On the Town: Cartoon Network exec named Burbank Woman of the Year
Since the establishment of the Burbank Woman of the Year award by the now-defunct Burbank Woman’s Club in 1949, the presentation of the honor, assumed by the Zonta Club of Burbank in 1996, has recognized 60 woman who have shown exemplary leadership in bettering their community.
This past Saturday, a 61st name was added to the group’s impressive list of honorees — Zita Lefebvre.
Hired at Hanna-Barbera Studios in 1993 as an editor for Turner Publishing and to assist the head of creative services, Lefebvre went on to work for Warner Animation until Cartoon Network was established in 2000. The core of the Hanna-Barbera group then became Cartoon Network Studios, and she was named director of operations.
Along with her professional responsibilities, the Saratoga, N.Y. native also reached out to work with Burbank schools and nonprofit organizations.
“I had started a community outreach program when I was at Hanna-Barbera,” Lefebvre said. “That started my involvement and commitment to community outreach on the corporate level.”
With a deep belief that both individuals and companies must find ways to show gratitude for their success and give back, Lefebvre became engaged with those in the community who were in need. She established numerous partnerships with the local Boys & Girls Club, homeless shelters, food pantries and schools.
“It was a natural fit for our employees,” she said. “I found that young people don’t get involved unless someone invites them to get involved. Over the years, I had many young artists tell me they didn’t feel they had anything to offer. I told them that when they walk into a school and tell the kids they are an animator at Cartoon Network Studios, they would be an automatic superstar. When they would do that, they loved it, and become mentors to kids. My job at Cartoon Network was to be a mentor to the mentors.”
Lefebvre also arranged for children suffering from serious maladies to tour Cartoon Network Studio’s facilities and meet some of their characters through the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
“Every time we had the opportunity to fulfill a wish for a child it sent a powerful message to all of us that there are so many children lying in hospitals watching Cartoon Network,” she said. “Those days were both wonderful and emotional. They would really make you pause and be grateful for so many things — the health of your own children.”
Along with her managerial acumen, Lefebvre established a unique and personal mentoring rapport with many of her younger co-workers.
“It was remarkable to interact with them,” she said. “They would come in and tell me about their lives and families. I know I am a different person than I would be if I did not interact with young people on a daily basis. They come from such a different place and I learned something from them every day. They had a lot to offer me. And, in return, I found I had a lot to offer them — which was extremely gratifying.”
The Woman of the Year event, held at Lakeside Golf Club, was hosted by the Zonta Club of Burbank’s President Brittany Vaughan, chaired by the organization’s vice president, Sam Mielke, and included a full house of Lefebvre family members and friends, local elected officials including Mayor Bob Frutos and many representatives from the Burbank business, media and nonprofit communities. Also in attendance were five former Woman of the Year honorees, Elaine Paonessa, Marsha Ramos, Mary Alvord, Lucy Burghdorf and Jamie Keyser Thomas.
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DAVID LAURELL may be reached by email at dlaurell@aol.com or (818) 563-1007.
