Valley native honored with Pierre Toussaint Award
El Centro native Michael Eyer was awarded the Pierre Toussaint Award during the Children’s Charity Gala recently in San Diego.
The award honors recipients for their volunteer and philanthropic works to help homeless youths, which is a priority in Eyer’s life.
“I earn money to share and to give back because I’m blessed to have it given to me,” said the Rancho Bernardo resident Eyer.
Last year’s Toussaint Award was presented to a family-owned furniture store for donating hundreds of mattresses to children and families in need.
The gala, held at the U.S. Grant Hotel in San Diego, acted as a fundraiser for Father Joe’s Villages, which Eyer has provided his financial expertise to for nearly three decades.
In recent years, the El Centro native has also hosted the non-profit organization’s annual Christmas party, which benefits over 100 homeless youths.
The award recipient has also assisted St. Augustine High School, Noah Homes and St. Michael’s School through his philanthropy work, which he explained began while growing up in the Imperial Valley.
Eyer explained that while he was growing up his family’s involvement in volunteering, fundraising and donating to local Catholic schools, churches and the needy in Mexicali were the stepping stones of the philanthropic work he currently does.
“It was a great learning experience growing up in the Imperial Valley,” stated Eyer, who enjoyed helping the LaBrucherie family with agricultural work and participating in the McCabe 4-H program during his youth.
The El Centro native graduated from Central Union High School in 1967 and from the University of San Diego in 1971. The Pierre Toussaint Award was given to Eyer on May 13.