LOS ANGELES – Another Filipino has been named to the California Volunteers Commission.
On Monday, February 10, Ted Benito was appointed to the California Volunteers Commission by Gov. Edmund G. Brown, Jr.
“I am looking forward with eagerness and earnest to serve the State of California as one of Governor Jerry Brown’s appointees to the California Volunteers Commission (sic),” Benito said in a statement on social media.
Benito, 48, said that he accepts the appointment in memory and in honor of his late parents.
In an email correspondence to Asian Journal, Ted said that the work he will do with the Commission is also aligned with his personal vision of philanthropy and volunteerism.
A long-time resident of Los Angeles, Benito has been the executive director at the Apl.de.ap Foundation International since 2012 and has been a senior paralegal at Nantworks Inc. since 2007. He has been the founder and principal partner at the Pastiche Alchemy Entertainment since 2003. Benito was also a paralegal at the Sheppard Mullin Richter and Hampton LLC from 1991 to 2006.
Benito’s position with the Commission does not require Senate confirmation, thus he will receive no compensation. Benito is among 10 individuals whose appointments were announced on February 10.
Unexpected appointment
Prior to his appointment, Benito was approached by Mona Pasquil (Fil-Am appointments secretary to Gov. Brown) sometime last year to discuss a possible appointment to the Commission.
“I knew she had approached Fritz Friedman, Eddie Angeles, and Mark Pulido — all of whom were granted their appointments to California Commissions. But I never thought that I would be considered, much less asked,” Benito recalled.
But because of Pasquil’s persuasive personality, Benito said he was eventually convinced to apply for an appointment to the Commission.
“She knows everyone’s strengths and weaknesses, and can see the compatibility and compassion each person can bring to the table. And no one turns down Mona!,” he added.
Benito submitted the paperwork and hoped for the best. Pasquil actually told Benito that he was given the commission back in December 2013. But due to the holidays, it wasn’t formalized until the official statement from the Governor’s office came out in February 2014.
“I have actually never seen so many Filipino-Americans appointed to to commissions. It’s great for the diversity of representation and for our communities to benefit from such appointments,” Benito said.
Work in the Commission
The California Volunteers is a state office that’s responsible for managing programs and initiatives aimed at increasing the number and impact of Californians engaged in service and volunteering. The Commission oversees the granting of funds to the AmeriCorps projects throughout California.
As part of the Commission, Benito would help pursue these goals.
“My job would be helping to oversee and monitor those grants. It’s a three-year tenure and I am taking over a seat from someone who vacated early,” Benito said.
Aside from representing the Filipino community on the Commission, Benito’s other goals include learning about the mandates, intricacies and functions of the Commission, and finding ways in which Filipinos in California can play viable and integral roles in the Commission.
“I am particularly interested in one of the programs the Commission oversees, which is called the Senior Corps,” he said.
“We have an increasing aging population that is vibrant and wants to contribute their time to good causes. I think our seniors are a vital and often under-utilized demographic of our population and I would like the opportunity to explore ways in which seniors can participate in all of the commission’s projects.”
(www.asianjournal.com)
(LA Weekend February 15-18, 2014 Sec A pg.1)