Fresno Fair Community Champions Awards Winners Named
FRESNO – The Big Fresno Fair has announced the recipients of the 2013 Big Fresno Fair Community Champions Awards, which were established in 2008 to formally recognize individuals who have demonstrated an extraordinary passion for the betterment of Fresno County. The 2012 award-winners represent the following four categories: Volunteer, Humanitarian, Educator and Special Award.
The following recipients of The Big Fresno Fair Community Champions Awards for this year will be announced and formally recognized during the 2013 Big Fresno Fair Opening Ceremonies on October 2.
• Teri and Ken Penfold – Volunteer
• Sharon Johnson – Humanitarian
• David Lopes – Educator
• Al Smith – Special Award
These individuals were nominated by community members, Big Fresno Fair staff or past Fair board of directors. Nominations were reviewed by The Big Fresno Fair board of directors and voted on at the August 2013 board meeting.
“We are honored and excited to announce the winners of the 2013 Community Champions Awards,” said John C. Alkire, CEO, The Big Fresno Fair. “We are thrilled by the phenomenal feedback we received the first three years and are excited to continue to recognize those individuals who represent ‘the best’ of Fresno County. They have served our community with passion and dedication and are truly an inspiration for others.”
All Big Fresno Fair Community Champions Award-winners will receive prominent visual recognition at the Fairgrounds, as well as receive a special Community Champions Award plaque at Opening Ceremonies. Award-winners will also be listed on The Big Fresno Fair website.
The 2013 Community Champion Award recipients join the 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 winners, which include:
• Sharon Ross (‘11), David Robinson (‘10), Caz Ashjian (‘09) and Taytum Rose Popp (‘08) –Youth
• Maria Gutierrez (’12), Eloise Pantages (‘11), Eugene & Juanita Junette (‘10), Francine Vindiola (‘09) and Larry M. Fortune (‘08) – Volunteer
• Larry Powell (’12), Beth Caffrey (‘11), Pauline Middleton (‘10), Israel Lara (‘09) and Paul Rodriguez and Ray Appleton (’08) –Humanitarian
• Randy Perry (’12), Marcus P. Johnson (‘11), Dr. Mark Wilson (‘10), Alfred Sanchez (‘09) and Mike Jarman (‘08) – Educator
• Mark Hudson (’12), De Young Properties (‘10) and “Reno” the Fresno County Sheriff K9 Officer (‘08) – Special Award