26th Annual H&E Program

WELCOME

TaraPeterson

CEO,YWCAGlendaleandPasadena

SPECIAL GUEST

SilvaHarapetian

Journalist,CEOSilvaMediaGroup

CALL TO ACTION

CAMI'S COURAGE SCHOLARSHIP PRESENTATION

2023 Recipients

AnnaHeur

LaCañadaHighSchool

MaryTovbekhakyan

AndersonW.ClarkMagnetHighSchool

HONOREES

JessicaFirst

CEO&ChiefStrategist,Kilter

BoardPresident,YWCAGlendaleandPasadena

RimaCameron Attorney

YWCAofGlendaleBoardMember1992-1998

DeniseHoulemardJones

PrincipalDMJConsulting

YWCAPasadena-FoothillValleyBoardMember1998-2004

GRATITUDE AND CLOSING REMARKS

DearFriends,

TaraPeterson

A Message from ChiefExecutiveOfficer

YWCAGlendaleandPasadena

Wearehonoredtohaveyoujoinustodayforour26thAnn ExcellenceAwardsandPersimmonDonorCircleLuncheon eventisalittledifferentfrompastyears’eventsbecausew togetherpastHeart&ExcellenceHonoreeswithourPersi Circlemembers.Thesetwogroupshavealotincommon overlap Infact,allthreeofourawardeestodayarecurren Donorswhoembodyandsupportourmissionofeliminat community.

Togetheratthisspecialevent,wearecelebratingthecollectivepowerofwomen,individualphilanthropy,and providingtheopportunityforourgueststobe“incommunity”withoneanotherwhilelearningmoreaboutthe essentialworkofYWCAGlendaleandPasadena

Heart & Excellence honorees are women who tirelessly give of their time, talent, and treasure with no expectationofrecognitionoracknowledgementinreturn.Duringthepast26yearsofhonoringextraordinary womenwhohavemadeanimpactinGlendale,Burbank,andPasadena,wehaverecognizedover100women. Theirleadership,communityservice,professionalachievements,integrity,andcommitmenttoimprovingthe qualityoflifeforallexemplifiesYWCA’smission.

Throughourprograms,wehaveaidedthousandsofwomenandgirlsandempoweredthemtomakepositive changes in their lives and communities We want to continue our focus on serving women and girls in our community and addressing the intersection of racism, sexism, and other forms of oppression for years to come.

Butwealsowanttoswimupstreamanddevelopnewandinnovativeapproachestopreventviolenceandwork to remove these barriers so that everyone has access and opportunity to obtain the tools they need by providingthehighestqualitysupportandservicesthatwillallowthemtothrive.

Our Persimmon Donor Circle is a special group that champions YWCA of Glendale and Pasadena and its mission Your membership is a symbol of courage, compassion, and commitment for pursing the rights of women,girls,andfamilies.Throughyourmembership,westandasacollectivevoicefortheindividualsand familiesweserve Furthermore,yourmembershiprepresentsagatheringofdiverseindividualswhoallchoose toaddtheirvoicetowardsachievingaworldwherewomenandgirlsthrive.WearegratefultohaveHeart& Excellence alums and Persimmon Donor Circle members join us today. Many of you have been part of our historyandyourcontributionscontinuetoshapeourfuture.

Wearegratefultoyou,oursponsors,businessandcommunityleaders,andpublicofficialswhohavejoinedus tocelebratethisyears’Heart&ExcellenceHonorees.ThankyouforhelpingusraisefundstosupportYWCA’s manyprogramsandservicesthatbenefitthelivesoflocalwomen,girls,andchildren

Warmregards,

2022 - 2023 Board of Directors

President

JessicaFirst

Vice Presidents

ShushanBarsegyan | T.C.Kim | RosieTer-Matevosyan | JillWelton

Secretary

ValerieMerritt

Board Members

RichardBennett|AnitaChan|ShelbyJiggetts-Tivony

ManeKhachatryan|MarieY.Lemelle|ManuelMagpapian

TalineSaad|WesleyWalton

Heart & Excellence Event Production Team

ErinEnglish | CelesteMeza | TaraPeterson | JodyShort

Cami's Courage Memorial Scholarship

Coordinator

WendyGrove

Photographer

ZawStudios

Special Guest

SilvaHarapetian Journalist,CEOSilvaMediaGroup

SilvaHarapetianisanaccomplishedjournalistwitharemarkablecareer spanningovertwodecadesinthebroadcastingindustry.Sheisan Emmynominatedjournalist,anaward-winningproducer,andan AmazonBestSellingAuthor.

