Raul Montano, who shares the award with his family, became the youngest dedicatee for the DARC Mother’s Day Cake Auction, but it seems he has working with the organization for years.

The simple fact is that he has been.

Raul and the Montano family have been donating their time, energies and money each year for the last decade in helping DARC with one of its  big fundraisers, the DARC Carne Asada, which was held recently at BorderMart and raised $9,000.

Over the last decade, the carne asada has raised about $50,000 for DARC.

Montano  was drawn to the organization through his brother Jimmy, who died last year.

“Nine years ago, Raul came to us and asked what he could do to help out,” said Gary Clark, the executive director for the Douglas Association for Retarded Citizens (DARC).

“The work he and his family does in preparing for this event is truly amazing. The amount raised keeps going up and up and up. It’s so much work. The event involves their family, friends, employees and he pays for everything.

“And, its not just the carne asada. He helps out in all that we do. You know what kind of special person he is and family the Montanos are. Even after Jimmy passed away last year, their dedication to DARC has never wavered.”

As the interview continued, Raul Montano’s  face began to turn a little red and he casts his eyes downward, and has very little to say unless it’s praise for others. He said he was humbled by the award.

Montano and sister Olga Salazar were in their early 20’s when their mother died, both working away from home at the time. Mary Lou Montano died  on April 11, 1984.

“Raul has done what my mother would have done. She cared for everyone and always wanted to help,” Olga said.

When his mother died, Raul came back to Douglas to help the family and help care for Jimmy.

“Raul and Jimmy had a special bond. Raul was the one Jimmy always wanted to be with. He was more than just a big brother in Jimmy’s eyes.

When Montano family made the choice of an operation to help Jimmy’s medical condition, Raul was right there with him all the way,” she said.

“It wasn’t Jimmy’s fault he had a disability.”

“Raul Montano and the entire family display the character that makes Douglas  what it is,” Clark said.  “They put back into the community in hundreds of ways, from their work with DARC to work and support with soccer and youth baseball to support for other projects in town. They sacrifice for the betterment of the community. Raul puts back 10-fold what he gets.”

Just The Facts

What: DARC 45th Annual Mother’s Day Cake Auction

When: 1 p.m., Gadsden Hotel

250 cakes to be auctioned, along with three autographed Hall of Fame Gaylord Perry baseballs and Brooks Robinson bats.