More than 200 Valley business and community leaders were on hand at this year’s Fernando Award Foundation’s gala as the 2025 Fernando Award recipient was announced to be longtime community advocate Armida Colmenares-Stafford.
With heartfelt applause and guests cheering, Colmenares-Stafford was presented with her award by 2024 Fernando recipient Sue Du Brin.
According to the LA Daily News, the Fernando Award is widely regarded as the highest honor for volunteer leadership in the San Fernando Valley. Since the award was established in 1958, close to 700 Valley residents have been recognized as nominees and more than 60 Valley leaders have been named Fernando recipients. The names of the award recipients are engraved on a Fernando monument at Van Nuys Civic Center as well as on a marble obelisk at Warner Center Park.
The black-tie event, held at Skirball Cultural Center, was sponsored by The Gelb Group, Mike’s Roofing & Building, the Tierra del Sol Foundation, Galpin Motors and LA City Council Member Bob Blumenfield.
Colmenares-Stafford, who is first vice president of Columbia Bank, was selected from a distinguished group of finalists including Dennis DeYoung, Steve Fazio, Jorge Rabaso and Sharon J. Udkoff. The 2025 Fernando Nominations & Selection Committee was comprised of chairman Lee Alpert and members Zedar Broadus, Mark Levinson, Christy Vega and Zev Ashkenazi. The secret ballots, voted on by board members, past recipients, sponsors and more than 50 Valley chambers of commerce and non-profit organizations, were tabulated by the Woodland Hills-based accounting firm of Anderson, Satuloff, Machado & Mendelsohn.
Nominated by The Valley Economic Alliance and the Annenberg School of Nursing, Colmenares-Stafford currently chairs both organizations. She also serves on the Proxy Parent Foundation board, supporting Californians with developmental disabilities. As the first Latina chair of the United Chambers of Commerce, she led the organization for a record four-year term. Her accolades include the UCC Inspirational Women Award (2023) and recognition by the Los Angeles Business Journal as one of the Valley 200 Most Influential Leaders since 2021.
“Armida’s unwavering belief in the power of education and connection has transformed lives and strengthened our community,” said Fernando Awards Foundation chair Vahid Khorsand.
“Being honored with the Fernando Award means so much to me because I now join a family of outstanding, dedicated San Fernando Valley volunteer legends who have shaped our community for good with their love and dedication,” said Colmenares-Stafford.
Colmenares-Stafford and the Fernando finalists were joined by this year’s Impact Award honorees.
Launched in 2018, the Fernando Foundation’s Impact Awards have become part of the organization’s tradition to highlight community leaders.
“The Impact Awards recognize individuals, organizations or businesses who demonstrate outstanding achievements in community engagement, volunteerism and leadership,” said Fernando Foundation Impact Awards Committee chairman Mark Levinson. “2025 has been a history-making year so we are especially recognizing our city’s heroic first responders together with a select group of our community leaders. This year’s honorees are the Los Angeles County Fire Department, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the Los Angeles Fire Department and the Los Angeles Police Department in addition to attorney Fred Gaines, publisher Kathleen Sterling, Galpin Motors and community advocate Waltona Manion.”
The Impact Awards subcommittee included Lee Kanon Alpert, Sue Dubrin and Diana Sanchez.
The 2025 Impact Award citations were as follows:
- The Los Angeles City Fire Department – Recognized for their remarkable valor, skill and tireless efforts during the January 2025 fires.
- The Los Angeles County Fire Department – For their teamwork and bravery during the January wildfires.
- The Los Angeles Police Department – For their courageous service and dedication during the wildfires and civil unrest.
- The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department – For their heroism and service during the January fires when they helped protect lives and property.
- Fred Gaines, Gaines & Stacey LLP – Former twice-elected Calabasas mayor and civic leader for his dedication to public service.
- Galpin Motors – Honoring Galpin and Galpin president Beau Boeckmann for continuing the 80-year Boeckmann family legacy of philanthropic support for local nonprofits.
- Kathleen Sterling, Valley News Group – An award-winning journalist for her long-term commitment to community service and local news reporting since 1982.
- Waltona Manion, Waltona Manion & Associates – Community organizer and advocate for her support of local schools, disaster preparedness and senior feeding services.
The event was organized by a committee led by Chair Pegi Matsuda with Tim Vints, Lee Kanon Alpert, Susan DuBrin and Mark Levinson.
The foundation also awards annual scholarships to high school students who exemplify volunteerism. This year, the Fernando scholarship committee chaired by Bruce Miller and Mark Levinson and joined by David Honda awarded $12,000 in scholarships to local students.
The 2025 Fernando board members include Chair Vahid Khorsand, Vice Chair Diana Sanchez, Secretary Susan Du Brin, Treasurers Bruce Miller and Marco Santana, Sarah Horvet, Susana Gomez, Albert Hernandez, David Honda, Marian Jocz, Don Larson, Mark Levinson, Jane Skeeter and Mel Wilson.