By Theresa Marie Wilson
Folks who have been around Arroyo Grande for a while have probably seen Lenny Jones with his engaging smile and high-octane energy at numerous festivals, fundraisers, and city or chamber events, or even moderating a candidate forum.
Jones has a new highlight to add to his long list of accolades and accomplishments–the Arroyo Grande & Grover Beach Chamber of Commerce has named him the 2014 Arroyo Grande Citizen of the Year.
“It was surprising, but I am very excited and very honored with the honor,”Jones said. “I do appreciate it.”
Jones moved to Arroyo Grande with his family as an infant and went on to graduate from Arroyo Grande High School and Cuesta College before earning a Bachelor of Science from San Jose State University in marine geology. He started his real estate career in 1983 and opened his own office in 1996.
Jones has been the president of the Pismo Coast Association of Realtors four separate times and is a past recipient of the organization’s Realtor of the Year and the Lifetime Achievement Award. He currently serves as president of the Arroyo Grande Rotary Club. Jones is active with Arroyo Grande in Bloom and the Arroyo Grande Tree Guild and was a past Arroyo Grande Harvest Festival committee member.
Jones’ volunteer efforts extend throughout the county. He has served on the board of directors of Woods Humane Society for the past three years and is the current president.
His love for animals, in particular Golden Retrievers, was the catalyst for the growing SLO County Golden Retrievers dog group which boasts 300 members. They have raised more than $30,000, which was donated to Woods Humane Society and other dog rescue groups. The group also fosters and helps with the adoption and placement of dogs in need. In the past eight years more than 20 dogs have been placed with new families.
“This one rises to the top,” said Jones. “I’m single and I don’t have kids, but I have two dogs and a cat. For years and years and years, I have been a dog person. It gives me the most reward because we are able to help dogs and cats go to good families.”
Jones also helped found Welcome Home Military Heroes. The group can be found en masse welcoming home military men and women at local airports, train stations or family homes to thank them for their service.
Jones also created the South County Turkey Trot in 2012, which brought in more than 2,000 walkers and runners in 2014 and raised $11,000 dollars for the County Food Bank Coalition up from about 300 runners and a couple hundred dollars in its inception year.
“The thing I have the most passion for, well, people passion, is the Turkey Trot.” Jones said.
Additionally, Jones is a past chairman of the board for the Arroyo Grande Chamber of Commerce, served several terms on the board, chaired the governmental affairs committee, and has been very active with the beautification committee.
Why does he it do it all?
“It’s important for a couple of reasons,” he said. “It is important to the community because there are voids that aren’t being filled by city and county and state government. Those voids can only be filled by people who do community work. The other reason is it makes me feel good to do it. I appreciate and fall in love with my community more and more just seeing what people do.”
Jones will be presented with the Citizen of the Year Award at the Arroyo Grande & Grover Beach Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner beginning at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 29 at the South County Regional Center. Tickets for the dinner are $60. For more information about the dinner or to purchase tickets, contact the Arroyo Grande & Grover Beach Chamber of Commerce at 489-1488.
