PRESENTING SPONSOR
17th Annual
Golden Plate Awards
Luncheon
June 16, 2016
Los Angeles County Arboretum
and Botanical Garden
C H A P C A R E S
LOCATIONS
PASADENA
FAIR OAKS
LINCOLN
DEL MAR
LAKE
MONROVIA
LIME
EL MONTE
VACCO
GARVEY
PECK (Opens July 13, 2016)
THROUGH LIFE'S MOST IMPORTANT MOMENTS
FAMILY MEDICINE, WOMENS' HEALTH, PEDIATRICS,
MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING, OPTOMETRY, DENTAL,
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HEALTH INSURANCE ENROLLMENT
626-398-6300
www.chapcare.org
/chapc a re. or g
/chapcareorg
Luncheon Agenda
Welcome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Betty McWilliams, Executive Director, Foothill Unity Center
Master of Ceremonies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . George Pennacchio, ABC7 – Entertainment Reporter
2016 Awards Presentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mary Ann Lutz, Board President, Foothill Unity Center
Heart in Hand Humanitarian Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David Steinmeier
Neighbors Helping Neighbors – Business Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Arcadia Association of REALTORS®
Pasadena-Foothill Association of REALTORS®
Neighbors Helping Neighbors – Government Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Los Angeles County Arboretum
and Botanical Garden
Neighbors Helping Neighbors – Community Service Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . City of Duarte Public Safety
Local Harvest Program
Video and Guest Speaker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . “Be the Heart of Change”
Raffles and 50/50 Drawing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . George Pennacchio, Betty McWilliams
Closing Comments and Thank you . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . George Pennacchio
Be sure we have your email so we can send you pictures!
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Thank you to all our donors for your contributions
in helping us make this Event a success.
Creative Plant Design
Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanical Garden
Gary and Barbara Kovacic
Lyd and Mo Photography
Hazelsbagz
Roclord Studio
Hope Café and Catering
The Leven Oaks
Julie Berry
Top Commercial Realty-Linda Vodov-Elkaim
Kathy and Jim Kirchner
3-D Walking Tour- Clifford Cooper
LA Party Works
WonderDog Ranch-Brenda Trainor
Foothill Unity Center 2016 Golden Plate Awards Luncheon | 1
George Pennacchio, Reporter from ABC7 Eyewitness News
George Pennacchio is the entertainment reporter
for ABC7 Eyewitness News. He is also host of
ABC7’s Evening at the Academy Awards Pre-show
and Post-Show. He joined ABC7 in 1996.
During his broadcasting career, George has won
three Emmy Awards for his work. He has also
been honored with The Press Award by The
Publicists Guild of America for his coverage of
the entertainment industry. He’s only one of four
journalists who have received The Critics’ Critic
Award from The Broadcast Film Critics Association,
North America’s largest critics group.
While on assignment in South Africa in 2007 to
cover the opening of “The Lion King” on stage
in its homeland, George did a series of reports
involving entertainment, health and social programs
that empower the women of South Africa with
connections here in Southern California.
George serves on the board of the charity group, The
Thalians, which raises money for the maintenance
of the Thalians Mental Health Center at Cedar-Sinai
Medical Center. He and his wife, Erin, also support
various greyhound charities devoted to saving the
dogs once their racing days are over.
He’s only one of four journalists who have received
The Critics’ Critic Award from The Broadcast
Film Critics Association, North America’s largest
critics group.
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Mary Ann Lutz, Board of Directors President
Welcome to the 17th Annual Golden Plate Awards
Luncheon! After celebrating our 35th birthday last
year, Foothill Unity Center continues to provide a
“helping hand” to low-income community members.
In our constant fight against poverty, we work with
businesses and organizations such as Herman
Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC and their Mobile
Dental Clinic, Wells Fargo Foundation, Kaiser
Permanente, Southern California Edison, the Law
Offices of Donald P. Schweitzer, and many, more
corporate and individual donors that make it
possible to continue to serve our clients. This year,
we expanded our relationship with the Buddhist
Tzu Chi Foundation and their mobile health vans,
allowing us to further assist our clients with their
vision and dental needs.
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The Golden Plate Awards provides an opportunity
to honor a few of our partners, not only for their
contribution to Foothill Unity Center, but for
their contributions to the San Gabriel Valley
foothill community. This year, we are excited to
be awarding our Heart in Hands Humanitarian
Award to David Steinmeier, who has made a
profound difference as a Board President and
volunteer. David led Foothill Unity Center by
providing direction and vision that allowed us
to grow as an organization. As David steps
down from his Board position, we are happy and
thankful that he will continue to assist the Center
as a volunteer. Our Board of Directors are eternally grateful for
all our honorees and their dedication to helping
us make a real difference in our neighbors’ lives.
Both the Arcadia Association of REALTORS® and
the Pasadena-Foothill Association of REALTORS®
have been supporting our organization for over a
decade. The Los Angeles Arboretum and Botanical
Garden has donated the Ayers Hall since 2004,
which has allowed us to serve our clients for both
the Thanksgiving and Holiday Distributions. The City
of Duarte Local Harvest Program donates thousands
of pounds of locally grown fruit to our clients every
year. Each of our honorees donates and contributes
to our organization in different ways and each of
them have a significant impact on the lives of our
clients. We are honored and grateful to have them as
our partners in the fight against poverty and hunger.
Thank you for being a part of our mission to provide
service and support, with love and dignity, to lowincome and homeless families in our community.
