Matias Sandoval serves
the youth of Cottonwood and the upper Verde Valley
“The difference between ordinary
and extraordinary is just a little extra, and the commitment Matias has made
to the Cottonwood Youth Advisory Commission is just that, extraordinary,”
says Jason Little, Cottonwood Parks and Recreation’s Program
Director. “Matias’s selfless dedication to the commission and the youth of
our community typically goes
without notice to the public in general, but the one thing that I and the
Cottonwood Youth Advisory Commissioners have learned from Mr. Sandoval is
that it is of vital significance to realize that other people besides
yourself are just as important; and the best thing you can do with your life
is to use it in the service of your community and the people that live
within it.” Having worked for Edward Jones Investments since 1995, Sandvol’s
best investment advice is, “Invest time with your kids.” The following
questions were answered by Matias Sandoval about his views on volunteerism
in the community.
How long have you lived
in Cottonwood? Where did you grow up? I
moved to Phoenix, Arizona from Omaha, Nebraska in 1978. In 1993 I accepted a
job in Sedona and my wife and two children moved there. A year or so later
we moved to Cottonwood where we’ve lived ever since.
Is there anything about
your family that you wish to share with the community? I’ve been married to my wife
Janet for 19 years. We have four children: Vanessa (16), Adam (15), Gina
(12), and Joseph (9).
Career:I have worked in the
financial industry for over 25 years and have been a Financial Advisor with
Edward Jones Investments since 1995.
Is there an event from
your childhood or young adulthood that propelled your desire to volunteer to
serve your community?My Grandmother supported an
orphanage in Mexico for several years. Each year my family would take a
trip at Christmastime to deliver clothes to the children there. Even though
I came from a family of nine children and our resources were limited, it
made me realize how much we really had, compared to others, and instilled in
me a desire to help those in need.
What are your views
about volunteerism? Volunteer activities:I don't believe in
volunteering for anything that I am not passionate about.
As a young boy, I attended the
Boys and Girls Club and always found it to be a safe environment and loved
going there, so as an adult, when I was asked to be a charter board
member and help start a club here in Cottonwood, I was excited about giving
back to an organization that gave so much to me. I continue to serve the
Cottonwood Boys and Girls Club in an advisory capacity after serving as the
Board President for several years.
I am currently serving as a Verde
Valley Medical Center Board Member.
How do you serve the
community and its youth through your City Council appointment as the adult
advisor of the Cottonwood Youth Advisory Commission?I provide guidance and
encouragement to the youth members of the CYAC by sharing my ideas with them
and assist them in reaching their goals. The CYAC’s motto is: “Dream Big.”
And they do! They make decisions and plan events for the City of Cottonwood
and the youth in the area.
Please share your
philosophy about the area’s youth, and share your goals for the future and
accomplishments of CYAC.One of my goals of teaching the
youth to become future leaders is already coming to fruition. As I watch
some of the students I recognize how much they have grown as responsible
leaders. They have stepped up and taken on some difficult jobs and have
displayed very positive attitudes at the same time. I believe some of them
could be our future city council members! I want all the CYAC members to
understand that they can accomplish anything they want if they are diligent
about following through. The goals of the CYAC are to provide community
service in the City of Cottonwood as well as safe and fun activities for the
Verde Valley youth.
Where do you see the
community of Cottonwood in 10 years? Or, what is your wish for Cottonwood in
10 years?I don’t think we’ve seen the true growth in
Cottonwood yet. As the baby boomers retire we will see a tremendous growth
in the next 10-15 years. My hope for our city is that they can handle the
growth by planning for the surge of people that will come. I think we can
do it by planning ahead and having the infrastructure in place when it
happens.
Do you have a favorite
saying or quote?“I can do all things through Christ who
strengthens me.” Phillipians 4:13
What is the most
interesting or exciting thing that's ever happened in Cottonwood since
you’ve lived here?I’ve enjoyed the revitalization of
Old Town Cottonwood, the restoring of the old buildings. And I am very
excited about the Recreation Center plans underway. The Recreation Center
will provide a place for our youth to hold events like the prom, homecoming,
and Operation Graduation. It will help curb obesity in our children by
providing a place for kids to get in shape and stay fit. The Rec Center will
be a great addition to our city.
What are your hobbies
and enjoyment besides volunteerism and serving your community?
I love playing tennis and enjoy
golf. Besides that, I like spending time with my family and playing games
together.
If you could get every
single community member to do just one thing, what would that be?I would say, “Find an area where you can
serve others and be passionate about it. We all have something to offer
and you just never know what kind of impact you could have on someone
else’s life until you give of yourself.”
Please share anything
important to you that these questions may have missed.
It’s been my pleasure to serve as an advisor for the CYAC during the past
three years. I’ve learned a lot along the way too and have enjoyed
spending time with my oldest daughter who serves on the commission. My
best investment advice I can offer: Invest time with your kids.
Cottonwood City
Council members recognize the invaluable contributions volunteers make to
the betterment of city government and the community. Spotlight on Volunteers is
compiled by Mayor Diane Joens on behalf of the City Council. There are
many opportunities to volunteer and make a positive difference. Council
members encourage everyone to get involved. Volunteer today!
