The Fernando Awards bestowed their annual awards on local Valley volunteers on November 7. They honored Armida Colmenares-Stafford with the 2025 Fernando Award, and also presented eight Impact Awards. The Impact Awards were started in 2018 to recognize individuals, teams or local businesses who demonstrate outstanding achievement in community engagement, volunteerism and leadership.
This year’s honorees are Kathleen Sterling, Waltona Manion, Fred Gaines, Galpin Motors, L.A. County Fire Department, L.A. County Sheriff’s Department, Los Angeles Police Department and Los Angeles Fire Department.
Sterling is the award-winning publisher of Valley News Group, which includes Valley Vantage, Calabasas Enterprise, Warner Center News, Encino Enterprise and North Valley News. She has been dedicated to community journalism and focusing on the Valley’s local news since 1982.
Manion has been a community activist and volunteer for over two decades, with groups such as Los Angeles Valley College’s Citizens Building Oversight Committee, Valley Glen Neighborhood Association, Encino Chamber of Commerce, local schools and more.
Attorney Fred Gaines served twice as mayor for the City of Calabasas, and has been an advocate for the Mountains Restoration trust, LA Jewish Health, VICA and Valley Economic Alliance.
Beau Boeckmann and Galpin Motors were recognized for their history since 1946 of community service, supporting tens of thousands of educational, spiritual, cultural, charitable and civic institutions through the Valley.
The LAPD, LAFD, County Sheriffs and County Fire Departments were all honored for their tireless work during this year’s wildfires, civic protests and more.
