Seven Outstanding Community Volunteers
Honored at Duarte Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast
Seven outstanding Duarte citizens were recognized for their outstanding community service at the annual Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast and Duarte Chamber of Commerce Community Service Recognition Awards on Nov. 24.
More than 125 civic and business leaders attended the event held at City of Hope’s Cooper Auditorium, presided over by Duarte’s newly elected mayor Tzeitel Paras-Caracci and Duarte Chamber Chairman of the Board, Sandi Mejia.
Duarte resident and businesswoman, Sharman Warner was honored with the Outstanding Civic Service Award for her efforts in “organizing and sustaining the citizens concerned about Azusa Rock mining expansion above Duarte.”
Steve Nicholson, general manager of Performance Nissan received the Outstanding Business Person Service Award recognizing his and Performance Nissan’s many contributions to the community, including donating hundreds of basketballs for youth programs.
Josephine Tung, longtime resident and Duarte Senior Center volunteer, was honored with the Outstanding Service to Senior Citizens/Disabled Award. Tung volunteers with the lunch program five days a week, is “an indispensible member of the kitchen team” and “a role model for all the Duarte Senior Center volunteers.”
For her compassion and service to the community’s needy, Sheree Curry was honored with the Outstanding Humanitarian Award. She helped to organize Love Our Children2, Inc., a community food pantry for the needy, coordinate a backpack distribution, Christmas toy distribution, and create a dance troupe for at-risk youth. She also help develop “Set for Life,” a non-profit organization to assist the elderly.
Victor Valenzuela, who heads Duarte’s Youth Boxing program, which has grown in number of youth involved and overall success of the program under his leadership, was honored with the Outstanding Service to Youth Award. Valenzuela was also recently inducted into the California Boxing Hall of Fame. “With all his knowledge of boxing and talent for teaching, perhaps Victor’s greatest ability is being a role model to young people. He models dedication and hard work by working full time at the City of Hope every day and then comes to the Teen Center to work with young people throughout the afternoon, weekends, and evenings.”
Two Duarte teens were recognized as Outstanding Youth. Jasmine Castro, a senior at Duarte High School is the president of the school’s Interact Club and a member of the Multicultural Club. She has also volunteered at the Duarte Senior Center, Westminster Gardens, Route 66 Parade, and the Festival of Authors while maintaining a 4.17 grade point average. Mario Contreras, also a senior at Duarte High School is an excellent student and community volunteer. He serves as vice president of the Interact Club, and has given more than 100 hours of volunteer service to a variety of community organizations. He holds a grade point average of 4.07.
The Mayor’s 25th annual Prayer Breakfast and 23rd annual Community Service Recognition Awards were sponsored by the City of Duarte, Duarte Chamber of Commerce, Duarte Kiwanis Club and Key Club, Duarte Church and Clergy Association, Royal Oaks Manor, Duarte Woman’s Club, and Duarte’s Promise – The Alliance for Youth.
