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Past Honorees

Congratulations Aarav Mehta

2/18/2023

 
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Aarav Mehta is a sophomore at Granada high school in Livermore. Leaning towards math and
hard sciences, he is an avid coder and enjoys the challenges of AP classes.

Outside of school, Aarav is an accomplished pianist with 10 years of experience. He also works
at the American Swim Academy, as an instructor for children. He rounds out his schedule by
volunteering at school and at philanthropies in the community.


In 2022 alone, Aarav has volunteered 105.5 hours at​ St. Michaels Church (Set up, Distribution and Delivery of free food); Cardz for Kidz (Made uplifting cards to be sent to Hospitals, Senior Facilities, foster homes etc); Granada High School Music (Helped transporting, setting up & organizing Band Uniforms); Sunflower Hill (Weeding and preparing soil for Winter vegetables that get donated to homeless shelters and food banks); Livermore Area Recreation and Park District (County Parks and Community clean up); Kids Bike Lane (Helped with setting/clean up during assembly of bikes for underprivlived children); Tri Valley Sikh Center (Prepared class materials for minority students to learn a second language); Special Olympics Northern California (SONC hosts soccer games for special needs people, and he assisted with these games). Here he is pictured with his mom. 

Congratulations on the Gold Presidential Volunteer Service Award - on a job well done and supporting our community with your volunteer work. ​

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Congratulations Grandmaster/Hanshi James Carter

2/18/2023

 
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Grandmaster/Hanshi James Carter is the Chief Instructor and Head of Camp Carter International Karate Association. He currently holds the rank of 8th Dan in Shotokan Karate and 9 th Degree in Taekwondo (MooDukKwan). 

Grandmaster/Hanshi Carter was the first American Black Belt to win a Gold Medal in Kumite (fighting) at the World Shotokan Championship Karate Tournament in Portugal (2000) and has won many local, state and national championships through his many years of training.

Grandmaster/Hanshi Carter is actively involved in the martial arts community in California and around the world, and has traveled throughout Europe, Asia and South America as a keynote speaker and seminar presenter. He has served as Director of Security and Self-Defense for Funakoshi Karate World, Board Member of the California Taekwondo Foundation, Director of Public Relations for the Silicon Valley Korean American Federation, Kukkiwon Korea Master Instructor, and Executive Director of Operations at Korea Martial Arts Master Instructors Alliance. As a dedicated educator, Grandmaster/Hanshi Carter is cofounder of Global Technology Association and a Member of the Society for Neuroscience. He is also author of the children’s book Lil’ Sensei James Carter’s Adventures and the recently published educational book Neuroscience Outreach Through the Martial Arts.

Congratulations of the Lifetime Achievement Award for your 35+ years of community service, inspiring youth, adults and seniors in the Karate and Taekwondo, to not only learn these martial arts, but also to be of service to the community. And thank you for being an ambassador connecting the martial arts community together. 

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Congratulations CMSGt thomas l james

2/18/2023

 
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US Air Force  Command Chief Master Sergeant Thomas L James (pictured on the right) has volunteered over 4500 hours to the California State Guard and JROTC. As Command Senior Enlisted Leader, Chief James is responsible for the morale, welfare, training, discipline, recognition, resourcing, and effective mission utilization for over 14,000 enlisted service members throughout the force. As a Senior Enlisted Leader Chief James is also responsible for communicating the commander’s directives to the enlisted service members while also serving as the senior representative for enlisted views and concerns. Prior, he was Squadron Superintendent of the 38th Intelligence Squadron, served as Legislative Liaison for the California National Guard (CNG) as wells International Affairs NCO for the CNG-Joint Staff.

Congratulations on this achievement, the Presidential Lifetime Achievement award. Thank you for your continued service to our country.



