Top volunteer given Service to Mankind Award...
Top volunteer given Service to Mankind Award
Elaine Paonessa, a resident of Burbank for 51 years and a longtime
community volunteer, recently received the Regional “Service to
Mankind Award” from the Sertoma International Organization at its
regional convention.
She has served as a member of the Foothill Civitan Club, Zonta
Club of Burbank Area, Burbank Civic Light Opera, Ota Sister City
Committee and Women’s Council of Burbank.
She is president of SERVE, a support group of the Providence St.
Joseph Foundation, which she founded in 1983. It operates the Burbank
Farmers’ Market every Saturday. She has served three times as
president of Burbank Emblem Club #86.
Paonessa is musical director and a performer with the Van Bloem
Singers, a volunteer organization that presents more than 25 shows
each year for retiree groups, volunteer organizations, senior
residences, service clubs and nursing homes.
She has served as a member of the Salvation Army, Burbank Corps’
Advisory Board for more than 25 years, serving as chairwoman for a
pair of three-year terms. She is the chairwoman for the Christmas,
Special Events and Publicity committees.
Some of the other awards she has received are the California Park
and Recreation Award for Cultural Achievement, Woman of the Year
Award, Corporate Volunteer Recognition Award from the Automobile
Club, Outstanding Couple of the Year with husband Bill for combined
community service, and Outstanding Citizen of the Year.
Elaine and Bill have one daughter, Gay Hull, one son, Guy
Paonessa, and three grandchildren, Erin Hull-Fulp and Chris and Kayla
Paonessa.
Jordan Middle School choirs win overall best
Christine Demore and the Jordan Middle School choirs brought home
honors, including the Overall Best Choir trophy, after a performance
at the Music in the Parks Festival.
Jordan’s all-boy choir, the Clef Hangers, outranked every group in
their category. Madrigals took second place in the Mixed Choir
category and the Treblemakers and Cantabile choirs combined won first
place in the Women’s Choir category.