ATSSA Signal May June 2020

The Signal | May/June 2020 31 The Foundation TheFoundation’sDiazsaidthethreeevents had a combined 138 sponsors. ErickGustafsontookpartinTheFoundation Golf Classic andwas getting ready tohead offwithhis foursomewhenheheardMari - ela speak and realizedhe knewher father. He was eager to meet her after that and got his chanceashe reached the15thhole. Marielaandher friendChanaeTurk, spent the day at various holes and chattedwith golfersas theypassedby their location. All were friendly and encouraging and a few evengaveMarielathechancetoswingaclub. But when Gustafson stopped, she got a pleasant surprise. GustafsonworksforZumarIndustriesnear LosAngelesandsaidhis companywas the signvendor forVenturaCounty.Hesaidhe found ithardtocontrol hisemotionswhen hemet Adan Lara’s daughter. “Adanwas inthesignshop,”Gustafsonsaid. “I knewhimwell.” Marielahadn’t expectedtomeet someone whoknewherfathermorethan2,000miles from home, but said it was “not uncom - mon” tocomeacross strangerswhoknew himat home. Lara had been named Citizen of the Year by the local ChamberofCommerce in1999, had founded thenonprofit LUPE—for Lati - nos Unidos Por Educacion —in 1997 to help Latino parents engage in their chil - dren’s education, and had started a read - ing program at his community’s library, theVenturaCounty Star reported. Inaddi - tion, a segment of the road on which he was killedwas later named theAdanLara Memorial Roadway and urges people to “Please Drive Safely.” “Hewas suchamemberof thecommunity,” Mariela said. “It’s not that surprising [at home] but it is surprising here.” Check Foundation .ATSSA.com for registration in - formation for the golf, sporting clays, and fun run events at the 51st Annual Convention& Traffic Expo inSanDiego. To sponsor anevent or volunteer, email Foundation@atssa.com. To contact Pamela Gould, pamela.gould@atssa.com . Participants in ATSSA’s first annual Fun Run jog along the Riverwalk that overlooks the Mississippi River on Jan. 26. The 8th Annual Sporting Clays Event was held at High Point Shooting Grounds in Belle Chasse, La., on Jan. 24. Roadway Worker Memorial Scholarship recipient Marcie Walker greets a Sporting Clays Event participant.