Every year since 1963 when Jack Samuelson was selected as the La Cañadan of the Year, the Kiwanis Club of La Cañada has chosen an outstanding citizen from the community to be honored. This year the club’s selection committee, led by Tyler Wright, YMCA president/CEO, chose community activist and volunteer, and former Les Tupper Award winner, Martha Burns to be recognized. Burns will be honored on Wednesday, April 29 at Van de Kamp Hall in Descanso Gardens. Festivities will be held at a luncheon that begins at noon. The public is invited to attend.

Over the years Burns has been involved in a long list of community activities in La Cañada and in Pasadena. Her volunteer activities have included involvement in education, church and service clubs. She is currently the treasurer of the Friends of the LCF Library, a non-profit organization where she is engaged in its semiannual book sale. A strong supporter of education, Burns was election campaign treasurer for former school board member Joel Peterson and was on the LCF Coordinating Council from 2006-13 serving as membership chairperson and treasurer. In 2005, she was named a Les Tupper recipient. She has also been very active in the LCF Community Center, Girl Scouts, Pasadena Humane Society and as a member, leader and officer of the AM Kiwanis Club.

Burns was born in Minnesota and has an identical twin sister, along with two younger sisters and a step-brother. She grew up in Duluth and earned a degree in mathematics from Colorado College. She met and married Tom Burns while they were both employed at the Burroughs Corporation in Colorado Springs. They moved, with their two young children, to Glendale in 1979 as a result of a job change. In 1981, the Burns family moved to La Cañada Flintridge and have been active in community activities ever since.

For more information or to make reservations, call (818) 790-9901. Lunch is $20 at the door.

Contributed by Al RESTIVO

  Erik OVANESPOUR