We welcome you to get more involved with the
Foothill Unity Center. There are many different
ways you can assist - as a matter of fact, being here
with us today is a perfect way to show your support. - Mary Ann Lutz, Board of Directors President
Foothill Unity Center 2016 Golden Plate Awards Luncheon | 3
Citizens Business Bank
is a proud sponsor of the
Foothill Unity Center
17th Annual Golden Plate Awards
&
Contact me today!
Barbara Veenstra | 626.303.4661
100 E Huntington Drive, Monrovia, CA 91016
cbbank.com
Equal Housing Lender | Member FDIC
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The Fresh Gourmet
The Peacock Cafe
301 N. Baldwin Avenue
Arcadia, CA 91007
(626) 446-2248
[email protected]
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www.peacockcafearcadia.com
Foothill Unity Center 2016 Golden Plate Awards Luncheon | 5
Betty McWilliams, Executive Director
I want to thank you all for coming today and helping
us honor and recognize those that have provided
exceptional service to Foothill Unity Center and in
turn to our local community. The positive impact
made in so many people’s lives – those in need of help
and those in need to help - could not be accomplished
without all of your support.
Last year we formed a committee of key staff, board
members, and community volunteers to begin a nine
month extensive strategic plan process to help guide
the organization forward. Many of the objectives and
priorities of the plan have already been implemented
strengthening our foundation and assessing our
service delivery and focus.
While we are helping a significant number of
individuals and families in need in our community,
we can do more. The need has never been greater.
We are inspired to find new and better ways to serve
clients with love and dignity and we recognize the
importance of addressing the multiple needs of those
who come to us for help. We are true partners with
the community and new service providers seek to
collaborate with us.
Looking ahead, Foothill Unity Center’s vision is to
provide a more comprehensive, “one stop” experience
for the individuals and families we serve. In doing this
we can better address those multiple needs of clients
as we help them move toward stability and selfsufficiency. Continued growth in staffing, provisions,
volunteers, partnerships, and space will be needed in
order to fulfill our vision of a community where: 1) all
basic needs are met; 2) all get the necessary support
to become self-sufficient; and 3) all are treated with
love and dignity…all the time.
In order to meet these goals we must eliminate
the current barriers which result from our limited
cramped facilities. A larger facility would meet our
current needs and allow for future expansion of our
services. A new facility is also one of the cornerstones
of our strategic plan. For this reason, the Center’s
Board of Directors is currently exploring the feasibility
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of a significant, and first-ever, capital campaign
fundraising effort that would provide the funding to
consolidate our two Monrovia facilities. Anyone who
has visited our buildings can attest to our cramped
facilities. The offices are overflowing with staff and
volunteers leaving inadequate space for our clients
and service providers.
A project and campaign of this size is perhaps the
most significant event of our 36 -year history. Our
community is depending upon us to succeed because
the needs of individuals and families in crisis in our
community will likely not be met without us. Given
the significance of this proposed effort, we welcome
and will solicit the guidance and advice of our friends
and supporters to help us better refine our plans. We
cannot do it without you and want to thank you in
advance for your encouragement and support.
Together, we can and will find new and better ways to
serve our community with love and dignity. Together,
we will also be able to make a greater impact in
Helping People. Changing Lives.
“Be the Heart of Change” with us!
Social Services
Did you know that millions of people in
Los Angeles County are “food insecure?”
On any given day, people who are food insecure
go hungry; they do not know what their next meal
will be, or from where it will come. Foothill Unity
Center combats hunger in our local areas of the San
Gabriel Valley that are, in fact, experiencing a new
kind of hunger.
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In the eleven cities that we serve along the
Foothills, more than half of the families were
historically affluent. However, during the downturn
of the economy, jobs were lost, homes were
foreclosed, expenses increased, and household
incomes drastically decreased to a point whereby
the practice of sustaining the “basics” of life became
unaffordable. The millions of pounds of groceries
that we distribute each year help free household
income to be available for other household
expenses. The bagged lunches that we distribute
to our homeless community feed a person or
family who struggles with the additional stress of
identifying whether or not their next place to sleep
will be warm or safe.
What adds to the uniqueness of Foothill Unity
Center, is that we are the designated Community
Action Agency (CAA) of the Foothills since
2008. As the CAA, we do more than provide
basic food needs. We stay attuned to policies and
practices that help bring about positive change
and we partner nationwide to fight against poverty
experienced in California.
With the input from our bi-annual community needs
assessment, we capture the specific needs of our
community; and through our case management
services, we help families address those needs one
area at a time. Through access, education, advocacy,
and navigation, we help families secure stability
and manage crisis. With the help of our community
of volunteers, donors, and staff we have become
the “heart of change” to regularly help people and
change lives.
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Foothill Unity Center 2016 Golden Plate Awards Luncheon | 9
Health Services
Launched by an endowment gift in 2010, Foothill
Unity Center, Inc. is proud to report accomplishing
its goal to provide limited healthcare services to
low-income families in our service area. Initially,
our health services department only helped
homeless clients. However, through our partnership
with CHAPCare, Young & Healthy, and other
medical providers, our healthcare services
expanded to not only reach the uninsured, but to
also reach our underinsured families that include
adults and children.
