Focus on TUSD
June 4, 2007

Pistor Staffer Named 'Mom of the Year' by 94.9 MIX FM
Tucson Unified School District's own Geraldine Saucedo received a huge Mother's Day surprise Wednesday morning, May 30, and even though it was a bit after the fact, it was appreciated just the same.

Saucedo was named "MIX Mother of the Year" by radio station 94.9 MIX FM and "The Bobby & Brad Show."

"It's a blessing," said Saucedo when asked how she felt about being "Mom of the Year."

Saucedo was surprised by a contingent of radio station and Canyon Ranch folks who descended on the District administration building, 1010 E. 10th St., while the Pistor Middle School site network technician was in a training session on substance abuse and violence prevention strategies conducted by TUSD's Comprehensive Health Education Department.

Disc jockey Bobby Rich explained that he and Brad asked listeners to nominate women in their lives for the program's "Mom of the Day" recognition. From the nominations, one mother was selected and named "Mom of the Day" each work day in May.

"From the nominations received for 'Mom of the Day,' we decided to do a 'MIX Mom of the Year,' and you're it," said Rich to Saucedo, whose nomination was submitted by her sister, Lorraine Bashner, on behalf of Saucedo's children.

The nomination said in part: "I am submitting this for my God-children who want to nominate their Mom (my sister) for Mom-a-Day:

"We are writing to you today to tell you how special our Mom is. We are three boys and three girls. Growing up, our Dad worked out of town so she practically raised us on her own. Although we went through some difficult times, she always managed to get us through. We have always had something to eat, help with homework and most importantly, loving care. When we were little, she was always on the go, taking us to school and back, baseball practice and of course, she was out there cheering us on at our games."

Dr. Richard Carmona, vice president of Canyon Ranch; and Jan McIntire, who directs corporate communications for the health and wellness spa, came along for the surprise. Carmona, a former U.S. Surgeon General, said of Saucedo, "Her whole life is taking care of others," now we'd like to take care of her. Carmona presented Saucedo with a plush Canyon Ranch robe and told her she and a guest will spend one week at Canyon Ranch's Life Enhancement Center, which engages in "best practices in health" to make communities, adults and children healthy, according to Carmona. "Our goal is to make the country healthier," said Carmona.

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