The Fernando Award Foundation board of directors has announced 14 Valley leaders as official nominees for this year’s award program honoring volunteer leadership in the San Fernando Valley. One of the nominees will be named the recipient of the 2024 Fernando Award exemplifying outstanding service to the Valley community.
“Since its inception in 1958, the Fernando Award is considered the highest recognition for community volunteerism given to an individual in the greater San Fernando Valley,” said Fernando Award Foundation Interim Chair Vahid Khorsand. “Each year, we look forward to recognizing nominees for their community involvement. The list is narrowed to five finalists and culminates with the selection of one distinguished individual at the annual gala.”
Since its first awards gala, 64 Valley community and business leaders have been named Fernando recipients. “Each year, community organizations and businesses nominate outstanding individuals to be considered for this lifetime achievement award,” explained Khorsand. “Nominees are evaluated based on their volunteer engagement, length and number of years of volunteer service, volunteer leadership roles, fundraising success and volunteer mentorship. The confidential ballot process is managed by an outside CPA firm.”
The five finalists will be announced Friday, September 27 at a reception hosted by Galpin Motors.
The 66th annual Fernando Foundation gala reception and dinner will be held at Skirball Cultural Center on Friday, November 8. Information on tickets and sponsorships can be found at fernandoawards.org/2024-event. The deadline for program advertising and sponsorships is Thursday, October 24.
The 14 nominees are:
Armida Colmenares-Stafford – Nominated by Dale Surowitz and the United Chambers of Commerce
Dennis DeYoung – Nominated by Rickey Gelb and California State University, Northridge.
Susan Du Brin – Nominated by One Generation and Lee and Arlene Alpert.
Horace H. Heidt – Nominated by Sherry Keowen and Kathleen Sterling.
Albert Hernandez – Nominated by Alex Parajon and Barry Bussow
Tisha Janigan – Nominated by Timber Rose and Wren Sarrow
Sang Lee – Nominated by Casa Esperanza and the Western Los Angeles County Council, Boy Scouts
Jorge E. Rabaso – Nominated by Alejandro-Guerrero and Soledad Maurizio
Sandy Rosenholz – Nominated by Rotary Club of Woodland Hills and Diana Williams
Tammy Scher – Nominated by the Sherman Oaks/Encino Chamber of Commerce and Kiwanis Club of the Entertainment Industry Group
David Tuckman – Nominated by Alison Tuckman and Jeremy Sonenschein
Sharon Udkoff – Nominated by Los Angeles Jewish Health and Los Angeles Valley College
Gustavo Valdespino – Nominated by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and Mid Valley YMCA
Dennis P. Zine – Nominated by New Directions for Youth and Arthur Pfefferman
“The process to narrow down this group of deserving nominees to five will be a difficult challenge,” said Marian Jocz, executive director of the United Chambers of Commerce and one of seven members of the finalist selection committee.
