Meet Gina

A longtime Stocktonian, Gina Valadez-Bracamonte has always been passionate about serving her local community. As a young single mom, Gina was inspired to help her neighbors because of the kindness and generosity her friends and family had shown her during tough times.

During the Great Recession, Gina knew many families were fighting to make ends meet while many lost their jobs and homes. So, with $350 earned from a garage sale, Gina founded Bread of Life, a non-profit aiding Stockton’s struggling working families. Since then, Bread of Life has grown into a feeding ministry with a $400,000 annual budget that provides over $3 million in grocery assistance each year and operates almost entirely with volunteers, many of whom were former clients.

During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, Gina transformed Bread of Life into an Amazon-type food delivery service. Bread of Life delivered food to over ten thousand Stockton families who could not afford food or leave their homes. In May, Gina was awarded the Key to the City by Stockton Mayor Lincoln for her and Bread of Life’s work serving Stockton residents.

Gina’s philosophy of showing compassion and understanding to everyone, no matter their circumstances, is also the key to her career success. As Credit Manager for Zuckerman Companies, Inc. for over 25 years, she has found positive outcomes when treating people with kindness and understanding, not threats and intimidation.

In addition to being awarded Stockton’s Key to the City, Gina was honored with the California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Latina Minerva Empresaria Award for her non-profit and business work in 2021. Gina was also awarded the Power of One Community Star Award by the United Way in 2017 and was named the 2019 Latina of the Year by the San Joaquin County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Gina was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown to the San Joaquin County Fair Board in 2014, serving until 2018.

Gina loves to spend time with her kids, grandkids, and husband, Henry, during her free time.


Meet Gina

A longtime Stocktonian, Gina Valadez-Bracamonte has always been passionate about serving her local community. As a young single mom, Gina was inspired to help her neighbors because of the kindness and generosity her friends and family had shown her during tough times.

During the Great Recession, Gina knew many families were fighting to make ends meet while many lost their jobs and homes. So, with $350 earned from a garage sale, Gina founded Bread of Life, a non-profit aiding Stockton’s struggling working families. Since then, Bread of Life has grown into a feeding ministry with a $400,000 annual budget that provides over $3 million in grocery assistance each year and operates almost entirely with volunteers, many of whom were former clients.

During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, Gina transformed Bread of Life into an Amazon-type food delivery service. Bread of Life delivered food to over ten thousand Stockton families who could not afford food or leave their homes. In May, Gina was awarded the Key to the City by Stockton Mayor Lincoln for her and Bread of Life’s work serving Stockton residents.

Gina’s philosophy of showing compassion and understanding to everyone, no matter their circumstances, is also the key to her career success. As Credit Manager for Zuckerman Companies, Inc. for over 25 years, she has found positive outcomes when treating people with kindness and understanding, not threats and intimidation.

In addition to being awarded Stockton’s Key to the City, Gina was honored with the California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Latina Minerva Empresaria Award for her non-profit and business work in 2021. Gina was also awarded the Power of One Community Star Award by the United Way in 2017 and was named the 2019 Latina of the Year by the San Joaquin County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Gina was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown to the San Joaquin County Fair Board in 2014, serving until 2018.

Gina loves to spend time with her kids, grandkids, and husband, Henry, during her free time.


Meet Gina

A longtime Stocktonian, Gina Valadez-Bracamonte has always been passionate about serving her local community. As a young single mom, Gina was inspired to help her neighbors because of the kindness and generosity her friends and family had shown her during tough times.

During the Great Recession, Gina knew many families were fighting to make ends meet while many lost their jobs and homes. So, with $350 earned from a garage sale, Gina founded Bread of Life, a non-profit aiding Stockton’s struggling working families. Since then, Bread of Life has grown into a feeding ministry with a $400,000 annual budget that provides over $3 million in grocery assistance each year and operates almost entirely with volunteers, many of whom were former clients.

During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, Gina transformed Bread of Life into an Amazon-type food delivery service. Bread of Life delivered food to over ten thousand Stockton families who could not afford food or leave their homes. In May, Gina was awarded the Key to the City by Stockton Mayor Lincoln for her and Bread of Life’s work serving Stockton residents.

Gina’s philosophy of showing compassion and understanding to everyone, no matter their circumstances, is also the key to her career success. As Credit Manager for Zuckerman Companies, Inc. for over 25 years, she has found positive outcomes when treating people with kindness and understanding, not threats and intimidation.

In addition to being awarded Stockton’s Key to the City, Gina was honored with the California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Latina Minerva Empresaria Award for her non-profit and business work in 2021. Gina was also awarded the Power of One Community Star Award by the United Way in 2017 and was named the 2019 Latina of the Year by the San Joaquin County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Gina was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown to the San Joaquin County Fair Board in 2014, serving until 2018.

Gina loves to spend time with her kids, grandkids, and husband, Henry, during her free time.