Kids & Family

Citizen of the Year and Volunteers Honored at the City of Laguna Niguel Appreciation Dinner

Submitted by Ron Perrella:

Every year the City of Laguna Niguel hosts a Volunteer Appreciation dinner to show gratitude for the many individuals who provide volunteer services to the City on various Committees, Commissions and Boards as well as in special group activities that provide direct support to City Departments. 

As part of the Volunteer Appreciation Dinner, the Citizens of the Year Committee presented the nominees for the Citizen of the Year.  The Laguna Niguel Citizen of the Year Award was established in 1990 by local service organizations to honor those who have demonstrated outstanding voluntary service by giving of their time and talents. By doing so, they have made Laguna Niguel a better place for all of its residents. This year the Citizen of the Year Committee received 11 nominations from individuals and local service organizations.

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The following individuals were nominated for 2012 Citizen of the Year: Rich Encinas, Nancy Kurtz, Ron Langer, Bill Leber, Audrey Miller, Fred Minagar, Ann Elizabeth Myer, Steve Rettig, Peggy Schwartz, Sandy Simonson and David Tuma.

The resident selected to receive the honor of 2012 Citizen of the Year is Nancy Kurtz.

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Nancy is a 40-year resident of Laguna Niguel, who has been giving back to this community as long as she has lived here.

In the 70’s and 80’s, Nancy was president and longtime member of the Laguna Niguel Woman’s Club.  She served for several years on the Community Council’s Park’s Committee who worked on Laguna Niguel’s park development. In 1984 she founded “Citizens for a Safer Crown Valley Parkway” which became the Traffic and Safety Commission for Laguna Niguel’s Community Council. Her work in this area brought much needed attention to the need for completed sidewalks and bike lanes, as well as formalization of a “Safe Route to School”. She was also a dedicated member of the City Incorporation and participated in the 3-year “Save Sea Country” effort which led to a successful City incorporation in 1989.

In the 90’s, prior to retirement, Nancy volunteered at St. Timothy’s Catholic Church and the Laguna Niguel Family YMCA (then known as the South Coast YMCA).

After her retirement from the teaching profession, Nancy continued her work as a volunteer, including her most recent efforts as Chair of the Archiving Committee of the recently established Laguna Niguel Historical Society. Nancy devotes countless hours collecting historical pieces and she is responsible for recruiting and training volunteers to contribute to this endeavor.

Nancy’s philanthropic contributions to Laguna Niguel’s culture and history make her the model recipient of this prestigious recognition.

Nancy was presented with resolutions from the Laguna Niguel Mayor Robert Ming and members of the City Council, Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, State Senator Mimi Walters and Assembly Woman Diane Harkey.


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