In response to critical healthcare needs as identified
by the community, our health services offerings
continue to grow. While we are not a health clinic,
the breadth of our healthcare services includes
navigation, education, and access. We have become
a point of entry whereby low-income people have
learned to take ownership of the direction of their
health and people are managing their health with
confidence. We attribute some success of our health
services to the Affordable Care Act initiative that
has helped people qualify for free or affordable
medical coverage; however, we primarily attribute
its success to the healthcare partnerships that have
been formed along the way.
At Foothill Unity Center, Inc. we value the health of
our clients. We are not only a Covered California
enrollment entity to help assure health insurance
coverage, but we also help people navigate their
health plans. Additionally, during food distributions
we offer free blood pressure, glucose, and body
mass index (BMI) screenings, which is where we
notice a positive shift in the minds of our clients
as it pertains to their health. We offer monthly and
themed health workshops to increase awareness
on specific health topics and offer a walking group
and a stretching group that encourages fitness. It
is important in healthcare to take care of the whole
10 | Foothill Unity Center 2016 Golden Plate Awards Luncheon
body and our health services department is helping
families to do just that.
Each year during our Back to School Event in August
we screen our school age children for vision, dental
and hearing. We have been working with the
Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC for the
past seven years. Their annual Mobile Dental Clinic
provides dental services for up to 120 children with
stage 4 critical issues.
In 2016 we began partnering with the Buddhist
Tzu Chi Foundation who provide a monthly Mobile
Dental Clinic and Mobile Vision Clinic that serve
12-15 uninsured and underinsured adults on a
monthly basis. Just in the past two months, the
Mobile Vision Clinic has been able to provide 35 preregistered clients with eye exams and new glasses
that they would otherwise not have had access to.
In addition to the Mobile Vision Clinic, we work
closely with New Eyes, Lens Crafters, Marvel Optics
and Anugraha Drishtidaan to provide much needed
vision care and glasses to our clients.
As we continue to grow our services, we look to
connect people of all ages with health services,
year round.
David Steinmeier
2016 Heart in Hand Humanitarian Award
David Steinmeier is a longtime Foothill Unity
Center, Inc. (FUCI) volunteer, having first served as a
volunteer and then as a member of the Board.
David’s first volunteer effort for FUCI occurred at
the Holiday Distribution, which was held at the
old ELS Building on Chestnut Avenue in Monrovia.
David showed up to volunteer wearing dress
slacks, a sports coat, and his trademark beret. Joan
Whitenack, Executive Director at the time, looked
at this over-dressed volunteer and immediately
assigned him to greet FUCI clients as they entered
the building to receive a supply of holiday food.
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David’s belief in the FUCI mission of “Neighbors
Helping Neighbors” with love and dignity so
resonated with David’s personal religious beliefs
that he joined the Board in 2004 and served for
12-years in the capacity of Board Member, Secretary,
and Board President. In 2014, he became the
immediate Past President. David retired from the
Board in March of 2016, but remains on the Capital
Campaign, Facilities, and Nominations Committees.
During those 12-years, David has been part of the
FUCI expansion into Pasadena Community, FUCI
becoming a California Action Agency Member, and
the addition of our Health Services Program. During
his tenure on the Board, David has seen the annual
FUCI cash donations portion of our budget grow
from $500,000 to $1,810,000 in 2016, to meet the
expanding needs of our clients.
He has participated in
distributing food to
over 2,000 families!
David’s favorite FUCI programs are the Thanksgiving
and Holiday Distributions. To this end, David has
directed the Thanksgiving and Holiday Distribution
David and Joann Steinmeier
logistics at the LA County Arboretum since 2005.
He has participated in distributing food to over
2,000 families!
David is also very active in the Church of the Good
Shepherd United Methodist, Arcadia. David serves
on the Good Shepherd Foundation, which has
bought equipment for FUCI over the past decade.
David also serves on the Coordinating Committee
for hosting temporarily homeless families for Family
Promise of San Gabriel Valley. FUCI partners with
Family Promise to provide food and support services
to families that graduate from the Family Promise
program and move into more permanent housing.
David has been very happily married to Joann
for 49-years. They have one son, Jeremy,
daughter-in-law, Angelica, grandson, William, and
granddaughter, Aimee. David has a BSEE from
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and
an MBA from the University of Southern California.
David and Joann have successfully managed
microJoining Solutions, their own manufacturing
consulting company for the past nineteen years.
microJoining Solutions is a proud sponsor of many of
FUCI’s programs.
Foothill Unity Center 2016 Golden Plate Awards Luncheon | 11
A Law Firm Dedicated to Professional Excellence
Our law firm was founded in 1982 and has earned a
reputation for excellence and integrity in handling
serious personal injury, wrongful death, and medical
malpractice cases. Our law firm, as well as each of our
partners, has an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell. In
addition, three of our partners have been named
Top 100 Super Lawyers for Southern California. Our
attorneys have also been recognized as Pasadena
Magazine Top Attorneys in the San Gabriel Valley, and
as Southern California Super Lawyers. We welcome
your confidential call to be of assistance within our
area of expertise.
626-795-8333
1100 E. Green St., Pasadena, California 91106-2513
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Foothill Unity Center 2016 Golden Plate Awards Luncheon | 13
Volunteer Services
Thirty-six years ago, Josephine Anderson went to
her priest to see if she could volunteer her time.
She had no idea what she could do, but she wanted
to do something. He directed her to a closet at
the church where they held items for the needy
and said she could help with that; little did anyone
know at the time, what an impact she would have
on the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in
the community. Because of her desire to volunteer
her time, energy and compassion to help others,
Foothill Unity Center got started.
