“The term ‘rainmaker’ came from my marketing and sales days,” Rich laughed. “I like to make things happen. Good things.”
Rich’s daily planner is full. It stays full. His days, and sometimes even his nights are spent in volunteer and charity work.
“Actually I’m busier now than I’ve ever been,” he said. “I’ve got to be doing things all the time.”
As a retiree, Rich spends more time working for charity than the average person spends working for a living.
He uses his marketing skills, which were gained through life experiences.
He was born and raised in Pensacola, Fla.
“What really got me started in charity work was Junior Achievement,” he said.
For a club project, Rich made fabric lint rollers using wooden dowels covered with brightly-colored foam and decorated with ribbon. As he sold his products, he came to understand the impact of marketing.
He parlayed that experience into a career as an international marketing vice president in the recreational vehicle and boating industry. He traveled domestically and internationally doing boat and RV shows. He had lived in three states — Florida, Mississippi and Louisiana — before moving to Trinity.
In each state, he served as a volunteer — from the Great Mississippi Cajun Fest, which benefited Hope Haven Children’s Home, to Bikers Against Child Abuse and Gaits to Success, a therapeutic riding stable for special needs children.
He worked with Florida Animal Wildlife Rescue, which provides food, shelter and medical support for lion cubs, bear cubs, pelicans — and once even an Alabama panther — until a permanent location could be found or the animal was released into the wild. Rich served on the board of directors.
While in Louisiana, he lived in New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina came through. He’s quick to point out that much of the publicity focused on what went wrong. In his neighborhood, folks pooled their resources, even sharing their short supply of food.
In 2008, Rich’s Mississippi property was hammered by three hurricanes in rapid-fire succession — Fay, Gustav and Ike.
Move away from there, his two Trinity sisters, Diane Finch and Lisa Garcia, said.
Rich put his properties on the market, thinking they would never sell. When his New Orleans property sold within six hours, Rich took it as a sign.
Within a short time he was in North Carolina and was enlisted to help with a fundraiser for the Booster Club at Wheatmore High School, where his niece Lindsey Ozment is a student.
Charity work. Helping kids. Rich was in his element.
“(Rich) has some good ideas. He is very persistent and works real hard,” said Wheatmore Athletic Booster Club President Robbie Walker. “He is wonderful to work with.
“If you just mention a fundraising idea, he has done it at some point. He has beaucoups of contacts. He is not afraid to approach anyone for help, whether it is an individual or a large corporation.
“He has been a tremendous asset to our club. We couldn’t get by without him.”
Rich set the tone for the first football game between Wheatmore and Trinity.
During the “Unity in the Community” campaign, Wheatmore and Trinity high school supporters collected food items for Community Outreach of Archdale-Trinity. The food pantry ministry received hundreds of food items from both schools.
He serves in other capacities at Wheatmore. He helped to set up a hospitality room for coaches in February for the middle school basketball playoffs. In recent months, he served as a volunteer for end-of-course tests and continues to volunteer at various sporting events.
Rich began to volunteer with Communities In Schools last spring.
He supports the Archdale-Trinity Chamber of Commerce as a volunteer with the 2010 Bush Hill Heritage Festival Committee and the Economic Development Committee.
Recently, Rich began to volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Triad.
While the list is extensive, his passion is to fight cancer, the disease which claimed the life of his mother in 2002.
He volunteers with Team Austin, a group dedicated to fundraising for leukemia patient Austin Reddick.
In Mississippi, Rich was involved in six Relay for Life events and had been involved in Florida as well. Last spring, he was in the process of moving from Mississippi and missed the annual Relay for Life event.
This year he’s making up for lost time. He serves as the team recruitment chairman and media relations chairman for the 2010 High Point Relay for Life.
Diane heard Rich’s fax machine ringing at 3 a.m.
“Cancer doesn’t sleep,” he explained. “And besides, my fax and my computer are my right-hand people.”
As team recruitment chairman for the High Point Relay for Life, he has recruited more than 60 new teams.
The Wheatmore High School Health Occupations Students of America Club recently held an after-school meeting to discuss their Relay for Life fundraising strategies. Some HOSA students have family members who were cancer patients or are currently battling the disease. Other students got involved because of Austin Reddick.
Rich reminded them that nearly everyone knows someone who has been touched by cancer.
“His enthusiasm for Relay for Life was contagious,” said Carol Ann Robles, Wheatmore HOSA faculty adviser.
Rich looks forward to the Relay for Life event that will be held from noon to midnight Saturday, May 22, at Southwest Guilford High School.
“My favorite ceremony is the luminaria,” said Rich.
Luminaries, decorated to honor or memorialize people, line the track. Survivors, as well as loved ones lost to the disease, are remembered. One bag will bear the name of Gail Guilliouma.
Volunteerism is life itself for Rich and it seems to stem from that high school experience with Junior Achievement.
You see, he didn’t pocket the money from the lint rollers. He gave the proceeds to charity and that, perhaps, was the moment that changed the course of his life.
More participation needed
There are three ways to join in the fight against cancer — start a Relay for Life team, join a team or make a donation.
The following schools and school clubs will participate in the 2010 Relay for Life to be held at Southwest High School Saturday, May 22: Wheatmore High School, WHS HOSA Club, Trindale Elementary, Trinty High School Junior Civitans, Thomasville Primary School, Immaculate Heart of Mary, Ragsdale High School and Communities In Schools of High Point.
Southwest High School has three teams — student council, National Honor Society and the leadership class.
Relay is a major annual fundraiser sponsored by the American Cancer Society in the fight to find a cure for cancer, said Rich Guilliouma.
“This event will be an awesome character builder for these students while having a lot of fun working with their peers from throughout the area, supporting a very worthwhile cause.
“In addition to the fundraising there will be plenty of fun, food, ceremony, entertainment and fellowship. This is a family event.”
Donations may be made payable to “High Point Relay for Life” or “American Cancer Society.” Businesses may donate gift cards, certificates, merchandise or services to be raffled or auctioned.
To form a team, contact Rich at 905-954 or rrichray@email.com.
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