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Congratulations Lori Gay

2/8/2023

 
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Lori Gay, is the CEO of ​Neighborhood Housing Services of Los Angeles County (NHS) which serves as a catalyst for local residents, business and government representatives to work together to build stronger neighborhoods, improve the quality of life for low to moderate income families and revitalize communities into neighborhoods of choice. Neighborhood Housing Services of Los Angeles County (NHS) and its affiliates, NHS Neighborhood Redevelopment. Lori has helmed NHS for more over 32 years.
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  • Corporation and NHS Neighborhood Lending Services touched the lives of more than 2.6 million households as a result of Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) during the fiscal year.
  • Reinvested $1.22 billion into Los Angeles County neighborhoods by originating loans of more than $107.54 million, and grants of $2.32 million to local residents to improve housing and small business conditions, create homeownership opportunities and prevent foreclosure. We reinvested $15.99 million through real estate services and over $1.3 billion through foreclosure prevention efforts this last fiscal year;
  • Assisted 10,068 families to preserve their homes and prevent foreclosure through aggressive foreclosure prevention fairs, mortgage relief workshops and other NHS programs, reinvesting over $1.68 billion in stabilizing neighborhood property values and equity retention. We assisted 329 families to become homeowners through direct loans, brokering activities and financial education classes;
  • Educated and counseled 2,314 families regarding homeownership purchase, budgeting, credit repair, home maintenance, and insurance education.
  • Completed 403 home inspections, 215 site visits, 154 work write-ups, monitored construction of 18 jobs, and completed 6 projects to help green and sustain our communities;
  • Represented 25 low and moderate income buyers with an average of $340,323 in buying power, and closed 11 real estate transactions (acquisitions and home buyer purchases) totaling over $15.9 million in value; earning commissions of over $82,000;
  • Coordinated 92 volunteers, who spent 920+ hours (a service value of $16,560 participating in two NHS Garden Days, four Compton Community Engagement Dinners and four Farmer’s Markets. NHS also hosted its first Juneteenth event with local farmers, artisans, nonprofits resource and health care providers, hosting more than 65 local vendors and partners who care about our diverse community. Through our partners, we raised in-kind donations totaling nearly $300,000;
  • Our Center for Economic Recovery has continued to help families facing the pandemic and its impact through financial counseling, economic recovery, workforce development and loss mitigation support. We received over 60,000 service request calls, averaging over 241 calls per business day regarding tenant and rental assistance, small business support, mortgage relief and opportunities to purchase a home;
  •  NHS continued to serve a very diverse demographic that reflected African Americans at 52%, Latino clients reflected 31%, Asians 16%, White 4%, with primarily ages 30-44 being the highest participant, and low-income clients being served 94% of the time.
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Congratulations on the President's Lifetime Achievement Award. Thank you - Lori, for making an impact on our community.  Thank you Gloria Tang, for the recommendation, vetting Lori's qualifications, and serving on the board of directors of NHS all these years​. 
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Congratulations Peter Ng

2/8/2023

 

Peter serves as the Executive Director of Chinatown Service Center of Los Angeles for nearly 40 years. It's mission is to provide outstanding services and advocacy that promote better quality of life and equal opportunity for immigrants and other communities.
  • The actual roots of the CSC go back to 1971, when the Chinese Methodist Church hired a bilingual worker who worked at a small office in the church and counseled many newly arrived Chinese. Over the next four years, these early efforts attracted bilingual volunteers to assist its growing number of clients and its work gained broader community support.
  • In 1975, CSC moved from its Church affiliation and was incorporated as a non-profit organization dedicated to community service. Shortly thereafter, the CSC became a United Way agency and received an allocation to continue its work. Later that year, they were awarded our first government grant from the City of Los Angeles to establish an employment training program.
  • In March 1985, CSC began occupying part of the first floor of the newly built, low-income senior housing building called Cathay Manor. That location at 600 North Broadway in Chinatown, consists of approximately 5,600 square feet of office, training, and counseling facilities. In four years, CSC’s programs had outgrown the Cathay Manor space.
  • In 1990, the Board of Directors took the bold step of purchasing 8,000 sq. ft. of space located on the fourth floor of Alpine Towers, 767 North Hill Street, about two blocks from the Cathay Manor site. Currently the site houses CSC’s employment and counseling programs, citizenship classes and a computer lab, and CSC’s administrative offices.
  • In 1991, CSC completed improvements at Alpine Towers, establishing it as CSC’s “main office”. By April, remodeling of the Cathay Manor space was completed, doubling the size of our health clinic, and expanding our social service program space. That established the Cathay Manor site as their “branch office”.
  • In 1992, CSC opened a small part time office in Monterey Park, located on Atlantic Blvd. After three years at that location, CSC’s Monterey Park Office moved to a more accessible site at Chandler and Garvey. The office offers assistance for the elderly who are living at home.
  • In 2001, CSC opened a Youth Center at 727 North Broadway to expand its services to youths.
  • In 2004, CSC remodeled its clinic space to provide dental services.
  • In 2007, CSC’s clinic was designated a Federally Qualified Health Clinic (FQHC) and changed its name to CSC Community Health Center (CSC CHC) and began the transition to upgrading its records system to state-of-the-art electronic medical records shortly after that.
  • With American Reinvestment and Recovery Act funds and an additional federal capital grant, in 2011 CSC remodeled and expanded its main office clinic to add three treatment rooms, one dental operatory, a larger waiting room, and overall improvements to patient flow.
  • In 2015, CSC Community Health Center opened a second Dental Clinic in the City of Monterey Park at 850 South Atlantic Blvd., Suite 303.
  • In 2016, CSC Community Health Center opened a third Dental Clinic and a second Behavioral Health Division in the City of Alhambra at 320 South Garfield Avenue Suite 126 and Suite 202 to expand one stop Community Health Clinic services in San Gabriel Valley district.
  • In 2017, CSC Community Health Center another new Medical and Dental clinic service expanded to City of San Gabriel at 555-559 W. Las Tunas Drive, San Gabriel, 91776
  • In 2019, CSC added specialties services, Chiropractic, G.I. and Podiatry.
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Congratulations on the President's Lifetime Achievement Award. Thank you - Peter, for making an impact on our community.  Thank you Gloria Tang, for the recommendation, vetting Peter's quali
fications, and serving on the CSCLA board​ of directors all these years.

