The ballots are in! The Kiwanis Club of La Cañada announced Harriet Hammons as the La Cañadan of the Year for her outstanding volunteer work spanning over 50 years. 

Many Kiwanians have witnessed first-hand as Hammons demonstrated her dedication to helping others and igniting positivity throughout the foothills community. Hammons hit all the high marks as the nomination criteria embodied what she has been doing for decades: serving the youth/schools, church or house of worship, assisting clubs, performing civic activities and providing leadership while bringing high praise to La Cañada Flintridge and the surrounding neighborhoods. 

Since 1970, Hammons has been a member of La Cañada United Methodist Church serving in many capacities including as a past president of the United Methodist Women. She earned numerous distinctions, among them the United Methodist, California-Pacific Conference, Distinguished Service Award in 2011 and she received the United Methodist Women National Special Mission Award in 2014. She also lends her convivial spirit as a head usher, a position she has held for the past six years.

Since 2004, Hammons has been a member and ambassador of the La Cañada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce and Community Association, earning her the coveted Ambassador of the Year Award in 2013 and 2017 for being the most active volunteer among her peers. She was also recognized with the Spirit Award in 2019.

She has served as a director on the Montrose/Verdugo City Chamber of Commerce from 2008-12 and was the honored with the President’s Award in 2012, and the Endearment Award in both 2011 and 2004.

An avid Boy Scouts of America enthusiast, Hammons has logged in 34 years of volunteer service and recently received the Verdugo Hills Council’s 2020 Wall of Excellence Award. She began her volunteer work in 1986 as a cubmaster and parent in the Boy Scouts of America.  That same year, she took on a leadership role in the Verdugo Hills Council, a post she serves on to this day. Presently she is a unit commissioner and merit badge counselor, a role she has thrived in since 1999. Among her many volunteer highlights, Hammons was an executive staff member at five World Scout Jamborees in 2011, 2007, 2003, 1999 & 1995. Since the beginning, Hammons has been the recipient of many awards and distinctions from the Boy Scouts, including the 2001 International Scouter Award. In addition, she has enjoyed working double-duty by being an active parent in the Girl Scouts of America from 1980 to 1992, and then as an assistant leader from 1981 to 1996.

Other organizations have also recognized Hammons’ contributions including La Cañada Flintridge Coordinating Council, which presented her with the 2014 Les Tupper Community Volunteer Service Award. In addition, for the past 41 years Hammons has been an active member of the La Cañada Flintridge Tournament of Roses, participating in various activities, including the Under the Bridge team week since 1988. Additionally, for the past 15 years she has lent her support to the Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station, National Crime Prevention Night Out.

Hammons is an active member of the Kiwanis Club of La Cañada, helping to make a difference in the community since 2004. Right away the Club acknowledged her keen contributions by naming her the Rookie of the Year in 2005. She was on the board from 2007 to 2009, and chaired the Children’s Literacy Project from 2004-17. She also chaired the Kiwanis International Division 3, Children’s Literacy Program from 2005-09; and was heralded in 2012 when she received the Distinguished Service Award and the Walter Zeller Project Eliminate International Award. 

Hammons is an inspiration to others as she continually looks for ways to give back to the community she dearly loves.

The presentation ceremony of 2019 La Cañadan of the Year Award to Harriet Hammons will be announced at a later date.