Silvahasspent22yearsinfrontofthecameraandbehindthescenesfor someofthenation'smostprominentmediaoutlets,includingCBS,NBC, ABC,andFOXaffiliatescoveringglobalnewseventswithafrontrowseat tomanyofthehistoriceventsofourgeneration

BorninIran,Silva hasexperiencedthedevastatingeffectsofwarand escapedpoliticalandreligiouspersecution,arrivinginLosAngeleswith withherfamilyin1988 SheattendedHooverHighSchoolin Glendale

AftergraduatingfromtheUniversityofSouthernCalifornia,Silvalandedan discoveredthepowerofstoriesandtheirabilitytoimpactpeople,commun

However,becomingatelevisionjournalistwasalmostimpossibleforayoungwomanforwhomEnglishwasa 4thlanguage.Inanindustrythatlackeddiversityandminorityrepresentation,manysaidthatpursuinga careerinbroadcastjournalismlackedcommonsense

Silvaremainedsteadfastinhercommitmenttousinghervoicetoamplifyvoicesthatwereignored, suppressed,andsilenced.Herpathtosuccesswasfilledwithyearsofrejection,limitedopportunities,and heartbreakingsetbacks,yetshepersisted,continuouslylearningandhoninghercraftuntilaradioexecutivein Fresnofinallytookachanceonher.

Thispivotalmoment 25yearsago markedthebeginningofSilva'strailblazingcareertobecomingthefirst Armenian-Iranian-AmericantelevisionjournalistintheUnitedStates'broadcastnewsindustry Herremarkable achievementsareatestamenttoherindomitablespirit,unwaveringperseverance,andunrelenting commitmenttoamplifyingunderrepresentedvoicesandimpactfulstories

Throughouthercareer,Silvahascoveredglobalnewseventsandwitnessedmanyofthehistoriceventsofour generation,includingmultiplepresidentialelections,9/11,theOklahomaCityBombing,theWarsinIraqand Afghanistan,andmassshootingssuchasParklandandOrlando.Shehasalsosharedthestoriesoffamilies devastatedbynaturaldisasters,includingHurricanesKatrinaandWilma,andthedistractionofHarvey,Isaac, Maria,andIrma.

SilvaisalsoasuccessfulentrepreneurandfounderofTheSilvaMediaGroupProductionCompany,TheMedia MasteryInstitute,TheEpicStorytellingAcademy,andTheSilvaHarapetianYouTube,Podcast,andRadio shows Throughherwork,sheisdedicatedtoempoweringwomenandamplifyingtheirvoices

In2020,SilvawonaCommunicatorAwardforanonlinewebseriesandashortfilm In2021,shewonaTelly AwardforheronlinepoliticalcommentaryaboutthewarinArtsakhtitled“What’sGoingonInArmenia?”.

Cami's Courage Memorial Scholarship Recipient

AnnaHeur

LaCañadaHighSchool

Anna Heur is a senior at La Cañada High School.Sheisanaspiringdoctorandfounded Step to Specs, a program that gives free glasses to uninsured patients at Los Angeles CountyHospital.Shecollectedover4,000pairs of glasses, measured each pair with a lensometer,builtanonlinedatabasetocatalog each one, and implemented the program with the help of ophthalmologists. She became a partnerwithTheKeckSchoolofMedicineand distributedover1,000pairsofglasses.Anna

laterauthoredapublishedresearchpaperabouttheproject’simpact.

ShewasamemberoftheNationalHonorSocietyforthreeyearsandPresident for one year. She oversaw the 150-member club and coordinated service opportunitieswithlocalshelters,serviceclubs,andtheRedCross.TheSociety completedschoolsuppliesdrives,holidaydrives,andblooddrives.

