CAMARILLO —United Way of Ventura County raised a record net profit of $75,000 at its recently rebranded Spirit Awards Gala. “We are thrilled by the outstanding result and this sets the pace of our campaigns that kicks off next month,” said United Way President & CEO Eric Harrison.
Hank Lacayo
The 12th annual Spirit Awards Gala honored Mr. Hank Lacayo, United Way Board Member, with its Lifetime Achievement Award, Thursday, August 25, 2016, at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley. Along with Mr. Lacayo receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award, past United Way Chairman Jessie E. Hawkins was awarded the Milton M. Teague Award for Outstanding Volunteerism, Jennifer Harkey received the Douglas Shively Award for Outstanding Community Impact and Wells Fargo received the Roy Pinkerton Award for being the Top Corporate Citizenship.
The event was an incredible evening of local, statewide and national leaders coming together to celebrate in Hank Lacayo’s honor. Special remarks were made by past United Way board members, Supervisor Kathy Long, Simi Valley Mayor Bob Huber and Dr. Richard Rush. During the VIP reception in the Overlook Room, U.S. Rep. Julia Brownley spoke about her interactions with Hank throughout the years. One comment that Brownley had stated at the reception was overwhelmingly powerful, “When I think of Ventura County, I think of Hank Lacayo, and when I think of our country, I think of Hank Lacayo.”
The evening proceeded with dinner and 2 powerful videos, one being of Hank and his political growth in the community and one being United Way’s programs and how the community can help and bridge our community together. If you would like to see either video, please go to these links.
Hank Lacayo video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=db0Ep8giYtM
United Way video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dyOl_3aUWA
United Way of Ventura County was established in 1945. The organization is working to Advance the Common Good by focusing on the areas of Education, Income and Health – considered the building blocks for a good life. United Way’s goal is to create long-lasting changes that prevent problems from happening in the first place. For more information about United Way’s new LIVE UNITED strategy, please visit www.vcunitedway.org.