Pleasanton Community of Character 7th Annual Luncheon

2013 COMMUNITY OF CHARACTER AWARD RECIPIENTS ANNOUNCED 7TH ANNUAL COMMUNITY OF CHARACTER LUNCHEON CELEBRATION TO BE HELD MAY 16, 2013: WINNERS OF THE JUANITA HAUGEN COMMUNITY OF CHARACTER AWARD FOR 2013 ARE PAM YEAW, JIM OTT, TOM FOX AND THE ROTARY CLUB OF PLEASANTON (Pleasanton, April 30, 2013) The Pleasanton Community of Character Collaborative invites the public to attend this year’s Community of Character Luncheon Celebration on May 16, 2013 at the Veteran’s Memorial Hall 301 Main Street in Pleasanton. From 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The event will honor the 2013 winners of the Juanita Haugen Community of Character Awards: Pam Yeaw, Jim Ott, Tom Fox and our volunteer organization of the year The Rotary Club of Pleasanton. Pam Yeaw has been volunteering for the Pleasanton Police Department since the Citizens Academy began in 2007. Following her academy training, Pam signed up to take on various assignments as a volunteer. Most often she works patrol duty which requires her to drive a squad car and write tickets for handicap and parking violations. Pam also works special events on foot patrol and spends time working with youths who have committed minor offenses. She donates 50 to 80 hours of her time monthly to the Pleasanton Police Department which allows the officers on duty to commit their time to more urgent matters. Pam also remains active in the Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce where she served as an ambassador in 2004 and 2005. She continues to help the Chamber with yearly events and duties. Pam’s volunteer duties are a benefit to so many including our Police Department, the Chamber of Commerce, our business community, to the entire City of Pleasanton and the safety and well-being of our citizens. Pam Yeaw enjoys the opportunity to serve, cherishes the community where she has lived for 32 years and is dedicated to this valley where she and her husband have raised their children. Pam is a great example of a citizen taking personal responsibility to make Pleasanton a wonderful and safe place to live and work. Jim Ott is dedicated to our community and the Tri-Valley area and started the Poet Laureate program in Pleasanton serving as Poet Laureate from 2001 to 2003. He made great contributions while serving as a Trustee on the Pleasanton Unified School Board and has been heavily involved with Pleasanton Partnerships In Education (PPIE), the Pleasanton Youth Master Plan Implementation Committee, The Pleasanton Library Strategic Committee, more than 25 years of service in Pleasanton’s Rotary North Club, and currently serves as an Adjunct Professor of English at Las Positas College. Jim has also been very involved with Channel 30 as a television host for over 13 years with a show called “In a Word” promoting the written word and encouraging reading within our community. As a columnist, Jim has written for several local papers including his column called “Around Pleasanton.” He is the co-founder for “Cycling for a Cause” and just raised funds for the Amador Valley High School Comp Civics Class. Jim and his group will be holding another fundraiser for “Cycling for a Cause” later this year. Over the past five years, Jim has helped to raise over $25,000 for our local school programs. More than $5,000 was donated last year to Drama Clubs for their spring play, last year’s Mock Trial, and Creatures of Habit. Jim has helped several other school programs and clubs with much needed contributions and donations throughout the years. When Jim knows of a program or individual in need he becomes involved, motivated and sets-out to make a difference with determination and good-will. Jim has made quite a contribution to this community through his service and his compassion for others. Tom Fox volunteers his time and money to support those in need at both local and global levels. He has been a Chamber of Commerce Director, President of the Pleasanton Rotary, a Chamber of Commerce Foundation Director, and has received the Chamber of Commerce Jenny Doehle award for those who graduate the Leadership program and contribute to the community in a significant manner. He is active as a church volunteer and a nationally recognized Rotoplast Volunteer. At his own expense, he has taken more than seventeen Rotoplast trips around the world on medical missions. Tom organizes these trips and brings medical supplies from the airport to international locations. He volunteers his time for numerous charitable causes such as feeding those in need through his church and whenever he heads overseas. Tom helps seniors in Pleasanton, raises money for college scholarships, fundraises for Wheel Chair Donations and delivers these chairs to the needy and supports Pleasanton’s Military Families and those returning from the war throughout our valley. Tom’s motto while president of the Rotary Club of Pleasanton was “Do good and Have Fun.” Tom does do “Good” wherever he goes and wherever he is involved. He makes a positive difference to those within our community and reaches out to others throughout the world. There is no knowing the number of lives he has touched, yet, we do know Tom Fox has made significant contributions to our city, valley and beyond. He truly exemplifies the Character Traits and stands as a true example of what one individual can do to make a difference within the community. The Rotary Club of Pleasanton is a group of community leaders, professionals and business owners who follow the Rotary International motto, “Service above self.” The Rotary Club of Pleasanton has been active in Pleasanton Community Service now for over 48 years and was the first Rotary Club in Pleasanton. They later chartered Pleasanton North Rotary Club and co-chartered the Tri-Valley Rotary Club. All three clubs conduct service projects both in the community and internationally and have made a positive difference in our community. The Rotary Club of Pleasanton has had a large impact in Pleasanton through years of service including such projects as planting hundreds of trees within our city and the Sports Park, funding and working on the Arroyo Green on Main Street and contributing time and money towards the Pleasanton Centennial Pillars located at the south-west end of Main