Anna volunteers with Los Angeles County Hospital (LAC+USC), where she has deliveredpatientpackages,sortedclothingandtoydonations,madeblankets andcraftsforpatients,workedthefrontdesk,andansweredcalls.

Through her work with the National Honor Society, she worked with the nonprofitHathawaySycamorestoprovideschoolsuppliesandholidaygiftsto childreninneed.

AnnawaspartofLaCañadaHighSchool’speertutoringprogram,whereforthe past two years she tutored high school students in algebra and Spanish. She lives in La Cañada with her parents, brother, and grandparents. Her hobbies includephotography,waterpolo,andgardening.

Cami's Courage Memorial Scholarship Recipient

MaryTovbekhakyan ClarkMagnetHighSchool

Mary Tovbekhakyan is a senior at Anderson W. Clark Magnet High School. She is an active member of the Clark Magnet community. As a student leader, she has worked to enhance school culture and promote inclusivity by organizing events and activities that bring the studentbodytogether.AspartoftheAssociated StudentBody,sheensuresthatthevoicesofall studentsarerepresented.

Sheisthefounderoftheschool’sUSagainst

Bullying Club and is a member of the Mentees and Mentors Club, PharmX Club, Red Cross Club, and Armenian Club. She often extends her involvement beyond the walls of her high school and into the wider community by assisting teachers at her former elementary and middle schools.Lastyear,shespearheadedatoydrivethatcollectedover500toys thatweredonatedtoChildren’sHospitalLosAngeles.

Independent,hard-working,andresilient,Maryhasthepotentialtosucceed in college, career, and beyond while also making lasting contributions to theworldaroundherthroughherdesiretohelpothers.

Coupled with her extracurricular pursuits and community involvement, Mary also navigates a rigorous course load including multiple AP, honors, andGlendaleCityCollegedualenrollmentclasses.

Inaddition,Maryhelpshermother,asingleparentwhoworkslonghours, with many tasks. While it is not easy, Mary views the time she spends cooking and tending to their home as an opportunity to become a more responsibleandmatureindividual.

Born in Tehran, Iran in 1956 to Armenian parents, Rima moved with her family to the Boston area in 1963 when she was 6 years old. She grew up in Belmont, a suburb of Boston. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1978 from Wellesley College and her Juris Doctor degreefromBostonUniversityin1984.In 1988,RimamovedtoGlendalewhereshe haslivedsincethen.In1990shewas

admittedtotheCaliforniaBar.Sheworkedfor es& Holmes,specializinginFamilylaw,untilsheret

Rima has a daughter, Sabrina Gregorian, who attended Glendale public schools where Rima was an active volunteer in PTA and other school activities. Sabrina now lives in Glendale and is a yoga instructor. Rima also has a step-son, Ezroy Cameron, who lives in Los Angeles and is a music producerandcomposer.

Overthepast34yearssincemovingtoGlendale,Rimahasvolunteeredand servedontheboardsofvariouscommunityorganizationssuchastheYWCA ofGlendale,NeighborhoodLegalServicesDomesticViolenceClinic,Glendale Memorial Hospital, Verdugo Hills Business and Professional Women, City of Glendale’s Community Development Block Grant Advisory Committee, and theGlendaleEducationalFoundation.ShecurrentlyservesasanElderanda member of the Property and Finance Committee at her church, Glendale PresbyterianChurch.

Rima married Donnell Cameron, a Recording Engineer, in 2008 and they bought a home in the Royal Canyon area of Glendale. They are both retired now and enjoy spending time with their family and friends, getting away to theirbeachhouseatHollywoodBeachinOxnard,andtraveling.

JessicaFirst

CEO&ChiefStrategist,Kilter; BoardPresident,YWCAGlendaleandPasadena

Honoree

AfterattendingaYWCAfundraisingeventin20 Jessicawasmovedbytheorganization’smiss andappliedforboardservice.Shesoonjoined YWCA Glendale board, which she has served boardpresidentsince2021.

