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Community Corner

Five Acres Celebrates Growing Community of Support for Vulnerable Children

Lifetime Achievement Award presented to Andrew Crowell.

In a celebration of a successful year of great impact, visionary leadership and dedication, Five Acres applauded new and departing Board members, its leadership team, supporters and volunteers at the organization’s annual meeting on Tuesday, March 11 at the Altadena Town and Country Club.

“Over the last year, Five Acres has become a stronger presence in the community advocating on behalf of vulnerable children for safety, well-being and a forever family.  We celebrate our increasing base of support for the cause - from Crosby and Nash to actors Matthew Lillard, Sam Jaegar, Emily Deschanel – and many more advocates who lend their voices, time and talents,” said Chanel Boutakidis, CEO, Five Acres.

Departing Board Chair Andrew Crowell, President, Crowell, Weedon & Co., received the Dorothy Cook Lifetime Achievement award, “for his tremendous leadership over the past 14 years,” said presenter Gene Gregg, who first introduced Crowell to Five Acres in 2000.  “His leadership, commitment and support, with a sense of grace and compassion, have been an example to us all.”

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Five Acres’ incoming Chair and new Board members were introduced by Crowell:

·       John Reith, President, The Reith Company, incoming Board Chair

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·       Ryan Dietz, new Vice Chair of Advancement

·       Rustin Mork, new Vice Chair of Business Affairs

·       Christianne Kerns, new Vice Chair of Programs

·       Brad Reaume, Secretary/Vice Chair of Board Affairs

·       Don Bishop, new Vice Chair of Finance

·       Michele Dooley, new President of the Five Acres Children’s Guild

·       Ted Cosse

·       Sue McGuirl

 Additional awards of distinction were presented to the following:

·       Leslie Lyons, Person of the Year Award

·       Mariann Nolan, Volunteer of the Year Award

·       David DiCristofaro, Special Recognition Award

·       Roncelli Plastics, Special Services to Children Award

Founded in 1888, Five Acres, the oldest social services agency in the San Gabriel Valley, provides innovative and impactful programs and services for children and families in crisis.  The organization’s mission is to ensure safety, well being and permanent families for children.

Annually, the nonprofit agency’s successful programs have a measurable impact on nearly 7,000 children, members of their families and support networks. Since 1888, Five Acres has touched the lives of hundreds of thousands of children and families. fiveacres.org.

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