Hills’ volunteer work earns Citizens of The Year honors
2019 Citizens of the Year Pam Barrett Hill and Jim Hill. Photo by James Lin
Pam Barrett Hill and Jim Hill were recognized as the Citizens of the Year, Ride to Fly and Los Serenos de Pt. Vicente received the Community Service Organization Award and the Peninsula Education Foundation (PEF) was named Non-Profit of the Year during a sold-out dinner at Terranea Resort last Saturday.
“Honorees always worry about what to say at the podium, but once they start speaking, they express such passion that suddenly there’s perfect clarity about their work,” said Ann Sidler of the Chamber Commerce, which hosted the “Rooted in Palos Verdes” dinner at Terranea Resort. Last Year’s Citizen of the Year Les Fishman emceed the evening.
Community Service Organization Award recipient Gail Grove with 2018 Citizen of the Year Les Fishman and Palos Verdes Chamber of Commerce CEO Eileen Hupp.
The Hills were recognized for their support of many different charitable organizations, including the Palos Verdes Performing Arts Center, where they serve on the board. During theater performances, the couple works behind the stage on lighting and in front of the stage as ushers. They also support the Bravo, Encore Circle, Act II, and the Affinity Group, which supports Las Candalistas.
Los Serenos de Pt. Vicente and Ride to Fly were recognized for their respective 35 years and 25 years of service to the community. Los Serenos volunteers serve as docents at the Interpretive Center and for other nonprofit environmental organizations. They teach visitors about the history of the Peninsula and our unique coastal ecosystems. The group is also instrumental in preserving the Peninsula’s coastal environments.
Ride to Fly helps special needs children form therapeutic bonds with animals through horsemanship. The group secures donated barn usage and borrows riding equipment for children and adults. Ride to Fly offered over 1,200 lessons last year to 120 clients.
The Peninsula Education Foundation, led by Christine Byrne and Kristin Curren, has helped fund Peninsula schools for 40 years. “With a track record of providing over $49 million to directly benefit our schools, we are confident that PEF will surpass the $50 million mark this year,” Byrne said.
The evening ended with a tribute performance for the Hills of “Goodnight, My Love,” from the 1936 Shirley Temple movie “Stowaway,” by the 17-piece Fabulous Esquires Big Band.