During Jessica’s board presidency, organization has doubled in size, complete successful union between the YWCA in Glend andPasadena,anddelivereduninterrupted

criticalservicesthroughouttheCOVIDpandemic.Jessicahasalsoattendedthe YWCANationalconferenceandaccompaniedotherYWCAleaderstospeakwith politicians on Capitol Hill. She has helped secure improved policies for DV servicesandraiseawarenessforourorganizationandprograms.

Prior to her YWCA board service, Jessica dedicated many years to mentoring andcoachingyoungwomen,especiallythoseinunderprivilegedareas.Shehas helpeddozensofyoungpeoplelearntointerview,writecorrespondence,and engageinprofessionalpublicspeaking.

JessicahasanMBAfromVanderbiltinBrandStrategy.Shecurrentlyownsand operates her own brand and strategy firm Kilter, located in Pasadena. Her agency’s focus is helping to build organizations that are focused on social good. Her roster of clients ranges from STEM programs for underprivileged youth, to fundraising for children’s museums, to affordable solar energy solutions.

When she is not working, she loves to spend time with her family, traveling, and cooking. Or spending time at home in Sierra Madre with her husband, childrenandherdogStella.

Honoree

DeniseHoulemardJones,alongtimePasadenaresident,is dedicatedtopublicserviceandisverypassionateabouther community, giving not only her time, energy, talent and financial resources, but also providing invaluable leadership

The mission of the YWCA has always mattered to Denise Jonesbecauseofhercommitmenttomakeadifferencein our community and world. She strongly supports YWCA's focusonracialandsocialjustice.

Notably,DeniseservedontheYWCAPasadena-Foothill

Valley Board of Directors from 1998 – 2004 and chaired the first Women For Racial Justice BreakfastinOctober2002

Ms. Jones was motivated to become a supporter of YWCA Glendale and Pasadena as a PersimmonDonorLeadershipCirclememberbecauseYWCAworkstoaddresspressingneeds thatareessentialforabrightfutureformany.Shevaluestheracial&socialjusticeaspectsof YWCA’s mission, along with anti-violence, and girls’ empowerment - especially through technology.

OrganizationsandprojectsforwhichshehastakenleadershiprolesareDelta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.; Pasadena Northwest Commission; Community Health Alliance of Pasadena; Alkebu-lan Cultural Center; Pasadena Delta Foundation, Inc.; Pasadena MLK Community Coalition; YWCA Pasadena – Foothill Valley, PASADENA 100 Coalition and LaPintoresca Branch LibraryAssociates.

Ms. Jones,whoearnedaB.S.degreefromUCLAandaMBAdegreefrom USC, has also volunteeredfortheCityofPasadenaHousingAffordabilityTaskForce,LatinoHistoryParade andJamaica,NAACP,St.AndrewCatholicChurch, FoothillUnityCenter,andYoungAfrican AmericanWomen’sConference,tonameafew.

This proudwife, motherand grandmotherhasreceivednumerousawardsforherserviceto thecommunity,includingtheDeltaLeadershipAward,WomenInAction “WindBeneathMy Wings”AwardandtheYWCAWomenofExcellenceAward,theAltadenaNAACPSocialJustice Award, Rep. Adam Schiff (2012, 29th District) and Rep. Judy Chu (2016, 27th District) Congressional Woman of the Year Awards,Black History Parade GrandMarshall,and YWCARacialJusticeAward.

FamilyisthecornerstoneofDeniseHoulemardJones’life,andinherrarefreetimeshefinds joy in spending time with her husband, Troy, daughter Christina, son in law Brandon and granddaughtersKendallandLeila

Congratulationstomyfellow honorees.Theawardsarewelldeservedandwethankyouforall yourhardwork.Weareproudto supportYWCAGlendaleand

Pasadena’sDomesticViolence,Girls’ Empowerment,andRacialJustice programswithoursponsorshipofthis wonderfulevent.

