She can often be found throughout the community serving various non-profit organizations and events. You may not know her name, yet Sunshine Horton has been a fixture in El Cajon for more than 30 years.
“I may do a lot of things under the radar, but I do it from my heart,” said Horton. “Every single day before I go out the door, I pray to the Lord, then I try to lift people’s spirits, even if I just give them a hug,” she added.
She can often be found throughout the community serving various non-profit organizations and events. You may not know her name, yet Sunshine Horton has been a fixture in El Cajon for more than 30 years.
“I may do a lot of things under the radar, but I do it from my heart,” said Horton. “Every single day before I go out the door, I pray to the Lord, then I try to lift people’s spirits, even if I just give them a hug,” she added.
From her start locally as a pennyless immigrant from Tijuana, Horton is now so revered; she has recently been named the El Cajon Citizen of the Year.
“When I came here, I was homeless, but El Cajon embraced me and treated me nice,” added Horton. “I received some government assistance, but I was embarrassed. While others give nothing in return, I didn’t take it for granted and tried to provide a service to everyone who helped me,” she said.
Horton’s extensive list of organizations that she serves, include service groups for the needy, law enforcement, and working with schools to aid children.
“I give back as much as I can,” she added.
Among this year’s nominees, Horton stood out from a list of strong candidates.
“Sunshine has been a major factor in so many lives,” noted Drum Macomber , chair of the Citizen of the Year committee. “And she’s fun to talk to — she always has something to say at an El Cajon City Council meeting.”
Ranging from feeding the needy at the Salvation Army, to volunteering at local elementary schools, Macomber believes however that Hoton’s most ‘visual impact’ is placing yellow ribbons in the community.
“She places them all around the Promenade to honor our (U.S. Armed Forces) warriors,” he noted. “And she helps raise money for so many different charities,” Macomber added.
Horton’s distribution of yellow ribbons once led to her 2004 introduction to singer Tony Orlando. She said that she does this for her husband, Geoffrey.
“When he was deployed to the war in Iraq, I never felt so alone,” noted Horton. So I placed the ribbons in support of the families in the same situation to let them know we were thinking of them,” she said.
“One particular tree in the Promenade is one which we call the Prayer Tree — it lets them know that our hearts are with them and the troops,” she added.
Horton previously was honored by other organizations including the Latino Peace Officers Association, Mama’s Kitchen, Toys for Tots and the Mother Goose Association.
“Sometimes, all people need is someone to talk to,” added Horton. “Even if it’s something that simple, I give back as much as I can. I am just so grateful to El Cajon and this country,” she said.
Horton noted that she derives much of her energy from a son she lost to cancer. “Love conquers all,” she exclaimed.
El Cajon major Mark Lewis declared Horton as the city’s Goodwill Ambassador.
A luncheon will be held at the Ronald Reagan Community Center in El Cajon on Feb. 26 at noon to honor Horton and the other candidates.
The list of nominees included Dee Dean of Stoney’s Kids; Mark Hoffman of Foothills Christian Church; Nancy Lewis of the City of El Cajon Recreation Department; Dr. Judy Mantle, Ph.D. of St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center; Kevin Miller of San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce; Daniel Rodgers of El Cajon Valley Kiwanis Club; Stuart Scott of the Rotary Club of El Cajon; and William Sturgeon of the El Cajon Valley Lions Club.
Tickets for the luncheon cost $22 per person. For information, or to register, call (619) 440-6161.
