The Newport-Mesa Irvine Interfaith Council presented four Hearts
and Hands for Service awards to individuals and groups who make a
difference in our communities. Presenting the award certificates,
created by Greg Kelley of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church,
were Lane Calvert of the Bahai faith and Jaimie Day of the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. All three are council board
members.
Among the honored was Ron Owens of Project Independence, a program
that aids persons with developmental disabilities and creates
services that expand their opportunities for personal freedom.
Roger McGonegal and the Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa received the
award for the Reading by 9 program, conceived four years ago to help
buy books for children from kindergarten through third grades at
Pomona, Whittier and Wilson Schools in Costa Mesa. Due to the
combined efforts of Rotary Clubs of Newport-Balboa, Newport-Irvine
and Newport Sunrise, as well as the Daily Pilot and the Fashion
Island Fountain for Youth, some 15,000 reading books have been
purchased and dozens of community members are volunteering as reading
mentors in the three schools.
The Rev. Cheol Kwak and Bill John of the United Methodist Church
"Gimme Shelter" were honored for their work in providing affordable
housing. Together, they have brought together volunteers from Orange
and San Diego Counties to raise $100,000 and build housing. In
November, after six months of volunteering each Saturday, the first
United Methodist Church-Habitat for Humanity housing will be
dedicated in Orange County.
Honored for his work with Vineyard Christian Church Outreach was
Luis Armendiaz, who drives "The Jesus Truck," picking up food,
clothing and necessities to give to families and individuals who need
them the most. "If everyone whose life has been made better from
Luis' goodness was here to honor him, we would need to meet in a
stadium," Day said.
"It is inspiring to hear the difference an individual, a group and
a church can make in the life of our communities," noted The Rev. Don
Oliver, interfaith council president and a chaplain at Hoag Memorial
Hospital Presbyterian.
NEW KIWANIS OFFICERS
Wally Paulson assumed the presidency of the Newport Beach-Corona
del Mar Kiwanis Club recently and was off to a rocky start as club
members walked out of the meeting. For some service clubs, that is
how they welcome their new leader. The members soon returned to hear
Paulson introduce the officers, directors and committee chairs
serving with him.
