Times Honors Volunteers for Helping

Six nonprofit organizations and six volunteers received awards Tuesday for their exemplary efforts on behalf of others at the ninth Los Angeles Times Valley and Ventura County editions’ 1998 Community Partnership and Volunteers of Distinction Awards Luncheon.

Nearly 300 people attended this year’s program, held at the Hyatt Westlake Plaza, where Valley-area and Ventura County organizations accepted a total of $45,000 in grants.

“Supporting outstanding nonprofit programs is part of The Times’ ongoing commitment to the communities we serve,” said Julia C. Wilson, president of The Times’ Valley and Ventura County editions. “We are proud to recognize organizations which are providing the vital services that make a difference in people’s lives.”

The Community Partnership Awards honored programs in the San Fernando, Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys and in Ventura County. Each of the winning organizations received a $5,000 grant from The Times. Organizations were honored in six categories.

The winners were: the Assn. for Retarded Citizens of Ventura County in social services, the Free Clinic of Simi Valley in health services, Food Share Inc. of Oxnard in youth and education services, the Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry in senior services.

Also, the Bethune Theatredanse of Los Angeles in cultural arts, and the Theodore Payne Foundation for Wildflowers and Native Plants of Sun Valley in environment and ecology services.

The Volunteers of Distinction Awards recognized individuals whose service has made a difference to a nonprofit organization. All individual recipients had $2,500 donated to the charity of their choice.

Winners were: Vickie Johnson of the Pacoima Community Youth Culture Center, for her service to children; Monika Pfluegler of the Foundation for Children’s Dental Health of Santa Clarita, in health services; Shellie Kwitkowski of Concerned People for Animals Inc. of Oxnard, in service by youth.

Sharon Mountford of the Angeles Chorale in Northridge, for her service in arts; Ellen Blair of HELP of Ojai Inc., for her community service; and Margaret Hampton of the San Fernando Valley Law Auxiliary in Calabasas, for her service in education.