Fast forward to 2016, Foothill Unity Center serves
over 8,000 individuals in eleven San Gabriel Valley
cities from two locations in Monrovia and Pasadena.
Currently, we have 25 employees, so imagine how
much we rely on and appreciate our volunteers.
We consider volunteers to be the true heart and
lifeblood of our Center. In 2015, 4,570 volunteers,
ranging in ages from 3-93; from neighboring
communities, schools, faith-based organizations,
businesses, service and government groups;
contributed 47,204 hours of their time, energy,
respect and compassion to our clients.
to use. Volunteers work tirelessly at our annual
events for Back to School, Mobile Dental Clinic,
Thanksgiving, Holiday, and the Letter Carrier Food
Drive. All of our volunteers have a very special
impact on so many in need. It is because of them, we
are able to serve our clients in the best way we can.
We are fortunate to have dedicated individuals who
serve on our various committees: Back to School,
Pet Food and Angel Project. We are grateful for our
Board of Directors whose support and assistance
enables us to serve our clients.
Foothill Unity Center’s volunteers
are some of the nicest, talented,
organized, thoughtful and
generous people one could ever
meet. They come from all walks
of life, but are united in our goal
Sherry Anderson to make our community a better
place for our neighbors in need.
Whether our volunteers come weekly, monthly or
It takes a community of volunteers to be the “heart
on an annual basis…all give their valuable time.
of change”, to have a significant impact on the lives
Just a sampling of big and small tasks that our
of our clients.
volunteers do: they sort food and assist clients
during food distributions, they decorate the Holiday
If you are interested in volunteering, please
Angels to support the distribution of children’s
contact our Volunteer Services Department at
holiday presents, or even cut coupons for our clients 626-358-3486 or www.foothillunitycenter.org.
“Volunteers aren’t paid, not
because they are worthless,
but because they are priceless.”
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Arcadia Association of
REALTORS®
Neighbors Helping Neighbors - Business Award
The Arcadia Association of REALTORS® (AAR)
is an award winning professional association with
over 2,300 REALTOR® members and Affiliate
Business partners serving the greater San Gabriel
Valley. The AAR was established in 1924. They are
the behind the scenes support for the members
including offering Multiple Listing SAervices
(MLS) Legislative Advocacy, Tech Support, WorldClass Professional Development and Marketing,
Community Outreach and Professional Standards
Services. The mission of the Arcadia Association
of REALTORS® is to be the local advocate for
REALTORS® to enhance Professionalism, Integrity
and Competency of their members and to promote
Private Property Rights.
“Events 4 Charity”
One of the many aspects of the Arcadia Association
of REALTORS® is their ongoing charity work.
Because they are a local organization, the AAR has
dedicated themselves to donate to local charities
and non-profit organizations in the area for the past
40 years.
Events 4 Charity Committee
Roy Blume, 2016 President of the AAR states that
the reason why they donate to Foothill Unity Center
is because “AAR believes Foothill Unity Center
is synonymous with providing critical outreach
services to the local community, which aligns itself
perfectly with the AAR’s ideals for their donations to
local organizations”.
The Arcadia Association of REALTORS® has several
Charitable Events throughout the year such as
a Bingo Night; a Wine Tasting Event;
an annual Golf Tournament; a Poker
Tournament; and of course their Smokin’
Jack Whiskey and Cigar Night. Program desigend by SarahBeeDesign.com
They have donated to local
charities and non-profit
organizations in the area for
the past 40 years.
Their “Events 4 Charity” committee is comprised
of a special and dedicated group of Members who
volunteer their time and talents to plan, organize and
execute multiple charitable events throughout the
year. At the end of the year, they distribute the funds
to various local charitable organizations, one of them
being Foothill Unity Center. If you’d like to be notified about their
upcoming charity events, please send an
email to [email protected]. Laura will
be able to give you more information about
the various events.
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Foothill Unity Center 2016 Golden Plate Awards Luncheon | 17
Back to School
Going back to school can be a stressful time for
any child. Imagine how that stress is increased
when you are worried about where your clothing
and school supplies will come from?
The Back to School Event helps put Foothill Unity
Center’s clients on an even footing with their peers
by supplying what is needed to go back to school
prepared and ready to learn. Each child receives
a backpack, two articles of clothing (uniforms for
grades K-5 and non-uniform clothing for grades
6-12), underwear, socks, a voucher for shoes,
school supplies, hair styling/manicures, dental and
vision screening and much more.
The smiles on the children’s faces as they
leave with new hairstyles, new clothes and the
school supplies will melt your heart and make
you a forever part of this amazing event.
This event is made possible by the generous
donations of our sponsors and the hundreds of
volunteers who staff the booths and help the
children make their selections. Once you have
been part of, or visited, this event you will mark
your calendar each year to be part of the magic of
helping the kids get ready for school. The smiles
on the children’s faces as they leave with new
hairstyles, new clothes and the school supplies will
melt your heart and make you a forever part of this
amazing event.
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Pasadena-Foothill Association of
REALTORS®
Neighbors Helping Neighbors - Business Award
Pasadena-Foothill Association of REALTORS®
was founded as the Pasadena Realty Board in
1907 and incorporated in 1922 with the purpose
of promoting good fellowship and fair dealing
within the industry. Over the years, their objectives
have expanded to provide members with the
tools, education and opportunities to succeed; to
adhere to and enforce the Code of Ethics of the
National Association of REALTORS®; to preserve
and promote real property rights; and to serve as
a constructive force in the improvement of the
quality of life within the community.
