LLU Children's Hospital Foundation honors five Hometown Heroes
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| Nina Coake, Bonnie O'Connor, Trudy Wittaker, George Tedeschi, and Micheal Kuhn, MD (from left) are honored as the LLUCH Hometown Heroes for 1999. |
The fourth annual Hometown Hero awards were presented during the Children's Hospital Foundation Gala held on February 6. Committed to making a difference, the five honorees have distinguished themselves by their giving to improve the lives of children.
"We wanted to recognize the contributions of individuals who share our passion for children and help to enrich the quality of life in our communities," says Reiner S. Roeske, CPA, director of the Children's Hospital Foundation.
This year's selected heroes represent a wide range of professions. As part of the Foundation's Hometown Heroes award program, they were nominated by individuals in the community and selected by a panel of judges composed of previous Hometown Heroes. This year's Hometown Heroes are Nina Coake; Trudy Wittaker; Bonnie O'Connor; Micheal Kuhn, MD; and George Tedeschi.
Nina Coake has been a very active and persistent supporter of children's issues for more than 40 years. Mrs. Coake and her husband, Vernon, were foster parents in San Bernardino County for more than 45 years and she has continued being a foster parent since her husband passed away in 1989. The Coakes have cared for 1,200 foster children, three of whom they adopted and raised. Mr. and Mrs. Coakes' home was one of the first "emergency shelter care" homes developed in San Bernardino County in 1983. They provided a loving home environment for children picked up because of abuse, neglect, or abandonment. In 1992, Mrs. Coake opened her home to medically fragile infants and small children, many of them suffering the effects of drug exposure, genetic syndromes impacting their health, and failure to thrive.
Trudy Wittaker started making a difference in children's lives by joining the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) in 1977. She instituted children's reading programs, initiated and directed the national fine arts program, "Reflections," and also directed Red Ribbon Week drug awareness programs. Ms. Wittaker has served in schools for more than 15 years as a volunteer working directly with the children. She was presented the Golden Oak award in 1992, which is the highest award given by the California State PTA in recognition of service to children. She has been a volunteer accompanist for choir classes and performances throughout Corona and Norco. She and the Women's Auxiliary of her church often organize fundraisers to collect toys and clothes for needy children.
Bonnie O'Connor was named executive director of Children's Fund two years ago. She has orchestrated many successful fundraising activities and helped raise in excess of $3 million to provide direct services to children at risk in San Bernardino County. In partnership with LLUCH and the San Bernardino Department of Children's Services, Children's Fund is providing a safe and non-institutional environment where children who have been sexually abused can be forensically examined.
She has painted murals and arranged for donations of materials and toys to make the children who come to the Assessment Center feel more comfortable. The Children's Fund also supplies items that make a difference in the lives of these children, such as new clothes and real beds with mattresses.
Children are the priority to Micheal Kuhn, MD. Dr. Kuhn is a pediatric cardiologist at LLUCH, and his work has taken him as far as India to perform heart surgery on a little girl. For the past three years, he has been serving as chair of the Kiwanis Club Children Priority One Committee which organizes the annual Celebration of Childhood in downtown Redlands.
Dr. Kuhn's contributions to the International Service Project Iodine Deficiency Disorder have saved at least 24,000 children from mental retardation and/or cretinism. Dr. Kuhn's commitment to benefiting children extends far beyond his participation in Kiwanis Club. He has served on the board of directors at the Volunteer Center of the Inland Empire and is the president of the Boys and Girls Club of Redlands.
George Tedeschi is a retired elementary school teacher and executive director for the Victor Valley Community Dental Service Program (DSP). He is one of the organization's founders and one of the most vital players in its operations. This program provides a direct and positive effect on children's oral health. DSP has provided free basic dental and medical services to more than 527 underserved children and adults from Southern California. In 1994, Mr. Tedeschi founded and helped organize High Desert Churches United Service, an organization that coordinates churches in their efforts to reach and help children.
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