Community Leadership

BY JUDY ABEL PHOTOS BY SAMANTHA BRAVO

Local women who have made a personal impact on the community with their good deeds were honored by the newly combined Malibu Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce. About 200 people gathered for a luncheon at Duke’s restaurant in November to congratulate the honorees and, for many, to reunite with friends they hadn’t seen since the start of the pandemic.

Malibu’s Mona Kyle received the Women in Philanthropy Award for her many years of service in bringing education to children in Kenya. The longtime education advocate recently returned from volunteering in Africa. “The problem with writing checks or donating money is that, too, the philanthropy ends there. The check is entered into the checkbook with little more thought given to the person or organization that’s supposed to benefit from the gift.” She repeated a phrase heard in Kenya, “What more can I do?”

Pacific Palisades physician Dr. Patricia McDermott was honored with the Women in Health Award for her 40 years of service locally. She apologized to those in attendance who she “had taken a COVID swab from,” adding a little levity to the program.

Ashley McCreary received the Andy Cohen Safety Award, named after the late Malibu resident who served on the city’s Safety Commission. McCreary works for the security company International Protective Service.

“Security and law enforcement is mostly male,” she commented. “It’s a challenge, but it’s amazing.” The mother of three youngsters and cancer survivor said she’s lucky to show her girls “strength and perseverance.”

The Pacific Palisades Community Service Award was given to Marissa Hermer, owner of the Draycott restaurant in Palisades Village. Hermer stepped up during the height of the pandemic with a GoFundMe titled, “You Give, We Cook, They Eat.” She raised thousands of dollars in donations. Her staff was able to make meals for some of the most vulnerable during the coronavirus pandemic; first responders, medical workers, and the elderly. Hermer personally delivered the meals to hospitals and wherever needed to help stressed out workers during their exhausting workloads.

The Malibu Community Service Award went to Siugen Constanza, who has tirelessly worked for decades, often behind the scenes, for the benefit of children, the Latino community, senior citizens, and the community as a whole.

“I love to give back, and I love to make a difference,” Constanza commented. “Malibu is a great community that always is there for each other.” She asked, “If we as adults aren’t role models for kids, where are they going to learn about it? Especially nowadays.”

Kelly Furano of Aviator Nation Dreamland in Malibu was awarded the Women Breaking Barriers Award for her entrepreneurship.

And the Lifetime Legacy Award was given to Ellen Shane, who created the Emily Shane Foundation. Created in honor of her daughter, who was killed on Pacific Coast Highway 12-years ago, the foundation provides middle school students in underserved communities with individual tutoring and mentorship in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.

THE MALIBU TIMES ARCHIVES