NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., June 25, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- The Junior League of Orange County, California, Inc., (JLOCC), has honored Stephanie Paggi, deputy superintendent of the Tustin Unified School District, with the Kathryn Raulston Community Service Award. The award is given to a Junior League sustaining member whose commitment to the community sets an outstanding example for other volunteers. It was established in honor of the first president of the Newport Harbor Service League (NHSL) who served the organization from 1956 to 1958.
During her 26 years of membership in the JLOCC, Paggi rose to the position of president (1998-1999). Her work with JLOCC projects resulted in the development of the Family Campus for the Boys and Girls Club of Garden Grove and the creation of the Boys and Girls Club of Capo Valley. Paggi also contributed to raising the awareness of child abuse through her participation in "Touch the Future One Child at a Time," a collaborative program with Cal State Fullerton. She has been responsible for the Santa Ana Zoo Garden of Hope, which pays tribute to children who have died as a result of child abuse. Her work on the JLOCC State Public Affairs Committee for the California Junior Leagues resulted in the creation of private funding programs that contributed over $300,000 in the form of grants, awards and scholarships to teachers, principals and students. Paggi also served as sustaining advisor to the JLOCC board of directors (2004-2005). Past President Kathleen Hill notes, "Thanks to her amazing gift of organization, Stephanie was instrumental in helping the board to develop annual goals and a new strategic plan. She is a mentor, confidante and lifelong friend."
Paggi also makes a difference in the lives of the children in Orange County through her position as deputy superintendent for the Tustin Unified School District where she is known as a leader who not only leads by example, but also with heart. District Director of Elementary Education Kathie Nielson says that Paggi "combines skills as a gifted problem solver with fierce loyalty to serving children as she leads educators in the Tustin Unified School District. She has cultivated a strong team and community. Through her leadership, she shows us not only how to dream and believe, but how to turn our vision into reality for the students of Tustin."
During her tenure as a teacher with the Huntington Beach Elementary District, Paggi also gained the admiration of her colleagues; Principal Margaret Sanders noted that "What's best for kids is not a timeworn cliche, but a guiding value by which Stephanie made decisions on a daily basis." In the Garden Grove Unified School District, Paggi re-opened Carillo Elementary School where the instructional program was recognized by the California Business Roundtable.
Paggi's commitment to volunteerism also has led her to serve as president of the Trojan Junior Auxiliary, on the Scholarship Development Committee for the Los Angeles Societa Bosconero, as a board member for the Los Angeles Cancer Detection Center, and as president of the Association of California School Administrators Region XVII, to name just a few.
She is the recipient of numerous awards and honors including the Association of School Administrators "Administrator of the Year for Curriculum and Instruction," the Board of Supervisor's Proclamation for "Outstanding Contributions to the Children of Orange County," the Huntington Beach City School's Board of Trustees "Outstanding Service to Children" award, the ACSA's "Partners in Excellence" Award for Disneyland Fine Arts Partnership, and the "Red Rose Award" for outstanding volunteerism presented by Junior League of Orange County, CA, Inc. Paggi is an Honorary Life Member of the National Congress of Parents and Teachers.
Funds raised annually by the JLOCC are used to benefit charitable projects including the Orange County Bar Assn. Project Foundation, Orange County Children's Therapeutic Arts Center, Casa Teresa Inc., Girls Inc., Bridges to Higher Learning, and Bear Hugs. The organization also awards thousands of dollars in grants and scholarships each year. As a solely educational and charitable organization, the JLOCC's trained volunteers actively support the community through collaboration with organizations that promote and support the health, safety and education of women and children.
About the Junior League of Orange County, California, Inc.
The Junior League of Orange County, California, Inc. is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving the community through the effective action and the leadership of trained volunteers. JLOCC has contributed to Orange County by helping found organizations such as Orangewood Children's Home, and the Volunteer Center of Orange County, among others. JLOCC's purpose is exclusively educational and charitable. A 501(c)(3) organization, the JLOCC reaches out to women of all races, religions, and national origins. Originally founded in 1956 as the Newport Harbor Service League, the JLOCC is a member organization of the Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc. To learn more about the JLOCC, call (949) 261-0823 or visit www.jlocc.org.