NONPROFITS

Make-A-Wish Northeastern & Central California and Northern Nevada welcomes its newest member, Kathleen Price to the chapter staff as the Vice President of Development. In this role, Price will be leading efforts in the central California region to grant wishes for children battling critical illnesses. For more than a decade, Price has impacted the central California region by raising millions of dollars in funding to support various non-profit organizations. She joins Make-A-Wish after dedicating eight years to the EPU Children’s Center.

LEGAL

Michael F. Ball, a long-time partner at McCormick, Barstow, Sheppard, Wayte & Carruth LLP in Fresno, was inducted as a Fellow into the American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL) at its Annual Meeting in New Orleans on Sept. 29. He is one of three admitted at the meeting from California. The Fellowship honors trial attorneys for their advocacy in the courtroom, and, according to a press release from ACTL, “is composed of the best of the trial bar.”

EDUCATION

State Center Community College District Trustee Ronald H. Nishinaka has received the Outstanding Horticulture Education Award from the California Association of Nurseries and Garden Centers (CANGC). The Outstanding Horticulture Education Award is given to an individual, business, chapter, school or agency that has made significant contributions to a horticulture education program. Nishinaka was recognized for serving the industry in many capacities over his long career. For many years he headed up the horticulture department at Reedley College, training hundreds of students in the basics of the nursery industry. He was uniquely qualified to train the students, as he also owned Dinuba Garden Center.

Clovis Community College was named a 2018 Champion of Higher Education by the Campaign for College Opportunity organization. It was recognized for extraordinary work in awarding and implementing the Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT)

The National Council on Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR) has singled out West Hills Community College District for its marketing work during the past year with four regional marketing awards. The regional awards included two golds, one silver and one bronze.

NONPROFITS

The Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Central Valley’s 7th annual FORE! The House Golf Tournament raised $165,000 in support of its mission to provide a ‘home away from home’ and resources for families whose child is hospitalized at Valley Children’s Hospital. This is the 7th year that Cargill has hosted this major fundraising event in support of Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Central Valley. For the past 7 years of hosting the FORE! The House tournament in Fresno, Cargill’s support raised a cumulative $1 million for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Central Valley.

PARKS

Last Friday, the ‘Yes On P’ campaign hosted a press conference at Storyland in Roeding Park to celebrate its community endorsements and to announce David McDonald’s $400,000 contribution to the Measure P campaign. In addition to his financial support, Mr. McDonald has agreed to serve as an advisor to the Measure P campaign with the objective of closing out the election with a positive and engaging campaign similar to the efforts made to pass Measure Z, according to the campaign.

NONPROFITS

Wipfli LLP carried on its annual tradition of serving in the community by closing its doors for the workday to allow associates in offices across the nation – including the local Fresno office on Oct. 11, 2018 – to give back to their communities. The firm’s Fresno office associates came together to volunteer with Central California Food Bank “Feed the Need Food Drive” located at 4010 E Amendola Dr. in Fresno.

About Wipfli LLP.

HEALTH CARE

For the second year in a row, Valley Children’s Hospital has been named as a Best Children’s Hospital for 2019 by the Women’s Choice Award. The list of winners, including Valley Children’s, represents hospitals that have met the highest standards for childcare. The designation of Best Children’s Hospitals is based on a point system and self-reported data from children’s hospitals around the country. The selection criteria focused on five critical areas: Pediatric services, commitment to quality and patient safety, board-certified staff, family resources and technology.