Rancho Cordovan of the Year, Julie Hagan-Belka. Photo courtesy of Cordova Community Council

RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - An arts group paying it forward, a pair of Red Cross volunteers who have responded to hundreds of Rancho Cordovans in distress and a Boy Scouts leader whose contributions span decades are among the outstanding volunteers to be honored during the 24th Annual Community Volunteer Awards hosted by the Cordova Community Council on March 8.

Top award of the night will go to Julie Hagan-Belka, a lifetime resident of Rancho Cordova whose philanthropic reach includes the Rancho Cordova Police Activities League, Easter Seals of Superior California, Rancho Cordova Food Locker, Cordova Community Council, and numerous others who benefitted from the charitable golf tournament she created. She will be honored as “Rancho Cordovan of the Year,” an award reserved for those who have made extraordinary contributions to the community over a lifetime.

Efforts by the Church Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to assist refugees in Rancho Cordova and a dedicated driver delivering meals to seniors for more than a decade are also on the list of honorees.   

“This is the time and place for us to honor and celebrate that which makes Rancho Cordova truly a great All-America City – our outstanding volunteers,” said Cordova Community Council President David Sander. “It is inspiring to hear their stories of selflessness and commitment to the community and a great reminder that we all have something to offer to our great city.”

Nine volunteers and organizations will be honored at “Volunteer Treasures,” a pirate-themed party and awards ceremony.  Visit www.cordovacouncil.org/community-volunteer-awards for tickets.

Honorees will include:

Rancho Cordovan of the Year: A Cordova High graduate and dedicated booster of her hometown, Hagan-Belka will be honored for a shining list of charitable accomplishments, including founding the Rancho Cordova Community Golf Classic which raised more than $300,000 for local charities in five years.

Distinguished Community Service Organization: Rancho Cordova Arts, a non-profit organization of visual artists, will be honored for an astonishing array of community contributions, including raising more than $30,000 over the past four years to purchase art supplies for teachers in Rancho Cordova schools through their Mini-Masterpieces fund-raising event.

Distinguished Community Service Individuals: Terry Sanford and Patty Cicogni of Rancho Cordova are both managers of a Red Cross Disaster Action Team which, in responding to residential fires, provides immediate assistance to those displaced by disaster. In the past three years, this team has responded to 32 disasters in Rancho Cordova and assisted 107 persons whose health, safety, and property were impacted by the fires or flooding, and installed over 300 smoke alarms for senior residents of Rancho Cordova. Sanford is a leader in Sacramento County as "Volunteer in Chief" for all Red Cross disaster volunteers and Cicogni’s dedication to the disaster mission has topped 12,000 hours earning a significant award from her employer for inspiring others to serve their communities.

Outstanding Service to Youth: Marshall Stewart.  A dedicated Boy Scouts leader for more than 40 years, leading scouts in countless community events and activities, Stewart is also active in the restoration and preservation of the American River Grange Hall in Rancho Cordova.

Distinguished Service by a Faith Community: Church of Latter-Day Saints Refugee Outreach Project. Activating a core program of the church worldwide, the local effort centers around outreach and supplies to Afghan refugees who arrived in Rancho Cordova.  From this humble beginning a Rancho Cordova Refuge Resource Fair grew, providing resources and links to new arrivals from around the globe ranging from Ukraine to Afghanistan.

Distinguished Community Business Partner: River City Rentals.  This local business is being honored for generous support of community events, particularly the popular Heartstoppers Haunted House, which raises funds for charitable organizations. 

Outstanding Teen Service:  Van Merrill.  Cordova High School student Merrill has racked up hundreds of volunteer hours at school and community events and has been an ardent advocate for underserved students while serving as the student representative on the Folsom Cordova Unified School District Board of Trustees.

We Could Not Have Done It Without You: Roy Jones.  Jones has volunteered as a delivery driver for Meals on Wheels Sacramento County for over 10 years providing a lifeline for his participants who are isolated, frail, and homebound in Rancho Cordova. He is a vocal advocate helping Rancho Cordova residents get connected with local services to support them through life threatening emergencies, including quick thinking that saved a Rancho Cordova life.

The Community Volunteer Awards will feature a pirate-inspired dinner, awards program, and celebration at Rancho Cordova City Hall.  The spectacular theme-party event opens at 6 p.m. on Friday, March 8 and is open to the public.  All tickets must be purchased in advance at www.cordovacouncil.org.  Tickets are also on sale at the Cordova Community Council office in Suite 117, Rancho Cordova City Hall.  For more information visit www.cordovacouncil.org or call JR Sterba at 916-273-5715.