First Five California honors Hands-on Heros, Champions of Youth
Last week, during Month of the Child & Child Abuse Prevention Month, there was a record turnout in San Luis Obispo to recognize the 2015 Hands-on Heroes, and Champions of Youth. More than 200 people gathered for an awards dinner at Embassy Suites, where San Luis Obispo County Schools Superintendent Dr. James Brescia opened the evening, by emphasizing that investing in children is a win/win situation for everyone.
KSBY News Anchor Dan Shadwell emceed the event, which included entertainment by members of Coastal Youth Theater, who performed a scene from “Alice in Wonderland,” and the SLO Symphony Shanks Family Quartet. Winners and nominees received tributes from Congresswoman Lois Capps, the offices of Senator Bill Monning, Assemblyman Katcho Achadjian, SLO County Board of Supervisors, First 5 SLO County and Early Learning for All.
2015 Hands-on Heroes Winners (focused on 0-5 year olds):
• Children’s Health Hero: Barbie Bliss, Public Health Nurse, Grover Beach Health Department.
• Family Support: Laurie Morgan, Systems Coordinator, South County SAFE.
• Early Care and Education (center-based): Shannon Pimentel, First 5 Preschool Supervisor, Oceano.
• Early Care and Education (family-based): Isabel Rea, Garden of Angels Day Care, Paso Robles.
• Volunteer: Alma Garcia, Community Parent Volunteer & Promoter, Georgia Brown Neighborhood, Paso Robles.
2015 Champions of Youth (focused on all ages):
• Champion of Youth (Youth): Yoni Cardenas Rocha, Youth Leader, Youth in Action.
• Champion of Youth (Adult): Marci Powers, Coordinator, SLO County Anti-Gang Coordinating Commission.
The event was held amidst a number of other community activities marking April as Month of the Child and Child Abuse Prevention Month.
