Local News in Brief : Countywide : Humanitarian Award Honors 3 for Service

Three Orange County residents were presented humanitarian awards Wednesday night during the National Conference of Christians and Jews’ 12th annual dinner at the Irvine Hilton and Towers.

Bernice K. Hird, 70, of La Habra was honored for her volunteer service with the Girl Scout Council of Orange County, the Orange County United Way, the Orange County Urban League, the YMCA and other community activities. She is a retired manager of community relations for Beatrice Hunt-Wesson Foods.

Elizabeth (Betsy) Sanders, 42, of Orange was honored for her work with United Way, handicapped Boy Scouts, the YWCA and other organizations, including the Catholic Church. She is a corporate vice president of Nordstrom.

Rabbi Henry E. Front, 60, of Huntington Beach was honored for his work with the Orange County Human Relations Commission and the Academy for Jewish, Christian and Islamic Studies, as well as other community and religious activities. He is a rabbi at Temple Beth David in Westminster.

The Humanitarian Award, the chapter’s highest honor, is given each year to three people who have contributed to the religious and cultural enrichment of the community. The honorees are selected by the chapter’s 60-member board of directors.

The Orange County Chapter of the National Conference of Christians and Jews is one of 76 affiliates nationwide. The group’s goal is to promote better human relations between ethnic and religious groups.