When Daisy Alvarez heard the story of a 3-year-old with eye cancer, she knew she had to help. As a member of the Leo service club, Alvarez led the group of Leos to raise $2,800 for him. Because of her hard work, she has been nominated as Leo of the Year by the Lions Club, the Leo Club’s adult counterpart.
Nominees are selected based on merit and contributions to their community, as well as to the world.
“Everything the club does is for a good purpose,” Alvarez said.
Alvarez does not just provide aid for those in her immediate range, she reaches out across the globe. She has collected and prepared countless eyeglasses to donate to individuals who cannot afford to correct their vision. Many are shipped to developing nations.
While Alvarez has managed to reach out to those in need, she also dedicates her time (with a full school schedule and part-time job) to perform in parades and community events as the clown boss for the Plant City Clown Troupe.
Alvarez is the leader of the troupe. She arranges hospital visits to children, collects tickets for Strawberry Festival events, and paints faces at fundraisers and public events.
“It doesn’t matter who you are, we are all together as part of this diverse club,” Alvarez said.
David Vick, chairman of the Lions Club and sponsor of the troupe recognizes Daisy’s hard work and natural leadership.
“I didn’t just choose Daisy,” Vick said. “Daisy picked me, and the kids picked her.”
Alvarez did not rise to such an impressive place easily. She worked in the fields with her family, traveling from Florida to New York along with the crops. English was not her first language. She had to learn English from an older sibling.
“I definitely think my background has made me stronger,” Alvarez said.
At a young age, Alvarez developed rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic disease that causes joint swelling and deformity. Because of her disease, her family settled in Hillsborough County to seek treatment at All Children’s Hospital.
“I’ve had it since I was five,” Alvarez said. “I completely stopped walking, so I missed all of first grade.”
Despite challenges, Alvarez prevailed and plans to stay active in the club as she attends a technical school for massage therapy in the fall.