On the Town: Association partners with businesses to give scholarships
Amy Navarrete provided a touch of humor as mistress of ceremonies for the Glendale Latino Assn.’s Scholarship Awards Breakfast at Oakmont Country Club.
The association’s mission is to provide scholarships to local students who have demonstrated educational excellence and extraordinary citizenship, to promote activities that improve education and bring together businesses and professionals.
That mission was demonstrated as Navarrete, who is the organization’s vice president, led the presentations of $20,000 in scholarships from the association and Partners in Giving awards donated by individuals and businesses.
Those were City Councilwoman Paula Devine and her husband, Art; Carlos and Cloris Carrillo, of C&C Family Insurance Services; Glendale Adventist Medical Center; Mercy Velazquez of Sadd-Velazquez-Higashi-Shammaa, certified public accountants; and Gary Montecuollo, police chief at Glendale Community College.
The Inspiration Award given by the chief went to Nataly Gallo. He presented a separate scholarship to Melanie Alejandra Paredes. Both students are graduating from Holy Family High School.
Tiffany Duarte from Glendale Community College received the scholarship from the Devines. She plans to transfer to UCLA to study neurological science. Her goal is to become a pediatric neurologist.
“Most of you know that I’m a former educator, that was my profession. I understand and believe in education, and I know the doors a good education can open for our young people and it’s not just for our generation but for their generation and for generations to come,” Paula Devine said.
“This young gal is talking about (studying) pediatric neurology, so she is going to be helping generations to come,” she added.
Receiving scholarships from the Glendale Latino Assn. were Holy Family High School students Eve Lisette Vazquez, Alexandra Pena and Yasmine Michelle Ztinztun.
Navarrete had difficultly pronouncing Ztinztun, so she asked Yasmine for help. Yasmine explained that it was “sort of like see you soon.”
Christopher Montenegro from Glendale Community College received the scholarship from Glendale Adventist Medical Center. He is going to Cal State Los Angeles to become a nurse practitioner. He served two tours in Afghanistan as a Marine and worked as combat lifesaver.
He said his mother, who passed away last year, is his inspiration, and he promised her he would earn his degree in nursing.
Navarrete savored the chance to share his favorite activity — tutoring in molecular biology.
Martha Rivera, outreach director with the Healthcare Foundation at Glendale Adventist Medical Center, made the presentation to Montenegro.
“I have a friend that says I say ‘wow’ too much, but ‘wow!’” Rivera said after hearing Montenegro’s resume. “I am so impressed. What a privilege and honor it is to award you with this scholarship on behalf of Glendale Adventist Medical Center.”
Daniel Fernando Bustos from Glendale Community College received the scholarship from Sadd-Velazquez-Higashi-Shammaa. Carolina Maranian from Glendale Community College was presented a scholarship from the Carrillos and Glendale Latino Assn.
Others receiving scholarships from the Glendale Latino Assn. were Kelli Elizabeth Loritsch and Sasha Fox Monterroso, both from Crescenta Valley High School; Jeanette Paola Tlapa from Hoover High School; Jennifer Jeannine Kubela from Crescenta Valley High School; and Allison Paxton and Angello Pinedo, both from Glendale Community College.
Lions Club presents funds to 18 charities
Members of the Northwest Glendale Lions Club really know how to spread the love around. During their Community Appreciation Dinner, they presented a total of $4,050 to 18 charities, which averaged out to $225 each.
Those receiving funds were Glendale YMCA, Glendale YWCA, Lions District 4-L1 Blind Fishing Trips, Lions Sight and Hearing Foundation, Student Speakers Foundation, Blind Children’s Center, Therapeutic Living Center, MEND, Campbell Center, Teresita Pines (Lions Camp), Guide Dogs of America, Atwater Park Center, No Limits (program for hearing-impaired youth), Lions In Sight, Junior Blind of America, Lions Project for Canine Companions for Independence, Lions Friends in Sight and Cases for Kids.
Woman earns Spirit of Volunteerism Award
Glendale resident Amy Dalton, a vice president at UnitedHealthcare in Los Angeles, was named a OneOC Spirit of Volunteerism Award recipient during a ceremony at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim.
Dalton was recognized for her two decades of volunteer service on behalf of local charity groups. She has given up many weekends to visit Ronald McDonald Houses, where she provides comfort to seriously ill children and their families.
She also served a number of years with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which helps make wishes of kids with terminal diseases come true. She was a wish “granter.”
In addition, the honoree has helped organize and lead a diversity of charity initiatives on behalf of her company, which have included fundraising events such as walk-a-thons for Ability First.
Her volunteering, she said, is just part of her heritage and the culture of where she grew up — Tennessee.
OneOC is a nonprofit organization committed to accelerating nonprofit success through volunteer, training, consulting and business services, and this year, it celebrated the 41st anniversary of its Spirit of Volunteerism Awards program.
JOYCE RUDOLPH can be reached at rudolphjoyce10@gmail.com.