At a luncheon on Monday in Los Feliz, Rep. Adam Schiff  honored inspiring women from communities in the 28th Congressional District – Hollywood, West Hollywood, Burbank, Pasadena, Silver Lake, Echo Park, Elysian Valley, Los Feliz, Sunland–Tujunga, Glendale, Atwater Village, La Cañada Flintridge and La Crescenta. This recognition is made each year during Women’s History Month.

Below is a full list of all the honorees this year:

Mel Culpepper (Hollywood) Heidi Shink (West Hollywood), Sylvia Sutton (Burbank) Dr. Gail Schaper-Gordon (Pasadena), Stephanie Vendig (Silver Lake), Rosie Betanzos (Echo Park), Ceci Dominguez (Elysian Valley), Nyla Arslanian (Los Feliz), Cindy Cleghorn (Sunland–Tujunga), Dr. Armine Hacopian (Glendale), Paula Devine (Glendale), Grace Yoo (Atwater Village), Rahla Hall Lindsey (La Cañada Flintridge) and Mary Gant (La Crescenta).

“It was an honor and a pleasure to meet with the 2013 ‘Women of the Year’ awardees yesterday, and to recognize their outstanding work and community leadership,” said Rep. Schiff. “Each woman honored has demonstrated an ability to help others, to work tirelessly for an important cause and to make our communities a better place. They serve as a shining example of service for all of us, and especially young people throughout the 28th Congressional District, and it was my pleasure to recognize their extraordinary work and capabilities.”

Every year, during Women’s History Month, Rep. Schiff honors one outstanding woman from each of the communities in the 28th Congressional District. These women come from all walks of life and represent the thousands of women who make a positive impact in our region. While there are no specific criteria for nomination, Rep. Schiff looks for women who — through their work or volunteerism — have improved the quality of life for our community.

Below is information on the women that were honored in the Crescenta Valley and surrounding area.

A Tribute to Mary Gant (La Crescenta)

28^th Congressional District Woman of the Year-2013

I rise today in honor of Women’s History Month.  Each year, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our nation’s women.  It is an honor to pay homage to outstanding women who are making a difference in my Congressional District.

I would like to recognize an exceptional woman, Mary Gant, of La Crescenta, California, a true leader in the La Crescenta-Montrose and La Cañada Flintridge communities.

Mary was active in the Mountain Avenue Elementary School Parent Teacher Association (PTA) in La Crescenta, receiving their Honorary Service Award, and the Rosemont Middle School PTA in La Crescenta, serving as President, where she was honored with the PTA Continuing Service Award.

Well-known throughout the area for her energetic, friendly and positive attitude, Mary has organized many key events for various charitable organizations.  She coordinated the silent auction for the La Cañada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce’s annual meetings, was a Chamber Ambassador and serves on the city’s Fiesta Days parade committee every year.  A driving force in many Kiwanis Club of La Cañada projects, Mary co-founded the “Wine and Gourmet Food Tasting” event in coordination with the La Cañada Flintridge Educational Endowment Fund, and helped with the Kiwanis Club’s Soap Box Derby event registration process for many years.  Ms. Gant was also President of the La Cañada Flintridge Tournament of Roses Association, served on the fund-raising committee for the Crescenta-Cañada Family YMCA and assists with the YMCA’s Annual Prayer Breakfast.

Mary is devoted to her church, the La Crescenta Presbyterian Church.  She served as a Sunday School Superintendent and teacher, was active in the Youth Program, is on the Personnel Committee and is an ordained Deacon and Elder.

Some of the awards Ms. Gant has received include the Kiwanis Club of La Cañada’s Distinguished Service Award, the Gil Smith Award, and the La Cañadan of the Year Award.  In addition she received the Chamber’s Volunteer of the Year Award and the Les Tupper Community Service Award from the La Cañada Flintridge Coordinating Council.

I ask all Members to join me in honoring a truly remarkable woman of California’s 28^th Congressional District, Mary Gant.

