Newport Man to Help African Needy

Robert Franklin of Newport Beach has joined Habitat for Humanity International as an overseas volunteer who will coordinate home construction for needy families in Zomba, a town in Malawi in southern Africa.

Franklin, a former financial manager for Digital Brothers in Newport Beach, will leave June 6 and be part of a two-man team from the Georgia-based Habitat for Humanity that will help direct the construction of durable but affordable homes with volunteer labor in Zomba.

Franklin, a member of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church of Newport Beach, said: “The gospel instructs us to minister to our brothers and sisters in need.”

Walter Rosenthal, administrator of socioeconomic business development for McDonnell Douglas Corp. in Huntington Beach, has been selected as the Small Business Minority Business Advocate of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The Southern California Small Business Utilization Council nominated Rosenthal for his efforts on behalf of small and disadvantaged businesses.

Huntington Beach resident Marikay Lindstrom, a past president of the California Optometric Assn. Auxiliary, has been named Woman of the Year by the California Optometric Assn.

She is also a past president of the Orange County Optometric Assn. Auxiliary and a member of the Ninety-Nines, an international organization of women pilots.

Marchia Milchiker, a trustee of the Saddleback Community College District, has been elected to the state board for the California Elected Women’s Assn. for Education and Research.

The group is the oldest and largest organization of politically active women in the country and provides training in current issues, policy changes and management skills.

Milchiker founded the Orange County chapter of the group and has served as its president for the past three years.

Hal Benowitz, a former volunteer consultant for the Jewish Senior Center in Garden Grove, has been appointed fund-raising coordinator for the Orange County Area Agency on Aging.

Iris Swanson of San Clemente, past president of the Saddleback Community College District Board of Trustees, was named Woman of Distinction by Soroptimist International of Capistrano Bay.

The award recognizes women who have made outstanding achievements through professional, business or volunteer activities over a period of time.

La Habra resident Nancy LeFevre has become the first Cal State Fullerton student to win the 15th annual National Lambda Alpha Anthropology Honor Society scholarship.

The $3,000 scholarship award is based on scholastic achievement and community service.

LeFevre, a January graduate of Fullerton, has been accepted in the anthropology doctoral program at the University of Illinois.

Georgia Boyer, Andrea Pfister and Jean Somers were presented Honorary Service Awards by the Newport Beach High School Parent Teachers Assn.

They were honored for their outstanding volunteer services to youth.

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