Story By Kristina Hernandez | Redlands Daily Facts
REDLANDS — Assemblyman Marc Steinorth, R-Rancho Cucamonga, has named Heidi Mayer his Woman of the Year.
Mayer serves as the executive director of YouthHope, a nonprofit organization in town which serves at-risk teens and young adults with a myriad of services. She started the nonprofit in 2009 as a grassroots organization with the intent to help those served move forward and exit street life.
“This is so unexpected and great,” Mayer said by phone. “(Steinorth) wanted to do this so he could get the word out about this problem in the country, state and in our local community. And to me, that’s what is super exciting about this. It is really cool to have someone support us and know the issue is real.”
YouthHope serves hundreds daily, including those in need within the borders of the Redlands Unified School District. According to the nonprofit, out of 21,333 students in the district, close to 4,000 are homeless.
Mayer hopes Steinorth’s honor will bring more exposure to the cause.
“What we are doing is working, and if we can take this award and have it help other cities, that would be really cool,” she said. “We just want to keep growing and reach these youth before we lose them.”
Steinorth’s office named five finalists among the nominations received in a news release with Mayer taking the top honor.
Joining Mayer are:
• Anne Viricel, an adjunct professor at the University of Redlands and executive director for the San Bernardino Symphony. She also serves as the Area 7 Trustee for the San Bernardino Community College District, a position she was appointed to in December 2015.
• Barbara Rich, a trustee of the Board of the Central School District and longtime substitute teacher and volunteer reading mentor.
• Marissa Congdon, an assistant professor in special education/autism at Cal State San Bernardino and an organizer of the annual DisAbility Sports Festival at the university. The festival serves more than 900 kids with disabilities participating in competitive sports activities with their peers.
• Pamela Brynes-O’Camb, city clerk and housing coordinator for the city of Loma Linda and secretary to the city’s successor agency, housing authority and oversight board. She is also on the board of the directors of the Pregnancy Resource Center in San Bernardino.
“There were so many incredible women nominated for Woman of the Year who have made a positive impact on the lives they serve. It was very difficult to select our finalists,” he said in the release. “Heidi Mayer’s commitment to the homeless youth in our community and creation of YouthHope is the type of big hearted and civic minded achievement we should all strive for. I am honored to help raise awareness of her work and the work of all of the finalists.”
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Story By Kristina Hernandez | Redlands Daily Facts
Reach the author at Kristina.Hernandez@inlandnewspapers.com or follow Kristina on Twitter: @TheFactsKris
