Moraga 'Citizen Of The Year' Named, Fete To Follow

MORAGA, CA — The Citizen of the Year committee has named Moraga’s 46th Citizen of the Year, recognizing her wide-ranging leadership in education, civic celebration, and public safety.

Organizers selected Ana Moon for her record of mobilizing residents, building coalitions, and delivering tangible outcomes that have shaped the town.

Ellen Beans said Moon built her reputation through nearly a decade of work with the Moraga Education Foundation, where she served in multiple leadership roles, including president and director of communications. She led fundraising efforts that generated millions of dollars for local public schools. In 2024, she spearheaded the Measure D campaign, which secured $52 million for critical school infrastructure improvements.

The committee said Moon also played a central role in Moraga’s 50th Anniversary celebration. She conceived and produced a community cookbook that compiled hundreds of local recipes alongside pieces of Moraga history. The project not only documented the town’s culture but also raised funds to support the anniversary festivities, said Beans, herself a former recipient of the award.

Earlier in her service, committee members said Moon stepped into a leadership role during local discussions on gun safety in 2015. She worked with residents and officials to build consensus, contributing to the Town Council’s adoption of a safe gun storage ordinance.

Colleagues and community members point to Moon’s ability to identify gaps, bring stakeholders together, and push initiatives forward with persistence and creativity. Her work consistently connects vision with execution, turning ideas into measurable community benefits. That goes for everything from cook books to gun safety legislation.

Moon said she grew up in Pleasanton and settled in 2010 with her family in Moraga. "We felt like we found home," she said.

A self-described "do-er and giver," Moon said she began volunteering for the Moraga Education Foundation, sat on the board for 10 years, and then became a co-executive director.

But she said it feels strange to be singled out as Citizen of the Year because much of the work the honor represents was done collaboratively. Moraga, she added, is a place where people work together to serve the community and shape the town.

Even the process of selecting an individual is, in itself, a celebration of community, she said. "It's not about that one person, but about everyone working together—building community through the process."

At times when she needed support, the community came together to help. "That's just the kind of community Moraga is."

The Measure I parcel tax on the June 2 ballot is the next campaign to tackle. "It's another way we come together to support the schools," Moon said.

The community will honor Ana Moon at a celebration on April 26, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Moraga Valley Presbyterian Church. Tickets for the reception and program are available at www.MCNMoraga.org.