The Human Relations Council of the Santa Monica Bay Area (HRC Santa Monica) has announced the recipients of the 2019 Mark J. Benjamin Community Impact Awards. The two individuals will be honored on, September 11, at 6 p.m. at the Santa Monica Baha’i Center.
Named after long-time HRC Santa Monica board member and former Morley Builders CEO Mark J. Benjamin, the award recognizes those individuals who volunteer their time to promote understanding among diverse people, take actions that make a difference and demonstrate compassion for others. They are “ordinary people doing extraordinary things” in the community.
The 2019 Mark J. Benjamin Community Impact Award recipients are Terri Decker and Barbara Inatsugu, both nominated by nonprofit organizations on the Westside, Culver City and Santa Monica, respectively.
Terri Decker, born and raised in Santa Monica, recently retired after 45 years of retail banking. She began volunteering as a teen and has been active in many local charitable and civic organizations and has served on many nonprofit boards over the years. Currently she is board president of No Limits for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children, the organization which nominated Decker for the award and where she volunteers many hours each month.
Barbara Inatsugu has been involved in the community since moving here from Hawaii in 1982. She has been active in PTA, locally and at the state level, for all of the years her children attended Santa Monica schools and in 1992 she joined the League of Women Voters of Santa Monica where she has been very active locally and also on the state level. The League nominated Inatsugu for the award from the Human Relations Council Santa Monica Bay Area.
“The HRC is pleased to honor two remarkable women, Terri Decker and Barbara Inatsugu who embody the mission of the HRC and one that we strive for in our daily lives. This recognition of their volunteerism and dedication to our communities is overdue and we look forward to celebrating with their family, friends and peers,” stated Stephanie Cohen, chair of the 2019 Mark J. Benjamin Community Impact Awards.
The goal of these awards is to recognize individuals who, through their behavior and commitment, are role models for a respectful and socially just community and whose involvement with community organizations as a volunteer contributes to and impacts building an inclusive community.
The awards presentation will take place on Wednesday, September 11 at the Santa Monica Bahá’í Center, 3102 Colorado Boulevard, Santa Monica. Street parking is available along with parking at the Westside Christian Fellowship Church.
There will be a buffet dinner at 6:00 pm and the awards presentation begins at 7 p.m. The free event is open to the community, but RSVPs are required. Please RSVP to:
https://markbenjaminawards2019.eventbrite.com.
The Human Relations Council Santa Monica Bay Area is a non-profit organization that promotes a culture of fair treatment, inclusion and equal access to opportunities. It is led by an all-volunteer board of directors who represent residents, business, non-profit organizations, faith congregations and local government.
Submitted by Donna Gentr
The Human Relations Council of the Santa Monica Bay Area (HRC Santa Monica) has announced the recipients of the 2019 Mark J. Benjamin Community Impact Awards. The two individuals will be honored on, September 11, at 6 p.m. at the Santa Monica Baha’i Center.
Named after long-time HRC Santa Monica board member and former Morley Builders CEO Mark J. Benjamin, the award recognizes those individuals who volunteer their time to promote understanding among diverse people, take actions that make a difference and demonstrate compassion for others. They are “ordinary people doing extraordinary things” in the community.
The 2019 Mark J. Benjamin Community Impact Award recipients are Terri Decker and Barbara Inatsugu, both nominated by nonprofit organizations on the Westside, Culver City and Santa Monica, respectively.
Terri Decker, born and raised in Santa Monica, recently retired after 45 years of retail banking. She began volunteering as a teen and has been active in many local charitable and civic organizations and has served on many nonprofit boards over the years. Currently she is board president of No Limits for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children, the organization which nominated Decker for the award and where she volunteers many hours each month.
Barbara Inatsugu has been involved in the community since moving here from Hawaii in 1982. She has been active in PTA, locally and at the state level, for all of the years her children attended Santa Monica schools and in 1992 she joined the League of Women Voters of Santa Monica where she has been very active locally and also on the state level. The League nominated Inatsugu for the award from the Human Relations Council Santa Monica Bay Area.
“The HRC is pleased to honor two remarkable women, Terri Decker and Barbara Inatsugu who embody the mission of the HRC and one that we strive for in our daily lives. This recognition of their volunteerism and dedication to our communities is overdue and we look forward to celebrating with their family, friends and peers,” stated Stephanie Cohen, chair of the 2019 Mark J. Benjamin Community Impact Awards.
The goal of these awards is to recognize individuals who, through their behavior and commitment, are role models for a respectful and socially just community and whose involvement with community organizations as a volunteer contributes to and impacts building an inclusive community.
The awards presentation will take place on Wednesday, September 11 at the Santa Monica Bahá’í Center, 3102 Colorado Boulevard, Santa Monica. Street parking is available along with parking at the Westside Christian Fellowship Church.
There will be a buffet dinner at 6:00 pm and the awards presentation begins at 7 p.m. The free event is open to the community, but RSVPs are required. Please RSVP to:
https://markbenjaminawards2019.eventbrite.com.
The Human Relations Council Santa Monica Bay Area is a non-profit organization that promotes a culture of fair treatment, inclusion and equal access to opportunities. It is led by an all-volunteer board of directors who represent residents, business, non-profit organizations, faith congregations and local government.
Submitted by Donna Gentry
