The recipient of this week's Ben's Bell is Dan Perino, a longtime volunteer with the Tucson chapter of Amigos de las Americas.
He was nominated by Bev Waters, president of the Tucson chapter, who said Perino began volunteering with the organization in the 1970s when he was a teen.
Over the years he has served on the board and as chapter president, and has worked directly with teens in the program.
Perino, a teacher at Catalina Magnet High School, attends training programs for the high school and college students, photographs events and leads monthly retreats and camping trips for the youth volunteers.
Perino's children, too, are actively involved in Amigos de las Americas, a program for youth volunteers who travel to Latin America to conduct health, education and environmental service projects.
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"He's so passionate and calm and reflective and has peacefulness about him. He's a humanitarian, and it's a gift he has. It's so natural for him to give of himself," said Waters. "He's kind and gentle, and when he speaks the kids listen and they care what he says. He respects them and they respect him."
The project
Ben's Bells promote kindness and community. It was started in 2003 by the family of Ben Maré Packard as a way to honor the 2-year-old who died of croup a year earlier. Each week a person who betters Tucson is "belled." Go to www.bensbells.org/BellingForm to submit a name. Go to www.bensbells.org or call 628-2829 for information. Recipients also are featured on Friday's Morning Blend on KGUN 9.
Contact reporter Kimberly Matas at kmatas@azstarnet.com or at 573-4191.
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