SALINAS, CA – The Center for Community Advocacy’s 20th annual “Dia de Los Muertos” tardeada (afternoon party) was Sunday, Nov. 1 at California State University Monterey Bay University Center to honor this year’s recipient of CCA’s Ben Heller Award and Volunteer Hero Award Recipient.
This year's Ben Heller Award recipient is Lorri Koster Chairman/CEO Mann Packing Co., Inc. The award annually honors a person who exhibits extraordinary commitment to the goal of improving the quality of life for farmworkers in the Salinas and Pajaro valleys. CCA honored Lorri’s contributions to several programs that serve the farmworker community including her role at Rancho Cielo, and the First Tee and your efforts to incorporate healthy foods into our children's school lunches. CCA also acknowledges her steadfast support for policies, particularly in the Monterey County General Plan, that encourage the construction of affordable housing for farmworkers and other working families.
Center for Community Advocacy also selected The First Tee Monterey County as its 2015 Volunteer Hero Award Recipient. This year, CCA honored the exemplary work that First Tee Monterey County undertakes with children from the Alisal Union Elementary School District. Their efforts have benefitted thousands of children from the Alisal, many of them from farmworker families. In addition their partnership with the "Pay It Forward" program at CSUMB enhances the life-experience of these children, while providing positive role models for them to emulate.
Source: Center for Community Advocacy
