The Fernando Award Foundation last week announced that 17 community leaders have been nominated for this year’s Fernando Award, an unusually large number.Fernando officials don’t have records to ascertain if 17 is a record, but it’s certainly the highest number in recent memory, according to Fernando’s board treasurer, Bruce Miller.Five finalists will be selected by late August and the award will be given at a banquet Nov. 5 at the Skirball Cultural Center.
The Fernando Award is considered the highest recognition for volunteerism in the Valley. It has been given since 1958 but not last year because of the pandemic.
The 17 nominees: Paula Bahamon of Mission Valley Bank, Cindy Chernow of Chernow Consulting, Timothy Gaspar of Gaspar Insurance Services Inc., Kim Guard of Express Employment Professionals, Tamara Gurney of Mission Valley Bank, Carol Loweree of North Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce, Jeri Dye Lynch of Conor Lynch Foundation, Louise Oliver of Goodwill Southern California, Kashmira Omar of Unique Individuals, Jorge Rabaso of Office of Jorge Rabaso, Diana Sanchez of Los Angeles World Airports-Van Nuys, Tammy Scher of Forgotten Treasurez, Kathleen Sterling of Valley News Group, Shannon Sullivan of Daniel Pearl Magnet High School, Irene Tovar of the Latin American Civic Association, David Tuckman of the Department of Homeland Security and Gustavo Valdespino of Valley Presbyterian Hospital.
Big Group Vies for Fernando Award
