Soroptimist International of Diablo Vista Honors Local Women

The Women of Distinction Luncheon was held March 28, 2012 at the Contra Costa Country Club. Soroptimist International of Diablo Vista honored eight women, three Women of Distinction, a Violet Richardson Winner, two Women’s Opportunity Award Winners, a Marie Broman
Award winner and the 2012 Woman of the Year. SIDV gave out $3,900 in awards and Scholarships.

  
The event was well attended and certificates were given to each of the women from Soroptimist International of
Diablo Vista, The City of Concord, The City of Pleasant Hill, The County Board of Supervisors, Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla, Senator Mark DeSaulnier and Congressman John Garamendi.

The City of Pleasant Hill Recreation and Parks District represented by Recreation Supervisor II, Tina Young was also presented with a check for $55,000.00. The monies will be used for furnishings in the new Community Center, Teen Center, and the Senior Center. 

The Woman of the Year, Ann Haruki-Pinedo was honored for making a difference through her work with the Monument Crisis Center, The Contra Costa Interfaith House and Returning Veterans. Ann helped Veterans through out the Bay area with the production of a film to reach out to the returning Veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. The film was produced by the Veterans Health Research Institute through the University of California, San Francsico. The DVD: “Welcome Home,” featured recently returned Veterans giving advice and guidance to other Veterans. Ann was the co-producer and all around assistant to filming and everything that goes into a complicated project like this. Her commitment to helping Veterans is inspired by her honoring her father, who was a member of the famed Japanese American soldiers of WWII that fought in Europe.

Bobbie Call was honored for making a difference through her fund-raising efforts for the cure of many diseases. Kathy Ramirez was honored for making a difference for the Homeless and feeding the needy. Diane Graham, a member of Soroptimist International of Diablo Vista was
honored for her work with Soroptimist and Rotary’s Innerwheel. 

Soroptimist International is an organization dedicated to assisting women and girls. Soroptimist aims to create
true social and economic equality of women and girls. Soroptimist International of Diablo Vista assists the community and donates to the Monument Crisis
Center, Shelter, Inc., STAND for families free of violence!, The Respite Inn, Pleasant Hill Recreation and Parks District and many other community projects.