FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Feb 22, 2019/updated March 13,2019
CONTACT: Alison Edwards, CEO : (714) 480-5670 :alison@splash.ochumanrelations.org
(Orange County, CA) The outstanding work of local individuals, groups and a business will be honored at OC Human Relations’ Annual AWARDS Celebration and fundraiser at 5:30pm, Thursday, May 2, 2019 at the City National Grove of Anaheim. The AWARDS 2019 Celebration, sponsored this year by Union Bank, is a unique occasion that brings together hundreds of residents, along with business and community leaders to celebrate justice, diversity and the human spirit. A special award is being given to journalist A.C. Thompson for exposing hate groups in Orange County through the PBS Frontline “Documenting Hate: Charlottesville” and helping reduce hate crimes in the county. In addition, this year’s awardees include community leaders who have dedicated themselves to building a Latino-Muslim coalition, advocated for LGBT supportive programming, and brought funders and community together to address local needs. Also to be honored is a commander who uses community input to shape policing practices, a high school excelling in creating a welcoming campus and receiving the Distinguished Business Award this year, will be Medtronic’s Brain Therapies Division.
The AWARDS 2019 Celebration will recognize five categories of heroes:
Diverse Community Leaders – Honors individuals and groups who have made extraordinary contributions to Orange County in human or civil rights. This year’s honorees are:
- Tony Ortuno (Santa Ana) educates, empowers and brings together local stakeholders to create safer, supportive and intersectional spaces where youth learn leadership skills and engage in social justice advocacy.
- Orange County Community Foundation and OC Opportunity Initiative (Orange County) for bringing funders and community organizations together to ensure the full participation and integration of our local immigrant communities.
Community-Policing – Recognizes a department that has tailored creative strategies to provide outstanding service to, and build positive relationships with, their communities. This year’s honoree is:
- Commander Chuck Elms (Santa Ana Police Department) lead an initiative to engage community members and include their input in the creation of his department’s new vision for policing and community engagement.
Distinguished BRIDGES School – Recognizes exceptional contributions to promote, nurture, protect and cultivate a BRIDGES’ school campus that is safe, welcoming and equitable. This year’s honoree is:
- Fountain Valley High School (Fountain Valley) whose Baron Bridge Builders program strives to maintain a safe, nurturing and inclusive campus for all students. The school demonstrates a commitment to working collectively for a positive school climate by connecting every student to another student, teacher, activity or club.
Distinguished Business Award – Honors a business in Orange County for going above and beyond to embrace diversity and inclusion in the workplace and community:
- Medtronic, Brain Therapies Division (Irvine), for embracing diversity and inclusion. Medtronic’s mission is rooted in respecting the dignity and personal worth of all employees. At Medtronic, employees and leaders actively participate in creating a culture of innovation that is defined by inclusion, diversity, and community engagement.
Special kNOwHate Award – Honors an individual or group that brings attention to preventing or highlighting hate crimes in Orange County:
- A.C. Thompson. A journalist with ProPublica, A.C.’s investigative journalism exposed hate groups involved in the 2017 Charlottesville “Unite the Right” rally. In the PBS’ Frontline “Documenting Hate: Charlottesville”, he methodically tracks down some of those at the center of the Charlottesville violence and some who had also been part of a series of earlier violent confrontations in California. This documentary exposed key players of hate groups in Orange County and led to subsequent arrests in an effort to work towards creating a safer Orange County and a reduction of hate crimes.
About OC Human Relations
OC Human Relations is a local nonprofit with the mission to foster mutual understanding among residents and eliminate prejudice, intolerance and discrimination in order to make Orange County a better place for ALL people to live, work and do business. Since 1991, OC Human Relations has operated with the belief that ALL people should live free of violence and discrimination. The organization brings people together to create safe and inclusive schools and communities, develop diverse leaders, give voice to those who don’t have a voice, and mediate conflict. OC Human Relations has been honoring individuals, law enforcement, schools and community organizations for their contributions to human relations in Orange County. These community heroes model community engagement and help lead the way to greater mutual understanding among residents of Orange County.
If you go:
WHAT: OC Human Relations’ AWARDS 2019 Celebration and fundraiser—celebrating justice, diversity and the human spirit. OC Human Relations will honor a journalist for the special kNOwHate Award, three diverse community heroes/groups, a BRIDGES Safe and Respectful School, an outstanding community-policing program and a distinguished business from Orange County.
WHEN: 5:30-9:15 p.m., Thursday, May 2
WHERE: The City National Grove of Anaheim, 2200 East Katella Avenue, Anaheim. .
For additional details, visit www.ochumanrelationsawards.org