In 1997, the Pasadena-Foothills Association of
REALTORS® (PFAR) was formed as a result
of mergers among three boards – Pasadena,
San Marino-South Pasadena and the Foothills
(comprised of La Canada Flintridge, La Crescenta
and Sunland-Tujunga). The formation of PFAR
provides REALTORS® and the public with an even
stronger voice in the protection and promotion
of private property rights while fostering the
ultimate American dream of home ownership.
The Association has built an industry-wide
reputation of being one of the strongest real estate
boards in the nation.
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Pasadena-Foothill Association of REALTORS®
Charitable Foundation
The Pasadena-Foothills Association of REALTORS®
Charitable Foundation is a group of volunteers
comprised of REALTORS® and Affiliate Members of
the Pasadena-Foothills Association of REALTORS®.
The Charitable Foundation creates and plans
fundraising events in order to pursue its mission
to support local charities actively involved in
our community through financial donations
with a special emphasis on charities that have
low administrative overhead and a focus on
Charitable Foundation Committee
disadvantaged and needy populations; to foster
tomorrow’s leaders by providing scholarships to
graduating public high school students; and to
promote public awareness of the positive impact
that REALTORS® make within our community. The
Pasadena-Foothills Association of REALTORS®
Charitable Foundation (PFARCF) is honored to
support wonderful organizations like Foothill Unity
Center. Since its inception as a 501(c) 3 more
than 10 years ago PFARCF has sought to support
community based non-profit organizations that
enrich the lives and wellbeing of San Gabriel
Valley residents. Foothill Unity Center is one of the
cornerstone organizations that we support and we
are proud of the good work that they do. Over the
last 10 years, PFARCF has awarded Foothill Unity
Center more than $45,000 in grant funds.
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­We congratulate Foothill Unity Center
for the Amazing work that you do
and Commemorate the Honorees.
Community Bank looks forward to our
continued partnership with Foothill
Unity Center as we Partner to be
Your Community Bank!!!
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.
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Angel Program
The Angel Program was started to help our clients
provide gifts to their children during the December
holidays. Every year in the fall, the Angel Program
starts when our clients register their children; listing
their interests, needs, sizes, and any special wishes.
Volunteers decorate paper angels that are printed
with the list of collected information. And then
organizations and individuals in the community
“adopt” the angels. For each angel, they donate
new clothing, toys and books in order to help
parents give their children a special holiday.
In the beginning of December, community groups
return the Angels and donated gifts to the Center.
Our volunteer “Elves” are ready to work at the Elf
House, a facility donated to Foothill Unity Center for
that season. Our “Elves” are led by a committee of
twelve volunteers that has the challenging
task of cleaning the facility, unpacking
and organizing a multitude of clothing and
toy donations and family gift bags. Our
Elves prepare large bags of gifts ready for
distribution to our client families, discretely
identified by family holiday number.
Members of the Elf House Committtee: Janet Wall, Sylvia
Miller and Mary Margaret Rolf
At Foothill Unity Center’s Holiday Distribution, not
only do clients receive the fixings for a traditional
Holiday Meal; but our clients with children receive
their donated gifts in a concealed plastic bag
containing separate bags of gifts for each child.
Angel Program to more than 600
families, and over 1,500 children.
We view the Angel Program as a gift to the parents
who can now give presents to their children. In the
2015 holiday season, the Angel Program provided
688 large bags to more than 600 families, and
providing for over 1,500 children.
After many weeks of work, the Elves are always
grateful to have helped provide our client families
with a festive holiday. The Angel Program would
not be possible without the generous support of
individuals, organizations, and businesses in the
surrounding community. Foothill Unity Center
would like to extend a very special “thank you” to
our Elves, who spend months preparing, organizing
and working on this very special program for our
clients. Without the support of our community,
many children would go without presents that help
celebrate their holiday tradition.
22 | Foothill Unity Center 2016 Golden Plate Awards Luncheon
Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanical Garden
Neighbors Helping Neighbors - Government Award
The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic
Garden is a 127 acre arboretum, botanical garden
and historical site in Arcadia, California.
It is governed through a private/public
collaboration between the Los Angeles Arboretum
Foundation and the County of Los Angeles through
its Parks and Recreation Department. The Los
Angeles Arboretum Foundation was founded
in 1948, and was instrumental in creating the
Arboretum, fostering its early development.
The Foundation provides new gardens, extensive
education programs, and publications serving
Southern California. Today, in addition to its
important role in governance, the Foundation
leads a broad community of members, volunteers
and donors in establishing the support needed
to realize the arboretum’s potential as a premier
public garden and educational resource.
were planted. The arboretum opened to the public
in 1956, and ever since, the Foundation continues
to reconstruct the land to create the arboretum that
we know today. The gardens provide the community
a sanctuary for people to enjoy and appreciate
natural beauty.
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For the past thirteen years, the Arboretum has
generously provided a beautiful venue for Foothill
Unity Center Holiday Events.
The arboretum began in 1947, when the state
of California and Los Angeles jointly purchased
111 acres to create the arboretum around
the Baldwin Lake site. Between, 1949 and 1956,
the first greenhouse was constructed and trees
Foothill Unity Center 2016 Golden Plate Awards Luncheon | 23
24 | Foothill Unity Center 2016 Golden Plate Awards Luncheon
Kids Summer Art Workshops and
Camps June, July and August
Paint ‘n’ Play all grown up!
