Countywide : Charities Benefit as Volunteers Honored

The Times Orange County honored 18 of the county’s most dedicated volunteers and awarded $36,000 to their charities at its annual Volunteers of Distinction awards luncheon Wednesday.

One award recipient and two finalists were selected in each of six categories of volunteer service.

A six-member panel of community leaders selected the winners from more than 150 volunteers whose names were submitted. Nominees were judged on active involvement, demonstrated initiative, community impact, devotion to service and any special challenges overcome by the nominee.

The Times Orange County presented $5,000 to each award recipient’s charity organization and $500 to each finalist’s charity.

Award recipients were:

* Service by Youth--Allison Singhi, 18, of Huntington Beach, who volunteers at Children’s Hospital of Orange County in the pediatric cancer ward.

* Arts--Julie Mayer of Anaheim, a 25-year volunteer and president of the Anaheim Arts Council.

* Health--Dr. John F. Skinner of Newport Beach, a member of Share Our Selves Free Medical Clinic, where more than 50 indigent and chronically ill patients are under his direct care.

* Community Service--Lee Podolak of Orange, who has dedicated 20 years to helping the homeless of Orange County and has served 10 years on the Homeless Issues Task Force.

* Service for Children--Alice B. White, 92, of Laguna Hills, who has volunteered her time on behalf of the Orangewood Children’s Home, sewing hundreds of stuffed animals that are given to bedridden children.

* Education--George Westrom, 72, of Anaheim, who created the Future Scientists and Engineers of America four years ago.

Finalists were:

* Service by Youth--Tricia Michels, Fountain Valley, with the Thomas House Shelter for Homeless Families; Hiromi Hiraoka, Fullerton, with the Volunteer Center of Greater Orange County.

* Arts--Rae Cohen, Newport Beach, with the Newport Theatre Arts Center; Joshua Vecchione, Mission Viejo, with the Quiet Zone Theatre.

* Health--Selly Jenny, Newport Beach, with the Alzheimer’s Assn. of Orange County; Maggie Pohlman, Santa Ana, with High Priority of Orange County.

* Community Services--Michael Howard, Costa Mesa, with Operation Clean Slate; Arlene Mercer, Seal Beach, with Food Finders.

* Services for Children--Lorri Galloway, Anaheim, with the Eli Home; Myldred E. Jones, Los Alamitos, with the Casa Youth Shelter.

* Education--Rita Hinger, Costa Mesa, with the California School PTA; Kathy Mazzaferro, Irvine, with Turtle Rock Elementary School.