Honoring kindness and recognizing efforts for others … Bravo

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National Junior Honor Society students at Heritage Oak Private Education in Yorba Linda held a food drive to help community members experiencing food insecurity. (Courtesy of Heritage Oak Private Education)

Heritage Oak Private Education students donate 700 pounds of food for Canning Hunger

National Junior Honor Society students at Heritage Oak Private Education in Yorba Linda recently donated 700 pounds of food for Canning Hunger.

The national organization is dedicated to collecting and distributing nonperishable food items to community members experiencing food insecurity.

Students held a food drive to benefit the nonprofit, which will help feed thousands of community members in need. Through this initiative, students learned the importance of giving back to others in their community.

– Submitted by Heritage Oak Private Education

  • Gianna Mulkay received a Kindness Award from OC Supervisor Doug Chaffee. Mulkay is the executive director of Foster Love, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming the way youths navigate through the foster care system. Mulkay has led groundbreaking initiatives like the Family Fellowship, the nation’s largest scholarship program for transition-age foster youth, which earned her recognition in Forbes Magazine and the L.A. Times. (Courtesy of OC Supervisor Doug Chaffee)

  • Sara Ursenbach received a Kindness Award from OC Supervisor Doug Chaffee. Ursenbach is a children’s mental health advocate, foster/adoptive parent, and First 5 OC family ambassador. Through her work, she has advocated for school readiness, equitable health care and civic engagement. She works to strengthen her relationship with the community and further her efforts to create a solid foundation of support for all children. (Courtesy of OC Supervisor Doug Chaffee)

  • Jo-Anne Matsuba was awarded the Honorary Kindness Award by OC Supervisor Doug Chaffee. Matsuba has been involved with several organizations in the more than 30 years that she has lived in Orange County. She is currently the chair of the Orange County Human Relations Commission, which stands against hate and creates initiatives to promote peace in the community. (Courtesy of OC Supervisor Doug Chaffee)

  • Orange County firefighters were able to take a blood test that can detect a signal shared by more than 50 cancer types with a single blood draw, in a partnership with Hoag hospital and the Grail health care company. (Courtesy of Orange County Firefighters)

  • More than 200 firefighters participated in the cancer screening event organized in partnership with Hoag and Grail. The test screens for multiple cancer types with one blood draw. (Courtesy of Orange County Firefighters)

  • Marizela Gallegos, a cook at Atria Newport Beach senior living community, received the 2023 Exceptional Service Award. (Courtesy of Atria Senior Living)

  • National Junior Honor Society students at Heritage Oak Private Education in Yorba Linda held a food drive to help community members experiencing food insecurity. (Courtesy of Heritage Oak Private Education)

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OC Supervisor Doug Chaffee announces honorees of the Fourth District Kindness Awards

Orange County Fourth District Supervisor Doug Chaffee announced the fifth annual Fourth District Kindness Awards honorees during a ceremony at the Ehlers Event Center in Buena Park. The Kindness Awards ceremony is hosted annually on Nov. 13, which is internationally observed as World Kindness Day.

Chaffee recognized honorees from each city in the district. They were chosen for making significant contributions to their communities through kindness.

“It is especially important for us to acknowledge and appreciate kindness wherever we can find it,” Chaffee said. “Our Kindness Awards honorees have risen to the challenge and have gone beyond that to ensure the needs of our communities are met.”

The honorees for the fifth annual Fourth District Kindness Awards are:

City of Anaheim: Rosa Dominguez

City of Brea: Gianna Mulkay

City of Buena Park: Ellie Westenhaver

City of Fullerton: Sandra White

City of La Habra: Sara Ursenbach

City of Placentia: Joe Rasic

City of Stanton: Lorena Flores

Chaffee also awarded the Honorary Kindness Award to Jo-Anne Matsuba, chair of the Orange County Human Relations Commission.

– Submitted by the office of Supervisor Doug Chaffee

OC firefighters partner with Hoag and Grail for cancer screening event

The Orange County Professional Firefighters Association Local 3631 partnered with Hoag and Grail for a cancer screening event. The partnership with the hospital and the health care company offered county firefighters access to a blood test that can detect a signal shared by more than 50 cancer types with a single blood draw. More than 200 firefighters participated in the two-day event.

While firefighters face an increased risk for cancer overall due to elevated carcinogen exposure on the job, their risks are significantly higher for specific types of cancer. For example, male firefighters’ risk of testicular cancer and mesothelioma is double that of the general population, according to the Firefighter Cancer Support Network. Female firefighters also have an increased risk of developing certain cancers, including cervical cancer, thyroid cancer and breast cancer.

“We are in the midst of an epidemic for our firefighters,” said OC Firefighters Local 3631 President Chris Hamm. “Every day, our members face new and unknown risks as we protect our communities.”

“Being a firefighter in an all-risk department like OCFA means we have a higher exposure to toxic chemicals and carcinogens that have a lifelong impact on our bodies and health,” said Fire Captain Matthew Berger.

The Orange County Professional Firefighters Association Local 3631 represents more than 1,200 professional firefighters serving nearly 1.8 million residents in 23 cities and numerous unincorporated communities throughout Orange County.

– Submitted by Orange County Professional Firefighters Association Local 3631

Newport Beach senior living community honors exceptional employee

Atria Newport Beach honored cook Marizela Gallegos as a recipient of the 2023 Exceptional Service Award (ESA).

Distributed annually, the ESA recognizes employees who embody and surpass Atria’s standard of service to residents and their communities. Those selected for the award receive a financial bonus and a celebration in their honor.

Gallegos has worked at Atria Newport Beach for four years.

“Mary’s dedication to serving our residents is never lacking,” Senior Executive Director Brian Keys said. “She regularly interacts with residents in the dining room, bringing them meaningful conversation and warmth. Mary is attentive to both our residents’ dietary needs and unique likes and anticipates what treats they may enjoy for the day.”

The Exceptional Service Award is the highest employee honor at Atria.

– Submitted by Atria Senior Living

The Bravo! section highlights achievements of our residents and groups. Send news of achievements for consideration to ocrbravo@gmail.com.

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