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CongraTULATIONS Hanley Chan

1/18/2023

 
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Hanley Chan is a native San Franciscan who attended City College of San Francisco where he received his Associate degree in Administration of Justice and Health Care Technology.  Hanley received his Homeland Security Specialist certificate from Louisiana State University and earned his Bachelor’s degree in Humanities from New College of California.

He is a disabled veteran who served his country in the military as a Naval Aviation Ordnancemen in 1999, the California National Guard as a 19k Armor Crewman in 2003, Petty Officer 
in the California State Military Reserves Maritime Unit, currently a 1st Lieutenant in the US Air Force Auxiliary and a Specialist for the California State Guard in the Oakland Military Institute.

He worked as a 
patrol special police officer for the San Francisco Patrol Special Police department, Police Officer instructor for Department of Defense, EMT for American Medical Response, and currently an Athletic Inspector/Judge for the California State Athletic Commission.  In addition, he has worked for the US Department of Labor Jobcorps as a Homeland Security/Office Assistant/Certified Medical Assistant substitute teacher helping young adults obtain an education and pursue a career. 

Hanley is an elected District Director for the largest private investigation association in California called CALI, a life member of International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructor, a life member for the International Police Association, a life member of American Legion, a life member of Disabled American Veteran, a life member of the California Civil Grand Jury Association, a member of North American Police Working Dog Association, a member of NCRIC, a member of FBI InfraGard, a member of the Lions Club and a member of the Rotary Club.

He is an appointed San Francisco Veterans Affairs Commissioner by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and to the California District Appeals Board for US Selective Service System by the President of the United States. 
Hanley Chan’s heroism earned him the highest lifesaving honor signed by the president of the United States from Red Cross for saving an elderly woman on an inflight emergency in 2014. Hanley has received the Presidential Volunteer Service Award in 2022. He also earned honor award from the American Police Hall of Fame in 2005, an award from the University of Houston, and an appreciation award for Community Policing from Italy, Rome in 2004, as well as many resolution and proclamation for his hard work and dedication to community service and public safety.

Congratulations on the President's Lifetime Achievement Award. Thank you Hanley for making an impact on our community. 

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CongraTULATIONS Brandon DO

1/16/2023

 
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Brandon Do is currently a High School Sophomore at Dougherty Valley High School in San Ramon. He is interested in sports, music and loves learning new things. He is part of the baseball team and plays the violin. Volunteering since he was 10 years old, Brandon has integrated his love of music by performing at retirement communities. Most Saturdays, he and his mother work at the church to help those in need. His passion, curiosity and genuine heart allows him to not only focus on his studies as a high school student but help others and bring joy to their faces.

Just in 2022 Brandon volunteered at St. Michael Catholic Parish packing groceries, setting up the pantry for food distribution, and post distribution cleanup. He helped Cardz for Kidz by creating handmade cards with uplifting messages for distribution to hospitals, foster homes, schools, senior centers, and veteran facilities. He also helped with Challenger Games Buddies which assists special needs athletes. He setup the booth and manned the booth for the Livermore Area Rec & Park District Fundraiser. And helped Make-a-Wish, Livermore Jr. Football League, Special Olympics of Northern California, provided pizza and drinks to local fire stations, and is part of TYME from Dougherty High School Group where he performs for senior home communities in the Tri-Valley region in California. Here, he's pictured with his mom. Congratulations on the Gold Presidential Volunteer Service Award - on a job well done and supporting our community with your volunteer work. ​

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  • Resources
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    • Privacy Policy
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    • Presidential Volunteer Service Award >
      • Past Honorees