Announcing the 2017 Tri-Valley Heroes

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The Tri-Valley Heroes panel of judges have selected the recipients for the 2017 awards, which are bestowed on residents who are making contributions to better our communities and their residents.

This is the sixth year the Pleasanton Weekly and DanvilleSanRamon.com have recognized local unsung heroes with the award program.

The awards will be presented Oct. 23 at the DoubleTree Hilton, 7050 Johnson Drive in Pleasanton.

Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and the presentations will begin at 7:15 p.m. If you would like to attend to honor a recipient, please email Gina Channell at gchannell@pleasantonweekly.com with the number of people planning to attend.

Sponsors of the 2017 Tri-Valley Heroes awards program are Monterey Private Wealth, Robert Half, Harrington Art Partnership, ChiroSports USA, Crown Trophy, DoubleTree by Hilton Pleasanton at the Club and San Ramon Arts Foundation.

This year’s recipients are:

Arts & Culture: Gary Winter, Pleasanton – From miniatures of buildings to artwork made from nails to the Zwirl spiral football, Gary Winter is a master artist, designer and inventor. He has works in a dozen museums, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! Museum in Florida and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley.

Community Spirit: San Ramon 150 co-chairs Gary Alpert and Heidi Kenniston-Lee, San Ramon – As the volunteer co-chairs of San Ramon 150, Gary Alpert and Heidi Kenniston-Lee have coordinated everything associated with the year-long celebration of San Ramon’s sesquicentennial that included a lecture series, San Ramon birthday party for residents of all ages, an exhibit at the San Ramon Valley Museum and a multi-cultural event. The co-chairs participated in dozens of events and meetings to raise funds and promote the program.

Courage: Bob Coomber, Livermore – An avid hiker since childhood, “4 Wheel Bob” Coomber did not limited mobility to take his passion from him. He estimates he has logged thousands of miles in his wheelchair, traversing everything from smooth park paths to rocky mountain passes throughout California. He has been inducted into the California Outdoors Hall of Fame in 2007 and recognized by the George W. Bush administration with a President’s Council on Physical Fitness Community Leadership Award. He now leads “adventure” hikes for the East Bay Regional Park District. Half of his hikes are on a flat trail with easy access, perfect for those with limited mobility, and the others are more challenging.

Environmental Stewardship: Jill Buck, Pleasanton – In the early 2000s, Jill Buck introduced an environmental education program, Go Green Initiative, to her daughter’s Pleasanton school. The organization now reaches every U.S. state and 73 countries, with more than 1.5 million students and teachers currently in registered Go Green schools. Last year she introduced a program in Pleasanton that pairs high-schoolers with community leaders to give young people opportunities to affect change in their communities.

Innovation: Jasmine Steele, Danville – As a junior at San Ramon Valley High School, Jasmine Steele created a smart phone application, “Allergy Blast,” to help people easily and quickly share allergy and medication information. The app won the 2016 Congressional App Challenge for U.S. Rep. Mark DeSaulnier’s (D-Concord) 11th Congressional District and went on to represent Contra Costa County in Washington.

Rising Star: Madeleine “Maddy” Wang, Pleasanton – Fifteen-year-old Madeline “Maddy” Wang, a Foothill High School sophomore, finds ways to help the young, the elderly, the ill and the four-legged. She established the This Side Up Foundation to raise funds for Donor Network West, a non-profit located in San Ramon that facilitates organ and tissue donations, through selling specially designed t-shirts, hosting CPR and first-aid classes and by promoting the annual Donate Life Run/Walk. She plays piano at the Sunol Creek Memory Care Center to entertain the elderly, and is active in the Spectrum of Science, where she is a volunteer aid in science classes for elementary and junior high students. She also bakes dog treats to raise funds for Coppers Dream Animal Rescue.

Role Model: Barbara Proctor, Pleasanton – Barbara Proctor is 82 years young and touches the lives of people of all ages through her volunteer work. Known as “GG,” short for “Gorgeous Granny,” by the second-graders she reads to, Barbara is a Booklegger for the Pleasanton Public Library, visiting classrooms to promote independent reading among elementary and middle school-age children. She also provides child care for mothers at Tri-Valley Haven and Shepard’s Gate women’s shelters. She is also a dedicated Meals on Wheels driver, providing meals and companionship to local seniors.

Lifetime Achievement: Dolores Bengtson, Pleasanton – Dolores Bengtson has shared her passion for the outdoors with Tri-Valley residents throughout her career and into her retirement. She began working for the City of Pleasanton as a swim instructor, eventually becoming head of the swimming programs at the aquatic center that now bears her name. In 1979, as the director of the city’s parks and recreation program, Bengtson developed the policy of planning neighborhood parks within a half-mile of most residences as well as larger community parks to serve everyone. She also literally “blazed trails” by gaining permission to open up the trails beside local arroyos and canals, between neighborhoods, along the western ridge, and around the municipal golf course. After her retirement in 1998, Bengtson continued as a trail advocate and guide. Bengtson has also been part of many groups that have helped shape Pleasanton and surrounding communities.