Fallbrook Arts pays tribute to Vince Ross

FALLBROOK – Fallbrook Arts held a fundraising dinner at the Fallbrook Art Center on Feb. 8 to honor Vince Ross for his 47 years of volunteer service to the Fallbrook community.

Jerri Patchett, president of the Fallbrook Arts Board, opened the program by saying that “The quality of life we enjoy in this Village is directly attributable to Vince's vision and the numerous projects he initiated that make Fallbrook a special place.”

Ross founded and was president of the Fallbrook Advisory Council, later to become known as the Fallbrook Village Association. He was co-founder and board member of the Fallbrook Land Conservancy, founded and facilitated the Fallbrook Revitalization Council, founded and is past president of the Fallbrook Village Rotary Club, co-founder and past board member of the Fallbrook Beautification Alliance, and served on the Chamber of Commerce Board where he was instrumental in starting the Avocado Festival.

Ross was also one of a small group of citizens who secured the property for the Vince Ross Village Square, the Fallbrook Art Center, Fallbrook School of the Arts and Jackie Heyneman Park.

In honor of the significant contributions made by Ross, Fallbrook Arts Inc. announced that it has established the Vince Ross Community Service Scholarship. This scholarship will be awarded to a senior student at Fallbrook High School who has shown an extraordinary amount of care and concern for our Fallbrook community.

The scholarship is designed to honor Ross by rewarding and perpetuating community spirit and service to others. In addition, the recipient will have a demonstrated interest in the arts.

The first scholarship was awarded to Domingo Martinez, who has exemplified “the spirit of Vince,” through a wide array of community service such assisting with the Boys and Girls Club Swim program, the community Christmas Tree project, being on the community park clean up team and being a lunchtime buddy for special needs high school students.

Martinez is the eldest of three siblings. His sister was born with a life threatening condition. While other doctors said not much is possible, one doctor told him and his mother, “We can help her.” She is 6 years old now. Domingo recalls, “That’s when I realized it was possible to save a life.” He is heading to college with plans to enter the medical field.

The Vince Ross Community Service Scholarship will continue to fund community-minded students to support them in their career aspirations. Contributions to the fund should be sent to Fallbrook Arts Inc., a 501c3 non-profit organization founded by Ross. Please note on a check or in correspondence that the donation is for the Vince Ross Community Service Scholarship Fund. For further information, call Mary Perhacs at 760 728-1414 or visit https://fallbrookartsinc.org.

Submitted by Fallbrook Arts Inc.