Save the date, Feb. 21, as the YWCA Gardena Valley celebrates its fifth annual Crimson Awards by honoring the accomplishments of three women prominent in their fields of endeavor.
Entrepreneur Kathleen Barbosa of Burnt Tortilla, Community Activist Deidra Seto of Hawai'i's Daughters Guild, and Healthy Start Coordinator Jane Tokubo at 186th Street Elementary School will be this year’s Crimson honorees.
Accomplishments
Save the date, Feb. 21, as the YWCA Gardena Valley celebrates its fifth annual Crimson Awards by honoring the accomplishments of three women prominent in their fields of endeavor.
Entrepreneur Kathleen Barbosa of Burnt Tortilla, Community Activist Deidra Seto of Hawai'i's Daughters Guild, and Healthy Start Coordinator Jane Tokubo at 186th Street Elementary School will be this year’s Crimson honorees.
Accomplishments
Kathleen Barbosa, in food service for 40 years, dreamed of bringing to Gardena Mexican food prepared with the freshest of vegetables. She fulfilled that dream with the opening of a restaurant, followed by a take out, a second restaurant, and her 2013 opening of the Burnt Tortilla Restaurant and Sports Bar.
Of her 55 employees, five cooks have been with her for more than 30 years, and some of her serving staff have 15 to 20 years on their resume.
Service at the Burnt Tortilla is exemplary, her fans say. “From the moment you walk into Kathleen's restaurant, you feel the pride and warmth with which they serve their customers,” a friend said.
Deidra Seto, affectionately known as Aunty Dee, works tirelessly to perpetuate the Hawaiian culture and heritage, and the true Spirit of Aloha, entertains and visits convalescents in and around the Gardena, Long Beach and South Bay areas.
Other efforts include coordinating the Beaumont and Alondra Ho'olaule'a, preparing the Kalua Pua'a at the San Diego and Alondra Ho'olaule'a, handling the annual set-up, tear-down and storage of food booths and cooking equipment with her husband, Matthew K. Seto.
Believing in the value of higher education, Seto prepares all the Kaulua Pua'a for the annual (HDG) Hawai'i's Daughters Guild Scholarship luaus, which attract more than 300 guests at the Nakaoka Center.
Jane Tokubo's Healthy Start at 186th Street Elementary School is nothing short of extraordinary, offering programming both unique and imaginative, fellow workers say. Service to her community is diverse and extensive as are her awards and commendations.
To name just a few: She is Incorporating Officer of the GHS Art Collection Inc., a member of Harbor Gateway Gang Task Force, President of Gang Alternative Program (GAP), Treasurer and Director for (DAAP), Director and founding member of the 186th Street School Boosters Club, and Founder of the very popular Kodomo No Gakko, a Japanese Heritage Camp at 186th Street School, California State PTA Outstanding Unit Award, Gardena Valley Lions Community Recognition Award, and PTA Honorary Service Awards from 186th Street Elementary School and Peary Middle School.
The 5th Annual Crimson Awards will take place Friday, Feb. 21, starting with No Host Bar 6 to 6:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Torrance. The welcome ceremonies are planned from 6:30 to 6:45, followed by dinner and the evening program.
Reservations are available for $500 table of 10, $100 for a couple, and $50 individuals, due on or before Feb. 18; black-and-white ad space for the Commemorative Program are $500 for full page, $260 for half page, $130 for a quarter page, and $65 for business card, due on or before Feb. 10.
Choice of Entrees are Steak w/mushroom Sauce, Filet of Salmon or Veggie Primavera Pasta. For additional information or to RSVP, visit director Jane Sunahara at the YWCA Gardena Valley office at 1341 W. Gardena Blvd., Gardena. Or call 310-327-5356.