Rima&DonnellCameron

HEART & EXCELLENCE HONOREE ALUMNI

GingerBremberg–1996

RuthHale

DaleKristien

LynneRaggio

GenevieveSultenfuss

ValeryMoorhead–1998

SueStamper

Sr.LucilleDear,S.P.–1999

AlicePetrossian

MaryAlvord–2000

RabbiCaroleL.Meyers

EileenGivens

DianeRussell

SueBoegh–2001

LoisFrederick

LoreleiKelley

JuliaBurroughsShermer

PhyllisCampbell–2002

LindaMalmquist

MaryAliceO’Connor

GeorgiaM.Abelmann–2003

SoniaBedrossianPeltekian

LinaHarper

GladyI.Kabateck

WandaBistagne–2004

MaryLouHoward

Dr.FriedaJordan

LouiseLewis

JeanMaluccio

Dr.ZuzkaEggena–2005

CathyKeen

KatherineYamada

EleanorLargent

LindaStude

Susie&RichardDell–2006

AvonFoundationBreastCare Fund

CapitalGroupCompanies

GlendaleCommunityFoundation

NationalCharityLeague,Inc., Glendale

SoroptimistInternationalof Glendale

WellsFargoFoothill

LaurieBlieck–2007

RosaFrommer

DebbieHinckley

SusanHunt

ArminehKhanbabian

DonnaZiel

MaryBoger–2008

MarilynGunnell

CaroleJouroyan

JoanMcCarthy

OfficerSueShine-Carter

RuthCharles–2009

JanetKillian

KathleenPowers

SandySchultz

MercyVelazquez

AndreaFarestveit–2010

SandraJ.Moreno

MaryAnnPlumley

MariaRochart

KarenWhyte

SilvaHameline–2011

LoriHartwell

AnnHerrmann

ElizabethManasserian

EllynSemler

FranBuchanan–2012

PaulaDevine

AnitaQuinonezGabrielian

PaulaDevine–2012

KathyLefkovits

MonicaSierra

ToniBeck-Espinoza–2013

LenaBozoyan

JoryPotts

MaryMargaretSmith

JoyleneWagner

Roberta“Bobbi”Gangi–2014

LauraGuillory

SedaKhojayan

GertrudeNess

SharonTownsend

YasminBeers–2015

MiryamFinkelberg

MaryLouRhodes

LynneWhite-Shelby

JoanAllan–2016

BrookeBentleyMoore

KathrynVanHouten

JeannieFlint–2017

NancyGuillen

JanetHamilton

Joan-Patricia“JP”O’Connor

LinaPetrossian

NancyStone

GeorginaWu

CarolAnnBurton–2018

MarilynKayButler

SonaA.Tatiyants

AgapeCircleoftheWesternDiocese oftheArmenianChurch

MarisolEspinoza–2019

StelaFejtek

ElissaGlickman

LindaOffray

KarenSwan

SueWilder

HasmikBurushyan–2020

MonicaCampagna

TamikaFarr

PhyllisKim

TeresaRivera

AniTorosyan

SuzanneWeerts

SupervisorKathrynBarger–2021

AliciaProcello

Dr.VivianEkchian

Rev.CassieMcCarty

ElenAsatryan

GabrielleScott

MarieY.Lemelle

GloriaSalas

CarlaBuigues-2022

ShannonCurrieHolmes

AnahidOshagan

GeorgetteGreen

EmiliCruz-Sosa

Accomplishments

Domestic Violence Services

3,438nightsofsafeshelterand10,214mealswereprovidedtoadult andchildsurvivorsofdomesticviolence

98supportgroupsand520individualcounselingsessionswere providedtoadultsurvivors

1,346callswereansweredonour24-hourhotline,providingsurvivors andtheirfriendsandfamilieswithkeyinformationondomestic violenceandlinkagestoemergencyservices

125participantswereprovidedwithcourtrepresentation

Over$126,000inemergencyfinancialsupportwasdistributedto familiesservedattheYWCAtocoverkeyexpensesastheyrebuild theirnewlives,freefromviolence.

Girls' Empowerment Programs

133pre-teengirlswereempoweredthoughourGirls'Empowerment programs:Girls'CircleAfterSchool,TechGyrls,andCampRosie SummerCamp.

Community Engagement & Gender Equity

Over7,000individualswerereachedthroughourracialandgender equityanddomesticviolenceeducationalprogramsandcampaigns.