Saturday July 30 7:00 to 9:30
in partnership with the annual MAFA Art Walk...
Canvas Art Painting Class and Beer Tasting
hosted by
This Summer Paint ‘n’ Play will feature
several Canvas Art Nights For Adults.
Check out Website for details
Susanne Hayek & Tracy Alderson have recently
joined Compass as one of the first teams to
launch the West Coast Office in Pasadena.
Real estate is ever-evolving. Compass continues
to set the standard by combining exceptional agents
with best-in-class technology and marketing.
[email protected]
626.353.1266
418 S. Myrtle Avenue, Old Town Monrovia, CA 91016
(626) 256-4848 | [email protected]
paintnplaystudio.com
facebook.com/paintnplayartstudio
www.aldersonhayek.com • compass.com
“Your Voice,
”
y
it
n
u
m
m
o
C
r
u
o
Y
Program desigend by SarahBeeDesign.com
• Print
• Social Media
• Digital • Event Marketing
Providing quality information on local news, arts and
entertainment, community events, and opinions for the
San Gabriel Valley and surrounding areas since 1996.
www.beaconmedianews.com
Foothill Unity Center 2016 Golden Plate Awards Luncheon | 25
Pet Food Bank
When a family is struggling to get by and food is
spare, a difficult choice may be to give up a family
pet because feeding it is no longer affordable. We find that many of our clients face this sad
reality. In April 2010, while we were in the early
stages of starting a Pet Food Bank, Foothill Unity
Center was a beneficiary of a unique program from
the television show, American Idol. Their “Idol
Gives Back” initiative brought national attention to
the Center and while the show’s celebrity judge,
Ellen DeGeneres, visited the Center, she heard
about our emerging pet food efforts. She offered
to supply 5,000 pet meals from her pet food
company HALO, and with that commitment,
our Pet Food Bank became a reality. Currently,
the Center supplies pet food to over 600 families
with pets (dogs, cats and 2 birds) every month to
make sure that all of our clients’ family members
do not go hungry.
Our Pet Food Bank is solely dependent
upon contributions and volunteer
support because pet food is not
included in any of the federal or state
nutritional programs used by the Center. The Committee welcomes the efforts of
community businesses, organizations,
and individuals to help support
this effort. Individual or financial contributions
are welcome through direct payments through
the Center’s website or through contributions at
supporters’ locations. For more information on how
you can contribute or to see our drop off locations
throughout the community,
please contact the Center or visit our website
at www.foothillunitycenter.org.
The Center supplies pet food
for over 600 families with
pets every month.
Our Pet Food Committee has many active
supporters, which include the local Girl Scouts,
Monrovia Floral, Unleashed by Petco, Lending a Paw
Therapy Dogs, Puppy Socializer, Highlander Pets,
Two Dogs Petsitting and Wonder Dog Ranch.
Special projects, such as the Santa Anita UnCorked
Food and Wine Event, have provided substantial
cash support that allows the Committee to purchase
dog and cat food. The Wonder Dog Ranch, who
sponsors their annual Santa Paws event, provides a
stocking stuffer treat for clients with pets during
the holiday season. 26 | Foothill Unity Center 2016 Golden Plate Awards Luncheon
City of Duarte Public Safety Local Harvest Program
Neighbors Helping Neighbors - Community Service Award
The Local Harvest Program, started in 2002, is the
brainchild of Abby Lai, former Crime Prevention
Specialist. She worked directly with volunteer
youth and was struggling to find meaningful
work experience opportunities in the community.
One day, after seeing her neighbors’ trees full of
fruit that was going to waste, she thought of the
concept: have the youths pick fruit from the trees
and donate it to the needy.
Approximately 35 youths work in the Local
Harvest Program as part of the Duarte Public
Safety Department volunteer program, Duarte
Area Resource Team (DART). Residents who have
an abundance of fruit that usually goes to waste,
can request Local Harvest services free of charge.
Volunteer youths harvest the fruit and take 10% of
their collection to the City of Duarte Senior Center
and the rest to Foothill Unity Center. They average
over 5,000 pounds of fruit a year.
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DART youth not only give back to the community,
but they are exposed to a structured work
environment, and gain self-esteem and work
experience.
Local Harvest allows both the community and
youth to work together to create a more open,
accepting, and green neighborhood. Over the
years, the Local Harvest program has grown. In the
beginning, Local Harvest had to search for residents
who would welcome the youths in their homes.
As of now, over 30 Duarte residences and many
other residences in nearby communities are in the
database for yearly visits.
Local Harvest allows both
the community and youth
to work together to create
a more open, accepting,
and green neighborhood.
Next year, due to budget constraints,
DART will be losing part-time support
staff. This will make it difficult for the
program to serve as many neighbors as
we have in the past. If you are interested
in contributing to this program, we are
looking for donations such as tools,
gloves, fruit pickers, shears, bags, and
gift certificates to fast food restaurants.
(The gift certificates will help provide
lunch for the youth who participate in
this program.)
Foothill Unity Center 2016 Golden Plate Awards Luncheon | 27
THANK YOU
For the continued partnership with the
annual Back To School event
18th Annual Back To School Event
Tuesday, August 9, 2016
THANK YOU!
