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.