The Board of Directors of the Fernando Award Foundation has announced the five finalists for this year’s award honoring volunteer service in the San Fernando Valley. During the Annual Gala Awards Ceremony on September 9, one of these nominees will be chosen for the award exemplifying outstanding service to the community. The five finalists are shown above, left to right, Sharon Udkoff, Certified Public Accountant, nominated by Los Angeles Jewish Home and Los Angeles Valley College, Steve Fazio, President & Owner, Fazio Cleaners and Laundry, nominated by LAPD Valley Bureau Foundation and Rickey Gelb, Kathleen Sterling, Publisher, Valley News Group, nominated by Sherry Keowen and Gail Brow, Kevin Tamaki, Tamaki Consulting, nominated by VICA and Matthew Swearman and Jane Skeeter, Founder & CEO, Ultraglass, nominated by the Boys and Girls Club of the West Valley and Woodbury University.
The five finalists were chosen from 16 nominations, one of the largest group of nominees the organization has ever received. The other nominees are: Maria Barron, Michael Benedetto,
Victor Berrellez, Armida Colmenares-Stafford, Jeffrey Friedman, Theresa Jackson, Don Larson, Carol Loweree, Tammy Scher, David Tuckman and Jessica Yasukochi. “It’s always challenging to identify the five finalists who will be this year’s Fernando Award recipient. However, this year was exceptionally challenging with 16 impressive nominees,” said Jason Schaff and Marian Jocz, selection committee co-chairs.
