A city councilman gives $300,000 from his pension to charity. A former teacher turns a failing school into the nation’s first independent charter school. Others rolled up their sleeves to help San Fernando Valley children, women and disabled adults.

For nearly six decades, the Fernando Awards Foundation has each fall honored the Valley’s top philanthropist or community volunteer.

This year, it nominated 13 civic leaders for its prestigious Fernando Award, which will be conferred at a black-tie gala Sept. 24 at the Globe Theater at Universal Studios Hollywood.

“I feel that we are moving in the direction of diversity, in terms of the type of people being nominated,” said foundation President David S. Honda, a recipient of the 2009 Fernando Award. “I’m excited that the nominees come from the northeast San Fernando Valley to the southwest.

“I feel these are true leaders in every category of public service, from law enforcement to education to 4-H and horsemanship.”

Each year, the Fernando Award honors a Valley-area resident for a lifetime of civic, philanthropic and volunteer work in what’s been long dubbed the Academy Award of Volunteerism. Finalists are judged on their volunteerism and support of charitable, cultural, religious groups and service organizations.

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