UNION BANK AND KCET HONOR TWELVE LOCAL HEROES
2011 Cultural Diversity Partnership Culminates with
14th Annual Local Heroes Awards Celebration
LOS ANGELES (October 13, 2011) - As part of its ongoing commitment to cultural diversity, Union Bank, N.A., has partnered with public television station KCET to honor 12 extraordinary individuals at the 14th Annual Local Heroes Awards. The honorees are announced as part of the ongoing 2011 Cultural Diversity Partnership, which recognizes and pays tribute to local heroes who are making a difference by improving their workplace, profession, neighborhood, community, region and the world. The year-long celebration of diversity culminates with an October 18 awards ceremony, where recipients will be formally recognized.
The 2011 Local Heroes honorees are: Rhonda and Ruett Foster and Charmaine Jefferson (Black History Month); Gloria Lazalde and Lisa Watson (Womens History Month); Ruth Tang Ding, Sandy Sakamoto and Charles Woo (Asian Pacific American Heritage Month); Zane Buzby and Stephen J. Sass (Jewish American Heritage Month); Teresa Campos Hern ndez and Jes s Salvador Trevi o (Hispanic Heritage Month) .
We are thrilled to celebrate these outstanding individuals who bring leadership, dedication and creativity to their work and communities - we all benefit greatly from their tireless commitment, said Union Bank Senior Executive Vice President Pierre Habis, head of Community Banking. We are also proud of our expanded cultural partnership with KCET, and we look forward to celebrating the achievements and work of many more local heroes as part of our 14-year tradition in Los Angeles.
KCET is excited to join Union Bank as we recognize twelve incredible local heroes, said KCET President and CEO Al Jerome. Each of the honorees has made a unique and valuable contribution to our Los Angeles community, and we are pleased to introduce them to our viewers through the video profiles airing on KCET as we also pay tribute to the many milestones and achievements of the their respective communities.
The 2011 Cultural Diversity honorees are:
Black History Month
Pastor Ruett Stephen Foster has over thirty years of experience as a teacher, counselor, and an advocate for the children, youth and families of Los Angeles. For the past thirteen years, Pastor Foster has served as an ardent public activist for violence prevention. He became an assiduous advocate after the tragic and senseless loss of his innocent seven-year-old son, Evan, to gun violence in 1997. Pastor Foster and his wife, Rhonda, have partnered with several causes in the hopes of eradicating youth violence by instilling empathy and cultivating emotional growth in incarcerated youth.
Rhonda Foster has dedicated her life to helping children reconcile with their families and their communities as a whole. She and her husband Pastor Foster established the Evan Leigh Foster Foundation in memory of their son to provide care and services for children who have perpetrated crimes against society as a result of being separated or estranged from their families. Her commitment to youth is reflected in her position as the case manager for Community Build and the Gang Reduction Youth Development Program of Los Angeles Mayor Villaraigosas office. She coordinates therapy, tutoring, sports, arts activities and life coaching for children between the ages of 10 and 15.
Charmaine Jefferson is the executive director of the California African American Museum. She is deeply dedicated to enriching her community and the lives of others through the promotion of artistic endeavors. Her innovative advocacy of arts education and programming has earned her wide acclaim in both the private and public sectors. Ms. Jefferson is also very committed to charitable works and philanthropic organizations. Her advisory board and consulting memberships is as varied as it is extensive, and she is particularly involved with the California Institute for the Arts, Arts for LA, and the California Arts Council.
Womens History Month
Gloria Lazalde is a well known community organizer, manager and altruist. She began her career in 1988 while working for Nobles Property Management where she managed certification processes in a 430-unit public housing complex serving more than 2,500 residents where she organized groups for abused women and youth. In 2005, she founded the Celebrando Nuestras Madres annual event in San Fernando Valley to honor the lives of both her late mother and sister. The event honors mothers who would not otherwise be able to celebrate Mothers Day. Ms. Lazalde remains committed to motivate, inspire, and empower women and acknowledge the contributions they continuously make to their families and their communities at large.
Lisa Watson is the executive director of the Downtown Womens Center (DWC), a nationally recognized model program for women living in extreme poverty on Los Angeles Skid Row. Ms. Watson has initiated new programs, increased the organizations capacity, and developed strategic partnerships to meet the dramatic rise in womens homelessness. Most recently, she led the development and move of the DWC to its new home, a 67,000-square foot building made possible by a $35 million capital campaign and the work of more than 1,800 volunteers. Throughout her career, Ms. Watson has been dedicated to building communities and promoting social justice.
Asian Pacific American Heritage
Ruth Tang Ding is the founder and president of the Orange County Chinese Cultural Club and Pan Pacific Performing Arts, Inc. As a teacher and a philanthropist, Ms. Ding has been a major promoter of the arts and Chinese culture in Orange County for more than fifty years. She is a board member of the Opera Pacific, the Asian American Senior Citizens Service Center (AASCSC) and Segerstrom Center for the Arts, where she is also a director. Ms.
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UNION BANK AND KCET HONOR TWELVE LOCAL HEROES