Thank You to Dr. Adam R. Kendall
and all the support for the Salon Concert
Series and thank you to the Women’s City
Club of Pasadena for all the support
April 27, 2016
Fall October Date TBA
28 | Foothill Unity Center 2016 Golden Plate Awards Luncheon
THANK YOU
TO OUR
PRESENTING
SPONSOR!
Filippo Fanara
Principal
Ph 626.303.1818
Fax 626.303.1758
Cell 626.255.1124
[email protected] | cibare.com
830 S. Myrtle Ave. | Monrovia, CA 91016
Broker License #01198019
C O N G R AT U L AT I O N S TO A L L T H I S Y E A R ’ S H O N O R E E S
Volunteer Center of San Gabriel Valley
Presents the 26th Annual
MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY
A National Day of Doing Good
SAVE THE DATE! Saturday, October 22nd, 2016
Monrovia Library Park
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Thank you to 2015 sponsors
Join us in our effort to make a difference in our community! For more information, please contact:
Volunteer Center of San Gabriel Valley * 119 W. Palm Ave. * Monrovia, CA * 91016
Ph: 626-256-8187 * Fax: 626-256-8243 * www.vcsgv.org
Foothill Unity Center 2016 Golden Plate Awards Luncheon | 29
1st Annual – 1998
2nd Annual – 1999
heart in hand humanitarian award
Louise Hewitt
heart in hand humanitarian award
Viola Kentner
neighbors helping neighbors awards:
Dr. Fred Loya, Howard Sears, & Barbara Garett, Board
of Directors Award • Josephine Anderson, Founders Award
Jeanette Crocker & James Wilson, Volunteer Award
Boeing Corporation, Corporate Award • KGEM, Community
Service Award • Immaculate Conception, Religious Organization
Award •Arcadia Monrovia Soroptimists, Service Club Award
Mike Antonovich, Government Award • State Senator Richard
Mountjoy, Legislative Award
neighbors helping neighbors awards:
H.N. and Frances Berger Foundation, Foundation Award
Kathryn Andrade, Volunteer Award • Mathew L Stern, Youth
Volunteer Award • Assemblyman Bob Margett, Legislator Award
• Vons Pavilions, Monrovia, Business Award •The Buddhist
Compassionate Relief Tzu Chi Foundation, U.S.A., Religious
Organization Award •City of Monrovia Employees We Care
Foundation, Community Award • Santa Anita Family Services,
Social Service Agency Award
4th Annual – 2001
3rd Annual – 2000
heart in hand humanitarian award
Lisa Magno
heart in hand humanitarian award
James Kirchner
neighbors helping neighbors awards:
Jan Noto, Volunteer Award • Melissa Morales, Youth Volunteer
Award • Pacific Bell, Corporate Award Albertsons, Monrovia,
Business Award • Bob Wight, Distinguished Member • Altrusa
Intl. Inc. of Arcadia, Service Club Award • The Rose Hills
Foundation, Foundation Award
neighbors helping neighbors awards:
Thelma Mosley, Volunteer Award • Connie Motander, Rainbow’s
End Volunteer • Anita Oaks School, Duarte, School Award •
The Seider Family, Family Award • Oneonta Congregational
Church, South Pasadena, Religious Organization • Little Stuga
Gift Shop (Joan Sheets), Rainbow’s End Business Award • J.P.
Paper Shredders (Donna and Gideon Leiby), Business Award •
L.A. Regional Food Bank (Michael Flood, Executive Director),
Corporate Award
5th Annual – 2002
6th Annual - 2003
heart in hand humanitarian award
Joe Santoro
heart in hand humanitarian award
Jillaine Harkema, R.N.
neighbors helping neighbors awards:
Miller Brewing Company, Corporate Award • John and
Yvonne Jorgensen, Rainbow’s End Volunteer • Tina Aluzzi,
Volunteer Award • Daneisha Ross, Youth Volunteer Award •
The Dollmakers, Business Award Aztec Hotel-Brass Elephant,
Business Award • Church of the Good Shepherd United
Methodist, Arcadia, Religious Organization Award • Methodist
Hospital of Southern California, Community Organization Award
neighbors helping neighbors awards:
Fred Vogelsang, Technical Assistance Award • Linda Arena,
Volunteer Award • Marvel Newton, Rainbow’s End Volunteer
Arcadia Association of REALTORS®, REP Committee,
Community Organization Award • ABC Eyewitness News Team,
Corporate Award • L.A. Party Work, Business Award • Boy Scout
Troop 185, Duarte, Youth Volunteer Award • Maryknoll Sisters,
Religious Organization Award
7th Annual – 2004
heart in hand humanitarian award
Glen Coleman
neighbors helping neighbors awards:
Irene Yamagata-Bermudez, Volunteer Award • Trader Joes,
Corporate Award • Sierra Auto Cars, Business Award
First Presbyterian Church of Monrovia, Religious Organization
Duarte Youth Works Duarte Public Safety Dept., Community
Organization Award • Mimi Liu, Youth Volunteer Award
Liz Lincoln, Rainbow’s End Volunteer • Mark and Diane Versaggi,
Technical Assistance Award • Congressman
David
Dreier,
Legislative
30 | Foothill Unity
Center
2016
Golden Award
Plate Awards Luncheon
8th Annual – 2005
heart in hand humanitarian award
Reyna Diaz
neighbors helping neighbors awards:
Jim Sano, Volunteer Award • Ethel Weber, Rainbow’s End
Volunteer • Holiday Inn, Monrovia, Corporate Award
