By Hyung Sok LEE
Photo by Jennifer TANJI

The Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s volunteers proved their commitment to the foothill area when over 40 volunteers were recognized for giving over 1,000 hours each of service to the community. The Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station hosted its 25th annual volunteer dinner for all who donate time to the sheriff’s organization. The dinner was held on Wednesday evening, April 21, at the La Cañada Thursday Club.
“Because our volunteers work so hard and do everything they are told, I felt that they deserved a little praise for all they’ve done,” said event coordinator Joanne Berg.
The night began with a dinner of tacos served by Los Gringos Locos with the CV sheriff station’s captain David Silversparre playing the piano. The dinner was followed by a series of individual awards presented by various organizations throughout Los Angeles County. The award recipients were from a variety of service organizations including the Community Emergency Rescue Team, the Montrose Search and Rescue Team, the Explorers, the Reserve Deputies, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff Volunteers.
After the individual awards were presented, special recognitions were given to those who had exceeded the 1,000 hours in service extending to 9,000 hours. The night concluded with servings of dessert and a raffle for all the volunteers present.
“I was with the Los Angeles Police Department for six years and I simply wanted to give back to the community. I just want to help and serve,” said the recipient of the volunteer of the year for National Association Citizens on Patrol Rafi Koshkerian.
Los Angeles County volunteers racked up an impressive total of 470,000 hours this past year equating to $11 million in benefit of the county. The volunteers associated with the Crescenta Valley Sheriff Station contributed nearly 27,000 of those hours.
“When someone refers to the Crescenta Valley as CV, I do not hear Crescenta Valley. I hear Community Volunteers,” one member said.