Kiwanis Club honors longtime volunteer Martha Burns as ‘La Cañadan of the Year’
For her sometimes quiet, yet undoubtedly valuable contributions to the community, longtime volunteer Martha Burns has been officially named “2014 La Cañadan of the Year.”
Burns was officially bestowed with the title in a ceremony Wednesday held at Descanso Gardens by the Kiwanis Club of La Cañada.
Tyler Wright, president and chief executive officer of the YMCA of the Foothills, led this year’s selection committee, a panel of 12 Kiwanians charged with the task of finding the city’s best and the brightest.
Serving as emcee on Wednesday, Wright shared some of the credentials that made Burns such a standout candidate for this year’s honor. In addition to having been a PTA president at La Cañada Elementary School, she’s been involved in the Newcomers Club and La Cañada Junior Women’s Club and has been a leader of AYSO and La Cañada Junior Baseball/Softball.
Other involvements — many of which saw Burns serving in the role of treasurer, where she’s plied her flair for numbers and intense attention to detail — include the Community Center of La Cañada Flintridge, Assistance League of Flintridge, the Pasadena Humane Society, the local chamber of commerce and La Cañada Kiwanis Club-AM.
“I realized one thing,” Wright teased Burns of her many accomplishments. “You will do anything to get this award. So it’s yours.”
Leading the personal tributes to Burns, twin sister Kathy Haruf shared with the audience how she was born just three minutes before her tiny, 2-pound sister and recounted fond tales of their childhood growing up in Duluth, Minn.
Haruf praised the inherent intelligence and astuteness of her sister, who ranked among the top 10 students in their graduating class and majored in math at Colorado College.
“You think (maybe) that’s why she’s so adept at all these treasurer positions?” she quipped.
Haruf also acknowledged her sister’s love of animals, offering the audience a Top 10 list of things Burns must have learned from her dogs, including “When you leave your yard, make it an adventure” and “Treats help everything.”
Longtime friends Joy Gifford and Barbie Eland offered fond memories of serving in organizations and working alongside Burns over the years, while niece Wendy Wyatt read a speech prepared by Jeanne Broberg, a mentor to Burns after she and husband Tom moved to La Cañada in 1979. Former school board member Joel Peterson also shared his thoughts on his friendship with the honoree.
Through their recountings, the vastness of Burns’ service to area clubs, school groups and individual friendships became apparent.
“The list of activities that Martha has served in Kiwanis is staggering,” Gifford said. “(But) Martha isn’t all business — she loves fun, and she loves travel and music.”
Dignitaries and representatives from elected officials’ offices presented the honoree with proclamations and certificates of recognition. Presenters spoke on behalf of state Sen. Carol Liu (D-La Cañada), Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) and L.A. County Supervisor Mike Antonovich.
Newly appointed Mayor Pro Tem Jon Curtis and La Cañada Unified School District Superintendent Wendy Sinnette praised Burns for her tireless work, while local sheriff’s and fire officials offered their congratulations.
In her acceptance remarks, Burns attributed her passion for volunteerism to her own parents, who both led by example. It may take a village to raise a child, she said, but it takes volunteers to make that village great.
“And all of you out there are part of the beautiful, marvelous village called La Cañada Flintridge, a place I am so proud to call my home,” Burns concluded. “Thanks so much.”