Street. They support Pleasanton Military Families with their pack-outs supplying and shipping items to Pleasanton residents serving in the military. The Rotary Club was originally involved with the installation of the blue water hydrant markers throughout our city. The Club’s dedication to youth is demonstrated through their raising funds with the annual Father’s Day Run and awarding over $320,000 in scholarships to over 240 students based on financial need. They work with youth in the Interact Club at Amador Valley High School and recognize academic and character achievement through Student of the Month awards to both Village and Amador Valley High School students. The club partnered with the school district to purchase a new dishwasher for the highly successful Culinary Program led by Kit Little at Village High School and to help with the Amador Valley High School Civic Team’s trip to “We the People” in Washington, D.C. The Rotary Club of Pleasanton is also dedicated to respecting and helping Pleasanton’s Senior population. Each December they serve a holiday dinner with entertainment to about 350 people and every spring they work with the Senior Center to identify those senior citizens needing a helping hand with “Spring Cleaning” around their homes. With the assistance of the Interact Club students and the Rotary chartered Boy Scout Troop 911 the club visits homes of seniors within our city to clean yards, wash windows, change fire alarm batteries and many other tasks needing to be done. The Rotary Club of Pleasanton has a foundation that supports various requests for grants within our community. The club looks to and follows what they call the Four Way Test of the things we think, say or do: 1. Is it the TRUTH? 2. Is it FAIR to all concerned? 3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? 4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned? This is an amazing group of individuals who care deeply for Pleasanton and have given much of their time, service and funding to improving the lives of many of our residents. The Rotary Club of Pleasanton impacts our community in a positive way, makes numerous contributions to those needing assistance and truly exemplifies a “Club of Character.” About the Award: The Juanita Haugen Community of Character Award is named in honor of long-time Pleasanton Unified School District Board Member Juanita Haugen, co-founder of the Community of Character program. It recognizes citizens and a non-profit organization exhibiting outstanding volunteer service within our community while displaying the community-accepted traits the Collaborative advocates: Responsibility, Compassion, Self Discipline, Honesty, Respect and Integrity. Cost per person for this annual luncheon is $40. Table sponsorships for 8 are available for $500. The Pleasanton Community of Character Collaborative is a 501 (c) (3) organization. Register by filling out a luncheon registration form found at Pleasanton’s Chamber of Commerce, Pleasanton City Hall, Pleasanton Library, Pleasanton Senior Center, Pleasanton School District Offices, or on the Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce website at www.pleasanton.org under “Connecting Businesses” and click on “Community of Character.” Forms and payment information may be sent to the Chamber or Commerce at 777 Peters Avenue Pleasanton, CA 94566 or the Community of Character P.O. Box 21 Pleasanton, CA 94566 or dropped off by Friday, May 10, 2013 at any of the above locations. For more information contact Heather Haugen Rizzoli (925) 321-6449 or visit our website at http://communityofcharacter.org Past award recipients are Debra Mitchell (2012), Janet Liang (2012), Dave Melander (2012), Pleasanton Military Families (2012), Chuck Deckert (2011), W. Ron Sutton (2011), Bob and Joyce Shapiro (2011), The Assistance League of Amador Valley (2011). Chris Miller (2010), Bob Athenour (2010), Dr. Pushpa Dalal (2010), G.A.S.I.T. (the George A. Spiliotopoulos Invitational Golf Tournament) (2010), Jerri Pantages Long (2009), Sue Evans (2009), Ken Mano (2009), Lori Rice (2008) and Diana and Howard Mendenhall (2008). Donations are accepted for the Juanita Haugen High School Community of Character Civic Engagement awards through the Community of Character Collaborative. Your contribution is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Please note the Juanita Haugen Community of Character Civic Engagement Scholarship Fund. Scholarships benefit students exhibiting excellent character traits and outstanding community involvement from Village, Foothill and Amador Valley High Schools each year. Students are recognized and honored for their civic involvement by our local school board in a meeting and at a special celebration at the end of every school year. About the Community of Character Collaborative The Community of Character Collaborative is a 501 (c) (3) organization of volunteers working together to create a Pleasanton community culture built on values, goodwill, and community-accepted traits of Responsibility, Compassion, Self-Discipline, Honesty, Respect and Integrity. This volunteer committee is jointly supported by the City of Pleasanton, Pleasanton Unified School District, Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce and various business, service and faith organizations. For information about our organization or on becoming an Organization of Character visit www.communityofcharacter.org or contact us at P.O. Box 21 Pleasanton, CA 94566 Avenue Heather Haugen Rizzoli Pleasanton Community of Character Collaborative hhhhill@comcast.net (925) 321-6449 Further contacts available: Pam Yeaw nominated by Joanne Gunson at (925) 846-3711 or (925) 699-7014 email: gunson7@aol.com Pam Yeaw may be reached at Alpha Omega Printing (925) 426-2511 or email at alphaomegaprint@yahoo.com or graphics@omegaprint.com Jim Ott nominated by Jerry Pentin at (925) 846-6066 or email at: Jerry@Pentin.com Jim Ott may be reached at (925) 426-3998 or email at jimott@sbcglobal.net Tom Fox nominated by Robert Shapiro (925) 846-4740 or (925) 200-1486 or email at: rmshapiro@comcast.net Tom Fox may be reached at (925) 872-1275 or at email: Tom@TomFox.com The Rotary Club of Pleasanton contact information is through President Julie Lewis at (925) 264-9768 or at email: jlrotary@donlewismusic.com