankets drive, a pet food drive, and pet adoption where we were able to give a home to 20 plus dogs and cats, it was a wonderful day. Another example is a multi-cultural event for the Church, not only did she organize the event, but she also helped with the multicultural committee. Bringing people together from different cultures, backgrounds, and ideas. It was a success.
Gabriela’s skills are numerous and impressive, and she continues to amaze me with her warmth and friendly personality, with her eagerness to go above and beyond to contribute to a better society and a better world.
I strongly endorse Gabriela’s nomination for the Unsung Hero Award and believe that her community, home contributions, and her grace and kind attributes make her the best candidate for the award. I hope you’ll consider my nomination, and I hope that I’ve displayed Gabriela’s capabilities and contributions effectively. (She really is an exceptional human being) Thank you for your time.
—Ariel Armendariz
More Unsung Heroes:
A tireless advocate for special kids
