PRESS RELEASE:

Chairman Doug Chaffee Announces 4th Annual Fourth District Kindness Award Honorees

Fullerton, CA. (November 15, 2022) – Chairman Doug Chaffee, Orange County Fourth District Supervisor announced the 4th Annual Fourth District Kindness Awards honorees during a ceremony held on Sunday, November 13, 2022 at Fullerton College. The emcee for the program was Dr. Jose Moreno, Anaheim City Councilmember, District 3.

Following the Former Mayor Tom Tait’s initiative to encourage acts of kindness in the City of Anaheim, Chairman Chaffee recognizes Kindness Award honorees from each City in the Fourth District who have made significant contributions to their communities through kindness. The Kindness Awards ceremony is hosted annually on November 13, which is internationally observed as World Kindness Day.

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

The honorees for the 4th Annual Fourth District Kindness Awards are: 

• City of Anaheim: Dr. Robert Ornelas
• City of Brea: Danny Mendoza
• City of Buena Park: Mary Shandrow
• City of Fullerton: Verne Wagner
• City of La Habra: Nohemi Valenzuela
• City of Placentia: Sandy Castillo
• City of Stanton: Maria Eline Sanchez

Chairman Chaffee also awarded the González Reynoso Family, the owners of Northgate González Markets, with the Honorary Kindness Award. 

Dr. Robert Ornelas, through his Hip Hop group called “The S.O.G. Crew” has served the community by feeding individuals experiencing homelessness, visiting senior citizen facilities, and providing bible studies in High Schools throughout Orange County. Dr. Ornelas partners with other organizations to advocate against police brutality and gang issues and for suicide prevention awareness.

Danny Mendoza is the Founder and CEO of Together We Rise, an innovative Orange County nonprofit dedicated to transforming the way youth navigate throughout the Foster Care system. Together We Rise has grown into one of the nation’s largest volunteer engagement organizations with over 500,000 volunteers since inception.

Mary Shandrow has been a TIP – Trauma Intervention Program in Orange County for 7 years. She is available 24 hours a day to help anyone experiencing a traumatic event by providing critical emotional support and explaining next steps.

Verne Wagner has been a volunteer at California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) for over 32-years. She interviews high school students from California for the prestigious CSUF's President’s Scholar Program and assists university students with resources and services.

Nohemi Valenzuela actively participates in numerous community events for the City of La Habra and helps residents navigate government services. She is a member of La Habra’s Chamber of Commerce, La Habra’s Host Lion Club, Orange County Congressional Organization and founder of Facebook page “La Habra Resources and more/La Habra Recursos Y Mas.

Sandy Castillo has been bringing soccer to Placentia for over 31-years through the Outreach Program for Soccer (TOPSoccer). TOPSoccer is a community-based recreational program specifically designed for participants of all ages with intellectual, emotional and/or physical disabilities.

Maria Eline Sanchez has served as an Orange County Headstart teacher for over 20-years at Carver Headstart and Staton Headstart. Maria successfully assists families as their children transition into preschool and has maintained ongoing relationships with her former students and their families. 

Miguel Gonzalez III accepts the 2022 Honorary Kindness Award on behalf of the González Reynoso family - owners of the Southern California independent chain of supermarkets Northgate González Markets. The González Reynoso family has carried on the legacy of their family patriarch and matriarch, Don Miguel and Doña Teresa González, by hosting numerous community events, such as health screenings, COVID-19 vaccinations, school giveaways, toy giveaways, and giving philanthropic donations.

The honorees from the Fourth District cities were nominated for the Kindness Awards by submitting applications to Chairman Doug Chaffee. The applications were independently scored by the following distinguished judges:

• The Honorable Tom Tait, former Mayor of Anaheim.
• Charles Barfield, the General Manager of the Orange County Employees Association (OCEA).
• Joe Pak, Field Representative for Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva and Founder of the Orange County Korean War Memorial Committee.
• The Honorable Bill Steiner, Former Orange County Fourth District Supervisor and Executive Director of the Orangewood Children’s Foundation.
• Lorena Moreno, Principal at Dale Junior High School.

After the judges scored the applications, an honoree was chosen from each City in the Fourth District.

To learn more about our 4th Annual Fourth District Kindness Award honorees and their acts of exceptional kindness, please view their videos here.

Orange County Chairman Doug Chaffee represents the Fourth District, which includes the Cities of Brea, Buena Park, Fullerton, La Habra, Placentia, Stanton, portions of Anaheim, and unincorporated communities. 

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