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Local business owners, church leaders to helm 2009 CDA
By Ambria Hammel, ahammel@catholicsun.org
December 4, 2008
Chandler — Family mealtime is certainly not a concept that’s lost on the Serrano family.
Ric and Davonna, whom Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted named as co-chairs of the 2009 diocesan Charity and Development Appeal last month, make eating with their two kids a priority. That includes daily homemade breakfasts in the family’s Gilbert home.
“We discuss what everyone will be doing that day and we all read ‘Daily Promises’ scripture,” Ric said.
For Ric, each day involves overseeing all eight Serrano’s Mexican Food Restaurants in the southeast Valley. As the chain’s president, Ric ensures the same high standards are met at each location, which often means taste-testing the menu items.
“Quality control — that’s what I call it when I eat off of my kids’ plates,” Ric said.
For the kids — Sarah, 13, and Stephen, 10 — their day involves classes at St. Mary-Basha School in Chandler and homework. If it’s swimming, football or volleyball season, the kids also go to practice.
Davonna, a “stay-at-home mom,” splits her time between helping at the school and at the family-owned and operated restaurant chain.
Sundays are reserved for family time. That could mean a round of golf, a round of cards and going to church.
The Serranos can’t always gather for dinner, but if they do, they share the day’s highlights.
This ritual of building community and fellowship around the dinner table dates back to Ric’s childhood. At lunchtime, the whole Serrano clan — eight children plus mom and dad — would break from their duties and go out to lunch together.
“They set the example for what a family is all about,” Ric said.
Davonna agreed.
“Everything they’ve done, everything they’ve worked for in their lives is for their kids,” Davonna said.
Now the Serranos are doing the same for their kids by handing down traditions, passing on the faith and building up community.
“Our biggest motto is community,” Davonna said. “Everything we do is to try to make it better for our children and our grandchildren.”
The Serranos have a pretty good head start.
The family attends Mass in the growing St. Mary Magdalene Parish in Gilbert. Ric and Davonna spearheaded its capital campaign committee to raise money for a permanent church building. Parishioners currently gather in a high school gym, but hope to break ground for their own space early next year.
Ric and Davonna also served as the first couple to chair the local Cursillo Movement’s fundraising dinner in 2003. More than 500 people attended the inaugural Cena de Colores, raising some $34,000 for the Cursillo Movement.
The Serranos also work in the community separately.
Ric is a board member of Catholic Healthcare West and a member of the Chandler Chamber of Commerce. As a former golf professional at Ahwatukee Country Club, Ric has chaired, sponsored and volunteered in many golf tournaments, including one for St. Mary-Basha.
“Our involvement at the school is basically around our kids,” Ric said.
Davonna helped the school incorporate the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program into its daily religion lessons and stands ready to help Sarah lead spirit days as part of her role on the student council.
The Serranos have recently offered meeting space in the restaurants to a parish-networking group and a men’s group that formed out of a diocesan conference earlier this year.
Bishop Olmsted said he loves seeing families like the Serranos, who have a lively faith, a devotion to each other and their family, show leadership in the Church and beyond.
“They obviously are grateful for their Catholic faith and they put it into practice,” the bishop said.
Fr. Greg Schlarb, vicar of stewardship and at one time the family’s pastor, agreed.
“The Serranos are known for the generous giving of what they have,” Fr. Schlarb said. “It’s modeled by the activities with their own children. They’re not ‘drop-off parents.’”
Ric and Davonna look forward to inspiring other Catholics to give to the CDA, which churchgoers will learn more about during the Jan. 31-Feb. 1 Education Weekend.
“It’s imperative that you are willing to make the calls and shake the trees,” Ric said. Asking can help.
Davonna is feeling just as confident about her upcoming task.
“I have no problem being a beggar for God,” she said.
Ambria Hammel/CATHOLIC SUN
The Serrano family — Davonna, Stephen, Ric and Sarah — pose during filming of the 2009 Charity and Development Appeal video last month at their downtown Chandler restaurant. Ric and Davonna are the new CDA co-chairs.
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