Nonprofit Dedicates Van to Debra Rivera

When Carol Childs heard about the death of Debra Rivera earlier this week, she thought about what the woman meant to the National Humane Society in Carrollwood.

Child's runs the nonprofit organization that Rivera, 55, supported through some of the sale proceeds from her business, Distinctive Creations. Rivera's company sold high-end jewelry and the society was able to use some of the money to buy items like animal traps, Childs said.

"It was a breath of fresh air to know you could call Debbie," said Childs. "If you ever needed it, she was there."

Debra Rivera and her husband, Dr. Hector Rivera, 76, at their Avila home. , 31, of Carrollwood has been charged in the couple's death. He faces a .

To keep Rivera's memory alive, Childs asked Arturo Sousa, owner of The Art Shop on Gunn Highway, to add the words "In Memory of Debbie Rivera" on the right side of the NHS van near the front passenger side tire below a heart and the words "Because We Care."

Sousa agreed, and used stickers to add the words to the Ford 350 van on Thursday.

It took about 30 minutes to add the stickers to the van, which the NHS uses for community outreach and rescuing animals during natural disasters.

As a favor for Childs, and because of Debra Rivera's local impact, he also did it for free.

"I know people really cared about her," he said. "She did a lot for the community."

Childs said she wants people to walk past the truck and know that Debra Rivera's legacy will continue.

"I just felt like I didn't want her to be just another woman that died in Tampa," she said. "Everytime I walk by this, I'll say silently, 'You meant something to us.'"