Para los Niños named 2018 Citizen of the Year

Para los Niños named Burien’s 2018 Citizen of the Year
Posted on 03/14/2018

NEWS RELEASE

Burien, WA, March 14, 2018—On March 5, 2018, the Burien City Council selected the nonprofit organization Para los Niños as the 2018 Citizen of the Year. The Council received 14 submissions, the most nominations the City has ever received for the award.

“We at Para Los Niños are honored being named Burien’s 2018 Citizen of the Year,” says Lupita Torrez, executive director of Para Los Niños. “For the past sixteen years, we have organized Latino families to transform communities and create academic and life success for every Latino student in the city of Burien. We believe that when communities work together with respect for each other, we can create a better world for future generations.”

The Citizen of the Year award was established by Resolution No. 351, which states that either a person or organization can be nominated. Council choses an organization or individual for Citizen of the Year each year. The winners are chosen for their contribution to improving the quality of life in Burien.

Para los Niños will receive a framed proclamation signed by the mayor, a feature in the summer issue of the Burien Magazine, and will serve as grand marshal in the Independence Day Parade. The public is invited to honor the Citizen of the Year and our City volunteers at a small reception on April 2 at Burien City Hall at 6:30 p.m.

Past Citizens of the Year

  • 2017 - Larry Cripe (Quiet Skies Coalition) & Wendy Meyers-Wenger
  • 2016 - Cassidy Huff
  • 2015 - Eric Mathison
  • 2014 - Neighbors of Seahurst Park, Betty Olson Vaaca & Maureen Hoffman
  • 2013 - Michael Noakes & Donna DiFiore
  • 2012 - John Feeney

Other nominees

  • Bill Hastings
  • Don and Charlotte Berg
  • Hugo Garcia
  • Karen Tallant
  • Maggie Larrick
  • Maureen Hoffman
  • Nancy Salguero McKay
  • Rob Halpin
  • Scott & Theresa Schaefer
  • Scott Schaefer
  • Travis Thompson

About Para Los Niños

Para Los Niños is a grassroots community organization founded by members of the community it serves—the growing immigrant, Spanish-speaking population in South King County.

About the City of Burien

The City of Burien is a vibrant and creative community, where the residents embrace diversity, celebrate arts and culture, promote vitality, and treasure the environment.