First Baptist Church of Monrovia-Arcadia, Religious
Organization Award • Key Club Arcadia High School, Youth
Volunteer Organization Award • Linda Taubenreuther, Director of
the Year • Lorraine Bernstein and Chuck Searls, Advocate Award
• Assembly Member Carol Liu, Legislative Award
The California Impression, Small Business Award
9th Annual – 2006
heart in hand humanitarian award
Leo Stallworth
neighbors helping neighbors awards:
Bob Howlett, Volunteer Award • Bill Sadler, Volunteer Award
Pasadena •The Center for Community and Family Services,
Community Organization Award • Santa Anita Park, Corporate
Award • Driftwood Dairy, Business Award • Patton/Faith/
Sandford, Professional Services Award • La Canada Kiwanis
Club, Service Club Award • Vons Foundation, Foundation Award
10th Annual – 2008
heart in hand humanitarian award
Peter Hoffman
neighbors helping neighbors awards:
Worley Parsons, Corporate Award • Jan Noto, Lifetime
Service Award • Citrus College, Community Organization
Award • Carl E. Wynn Foundation, Foundation Award
• National Charity League, Ticketockers, Youth
Organization Award
12th Annual – 2010
11th Annual - 2009
heart in hand humanitarian award
Bernard Melekian • Betty Sanford • Sandra Thomas
heart in hand humanitarian award
Jeff and Patti Patton Bader • Les Peterson
neighbors helping neighbors awards
Marshall’s, Corporate Award • Monrovia Reads,
Organization Award • Kathey Valentine, Volunteer
of the Year
14th Annual – 2012
13th Annual - 2011
heart in hand humanitarian award
Bob Bartlett, Monrovia * Robin Salzer, Pasadena
neighbors helping neighbors awards:
Henry and Lou Thedinga, Volunteer Award • Southern California
Edison, Corporate Award • Monrovian Family Restaurant,
Business Award
humanitarian of the decade
Joan Whitenack • Ray Wheeler
heart in hand humanitarian award
Lorraine Bernstein
neighbors helping neighbors awards
Wells Fargo, Corporate Award
Bruce Laughton and Gary Harrigian, Advocates
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15th Annual – 2014
heart in hand humanitarian award
Cynthia Kurtz
neighbors helping neighbors awards:
Colleen McEvoy, Volunteer Award
Simplicity Bank, Corporate Award
16th Annual - 2015
35th Birthday Celebration
Celebrating Foothill Unity Center, Inc.
faith based awards:
Temple Beth David • Pasadena Jewish Temple Center
Weizman Day School • Jewish Federation of the San Gabriel
and Pomona Valleys
Foothill Unity Center 2016 Golden Plate Awards Luncheon | 31
For the 3rd consecutive year, Don Schweitzer, Founder,
Partner and Certified Family Law Specialist of the Law
Offices of Donald P. Schweitzerlong along with his wife
Maria Schweitz, will spearhead a “Sponsoring Smiles”
Circle of Friends fundraiser to benefit Foothill Unity
Center’s Pediatric Mobile Dental Clinic. The Schweitzer’s
support of the Mobile Dental Clinic began in 2013 when
the firm celebrated its 10-Year Anniversary at a Monte
Carlo charity event benefitting the Mobile Dental Clinic.
Last year, the Circle of Friends event raised $21,500.
To date, the Schweitzer’s anniversary and annual
Circle of Friends events have raised more than $38,000.
One hundred percent of the proceeds benefit Foothill
Unity Center’s annual Mobile Dental Clinic held in the
fall, where Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of
USC Mobile Dental Clinic provides more than 3,000
pediatric dental procedures to approximately 100 needy
school-age children in the San Gabriel Valley. For more
information please visit www.foothillunitycenter.org
Staff Listing
Angela Robles
Angelica Marquez
Ardena Bartlett
Barbara Rolf
Beatriz Juarez
Ben Byers
Betty McWilliams
Cecilia Avila
Crystal Phu
Diane Daw
Gaby Rodriguez
Jennifer Russell
Jessica Luna
Juana Magdaleno
Luciola Diaz
Maribel Ramirez
Mike Antenesse
Nancy Pinones
Rachel Black
Raina Martinez
Reny Sultan
Sal Villasenor
Tashera Taylor
Todd Herbig
Yvonne Johnson
Board of Directors- 2016
Mary Ann Lutz, President
Gary Kovacic, Vice President
Rev. Terry Keenan, Treasurer
Dina Attia
Brian Barreto
Christine Bennett
Reyna Diaz
Lois Gaston
Ulises Gutierrez
Karen Herrera
Kay Kinsler
Dr. Allan Mucerino
32 | Foothill Unity Center 2016 Golden Plate Awards Luncheon
Greg Vanni, Vice President
Carl Foote, Secretary
Donald P. Schweitzer
Dr. Katherine Thorossian
Brian Vosberg
Alice Wang
8313
x 10
4c
Celebrating
community spirit
Friends, family, neighbors, and local business owners are the backbone of this community.
Our vibrant spirit comes alive at events like these. Little by little we can do a lot.
Small is Huge℠
Wells Fargo is proud to salute Foothill Unity Center’s Golden Plate Awards.
Visit wellsfargo.com/stories to see how big small can be.
© 2016 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved.
Member FDIC. (2743201_18313)
PRESENTING SPONSOR
415 W CHESTNUT AVE, MONROVIA, CA
(626) 358-3486 | WWW.FOOTHILLUNITYCENTER.ORG