SUNNYVALE ANNOUNCES COMMUNITY AWARD WINNERS

SUNNYVALE, Calif. –The City of Sunnyvale will honor several outstanding community members at the annual State of the City celebration, July 4.

Mayor Otto Lee, who will present the State of the City address at the event, said the community awards highlight the best and the brightest in Sunnyvale.

“Our community wouldn’t shine the way it does if it weren’t for the remarkable contributions of our residents and businesses,” Lee said. “These awards are just a small way for us to show our appreciation to those people who help make Sunnyvale such a wonderful place to live and work.”

This year’s award winners include:

·         Dawn Haddaway has been chosen as Sunnyvale’s Distinguished Resident of the Year for her efforts as a foster and adoptive parent for special needs children in Sunnyvale, and for her efforts to improve foster care in the community.

·         Mikle Goltzer is the recipient of Sunnyvale’s Outstanding Educator of the Year for dedication and leadership for Project H.E.L.P, a local nonprofit education program which he founded.

·         Dorothy Ames is this year’s Outstanding Community Volunteer. Ames was nominated for her lasting and beneficial impact on the community through her volunteer service at Our Daily Bread. Ames was also very involved in fundraising efforts for the Sunnyvale Historical Society Museum.

·         Dan and Donna Hafeman will be honored with the Outstanding Environmental Achievement (Individual) award for their efforts to teach composting and how to be environmentally-friendly.

·         Saeed Amidi, owner of Plug and Play Technology Center, has been named the 2007 Outstanding Businessperson of the Year. Amidi was nominated for his leadership and vision which led to a successful Sunnyvale startup technology center.

·         Flo Oy Wong will be honored with the Outstanding Contribution to the Arts award for many years of service on various arts commission and councils, including being a founding member of the City’s Art Commission. Wong is a mixed-installation artist who weaves cultural and ethnic diversity into her artwork.

·         Sustainable Community Gardens will be presented with the Outstanding Environmental Achievement (Group) award for their efforts in planning, building and managing Charles Street Gardens, the first Sunnyvale community garden.

·         Timothy Wong of Fremont High School will be presented with the High School Senior of the Year award. Wong was nominated for his excellent academic record and strong record of community service.

The awards will be presented by Sunnyvale Councilmembers at the State of the City celebration. The event, which will again be held at Washington Park, located at Washington and Pastoria Avenues, begins at 11 a.m., July 4. In addition to the mayor’s State of the City presentation and the community awards, the celebration will have bounce houses and face painters for the kids, live music and a $5 lunch. For more information, call the Communications Division at (408) 730-7535, TDD (408) 730-7501, or e-mail communications@ci.sunnyvale.ca.us.