A Tribute to Rahla Hall Lindsey (La Cañada Flintridge)

28^th Congressional District Woman of the Year-2013

I rise today in honor of Women’s History Month.  Each year, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our nation’s women.  It is an honor to pay homage to outstanding women who are making a difference in my Congressional District.

I would like to recognize Rahla Hall Lindsey of La Cañada Flintridge, an extraordinary leader, educator and volunteer in her community.

Rahla earned her B.A. in Speech Communication, M.A. in Cross-Cultural Communication, Secondary Teaching Credential in Speech and English from California State University, Los Angeles and her Ph.D. in Organizational Communication from the University of Southern California (USC).  Her diverse professional career has included being Vice-President, U.S. Region, for the AFS International Intercultural Programs, the administrator of Broadview nursing facility, a volunteer instructor at the Center for Nonprofit Management, the Executive Director of the YWCA of Glendale, a teacher at Elderhostel, and a professor at USC’s School of Public Administration and School of Policy, Planning and Development.  Currently she is the president and a consultant for RHall and Associates.

In her volunteer career, Ms. Lindsey broke barriers as the first female President of the Verdugo Hills Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and first female member of Rotary International’s Glendale Chapter.  She has served on numerous committees and boards, including California Literacy, Inc., the City of La Cañada Flintridge Foothill Boulevard Design Options Committee, Assistance League of Flintridge, Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Organizing Committee, La Cañada Flintridge Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) and the U.S. Air Force Academy Parent Support Group.  Currently, she is active in the Rotary Club of Crescenta-Cañada, Verdugo Hills Council of the Boy Scouts of America, Los Angeles County Bar Association as a volunteer lay arbitrator, First Church of Christ, Scientist, and a reader to second grade students at Richardson D. White Elementary School, where she is known to the children as “Gramma Rahla.”

Rahla has received many well-deserved honors, including the 2001 James E. West Fellow and 2006 Silver Beaver Service Award from the Boy Scouts of America and the 2009 Continuing Service Award from Richardson D. White Elementary School.

I ask all Members to join me in honoring a truly remarkable woman of California’s 28^th Congressional District, Rahla Hall Lindsey.

A Tribute to Paula Devine (Glendale)

28^th Congressional District Woman of the Year-2013

I rise today in honor of Women’s History Month. Each year, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our nation’s women. It is an honor to pay homage to outstanding women who are making a difference in my Congressional District.

Today, I stand to laud the tireless efforts of Paula Devine of Glendale, California. Upon her retirement from a 33 year teaching career, Paula remains a vibrant member of the Glendale community, where she volunteers as a women’s advocate.

Paula’s accomplishments in the community are many. She has served on the City of Glendale Commission on the Status of Women for seven years, where she has been both Vice Chair and Chairperson. Through her unparalleled leadership, the Commission has not only gained great status in the community, but has also raised significant funds through fundraisers and grants to support their programs. With the support of her colleagues, Paula developed a program called “Commission Status Rescue,” which provides annual funds to the Glendale Police Department for offering temporary emergency shelter to individuals who have been victims of domestic violence. Paula is a member of the Board of Directors of Glendale Healthy Kids and the Glendale Police Foundation, and a member of the Advisory Board of both the Glendale Adventist Medical Center and the Desi Geestman Foundation, which raises funds to help families deal with financial burdens while their children are receiving cancer treatment at the City of Hope in Duarte.

In addition to her leadership roles, Paula is a dedicated member and volunteer for organizations such as the Glendale Historical Society, Soroptimist of Glendale, Women’s Civic League, and the Glendale Latino Association. Paula has been an influential member of the Bully Me Not Coalition and the Safe Family Task Force, and has worked on creating a Teen Dating Violence Curriculum in the Glendale secondary schools.

I ask all Members to join me today in honoring an outstanding woman of California’s 28^th Congressional District, Paula Devine, for her exceptional service to the community.

A Tribute to Dr. Armine G. Hacopian (Glendale)

28^th Congressional District Woman of the Year-2013

I rise today in honor of Women’s History Month. Each year, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our nation’s women. It is an honor to pay homage to outstanding women who are making a difference in my Congressional District.

Today, I rise to commend Dr. Armine G. Hacopian of Glendale, California, whose tireless efforts have benefited her community and beyond. Dr. Hacopian moved to the United States at the age of sixteen. It was evident that she was committed to receiving a higher education, and keeping the promise she made to her ailing father, an Armenian Genocide survivor, who did not have the opportunity to receive a formal education. Her father continuously reminded his children, including Armine, about the importance of learning, and Armine attended Alhambra High School, went on to receive a B.A. in Art Education, two M.A.s in Art Education and Supervision and Administrative Services from Cal State University, Los Angeles, and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership.

Armine’s unparalleled commitment to education has benefited many. In 2001, Armine was elected to the Glendale Community College Board of Trustees, where she is currently serving as the Board President. Through her hard work, dedication, and support of her co-trustees, the Glendale Community College-Garfield Campus construction plan received an additional two million dollars in funding. In addition, she was instrumental in helping pass a $98 million dollar bond measure for capital improvements at Glendale Community College.

For the past two decades, Armine has assisted many girls and women who have been victims of rape and domestic abuse with finding safe homes. Many of these women eventually landed on the path of a successful career, and to this very day, keep in touch with Armine to inform her of their new accomplishments.

Armine has also served as department chair, counselor, teacher and as coordinator of the Even Start Family Literacy program, through which she was able to work closely with Head Start and provide parenting classes. She was also an ESL (English as a Second Language) specialist, where she helped teachers improve their skills as they worked with students whose primary language was not English. Armine is also a consultant in the areas of sexual harassment prevention, career transitions and communication and conflict management.

I ask all Members to join me in honoring a remarkable woman of California’s 28^th Congressional District, Dr. Armine G. Hacopian, for her exceptional service to the community.

A Tribute to Cindy Cleghorn (Sunland–Tujunga)

28^th Congressional District Woman of the Year-2013

I rise today in honor of Women’s History Month.  Each year, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our nation’s women.  It is an honor to pay homage to outstanding women who are making a difference in my Congressional District.

I would like to recognize Cindy Cleghorn of Tujunga, California, whose involvement in the Sunland-Tujunga community is truly remarkable.

Cindy began her volunteer career early.  As a young girl in La Crescenta, California, she went door-to-door raising funds for the March of Dimes, and was a member of several organizations that promoted leadership development, including Job’s Daughters, Eastern Star and Camp Fire Girls.  This involvement gave her not only experience in giving back to her community, but also fostered her business and entrepreneurial skills.

In 1982, Ms. Cleghorn founded her company, C&M Printing, in Glendale, a small business that provides personalized service for nonprofits, businesses and organizations with their printing, copying and mailing needs, serving the greater Los Angeles area.  She has been a leader in many business organizations, including the California Association of Business Printers, serving as President, the National Association of Women Business Owners-Los Angeles Chapter, where she received the Member of the Year Award in 1993, the Kiwanis Club of Glendale, where she served as Vice President, and Women Impacting Public Policy.  In 1995, Cindy received the distinct honor of being elected to serve on the White House Conference on Small Business.

Cindy became active in the Sunland-Tujunga community when she moved her business to Tujunga.  She helped to organize the certification of the Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council, an advisory body to the city of Los Angeles, served as a member of the Board of Directors, served as President and Secretary and is currently serving as Vice President of Outreach.  In addition, Ms. Cleghorn spearheaded the restoration of a business area in Tujunga which is now designated as Historic Olde Towne Tujunga. Selected by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Cindy served as a City Commissioner on the Neighborhood Council Review Commission.  Currently, she is on the executive committee of the Valley Alliance of Neighborhood Councils where she works with nearly 100 neighborhood councils in Los Angeles as Chair of the Congress of Neighborhoods, and the Sunland-Tujunga Chamber of Commerce, where she is President.

I ask all Members to join me in honoring a truly remarkable woman of California’s 28^th Congressional District, Cindy Cleghorn.