Pacific Palisades Community Council to Honor Fire Recovery Leaders at Annual Gala
The Pacific Palisades Community Council (PPCC) will recognize individuals and groups who demonstrated extraordinary leadership and resilience following the 2021 Palisades Fire at it’s annual Holiday Dinner & Awards Gala on Thursday, December 11th, at Spruzzo Restaurant & Bar in the Palisades Highlands. the event, which quickly sold out due to limited seating, will begin with a champagne reception and passed appetizers at 6 p.m., followed by a three-course dinner with complimentary wine.
Celebrating Community Resilience
This year’s awards focus on acknowledging remarkable service in the aftermath of the wildfire that impacted the community in May 2021. https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/palisades-fire-burns-hundreds-of-acres-in-pacific-palisades/2439991/
Citizen of the Year: Jim Cragg
Jim Cragg will be named Citizen of the Year for his instrumental role in establishing the Palisades Long Term Recovery Group. His efforts coordinated emergency relief and built upon his decades of volunteer work with American Legion Post 283. https://www.palisadeslongtermrecovery.org/
Golden sparkplug Awards: Jessica Rogers & Maryam Zar
The Golden Sparkplug awards will be presented to:
* jessica Rogers: Recognized for spearheading the installation of Flock license-plate reader cameras at key entry points to enhance community safety. https://www.flocksafety.com/
* Maryam zar: Honored as the founder of the Palisades Recovery Coalition and for organizing neighborhood visioning workshops aimed at rebuilding a safer community. https://palisadesrecovery.org/
Pride of the Palisades Award: Chuck Hart & Team Palisades
The Pride of the Palisades award will be shared by:
* Chuck Hart: Acknowledged for his heroic efforts in saving properties and clearing debris during and instantly after the fire.
* Team Palisades: The volunteer network credited with creating the widely utilized Block Captain system, which facilitated information dissemination and mutual aid throughout the community.
New “awesome Advocates” Award: Sue Pascoe & Spencer Pratt
A new award, “Awesome advocates,” will be given to:
* sue Pascoe: Recognized for her consistent reporting on the fire’s impact, both before and after the event. Pascoe is a long-time local journalist and publisher of the Palisades Post. https://www.palisadespost.com/
* Spencer Pratt: Honored for bringing national attention to the disaster and advocating for recovery assistance through his social media platform. https://www.instagram.com/spencerpratt/
Special Commendations for Youth and Local Journalism
At its November 13th meeting, the PPCC also issued special commendations to several individuals for their post-fire contributions:
* William Chapin: An Eagle Scout recognized for his service.
* Julia and Leo Wolfberg: Siblings commended for their “Cards for Kids” initiative, providing support to children affected by the fire.
* Sarah Shmerling: A local news editor acknowledged for her coverage of the recovery efforts. shmerling is the editor of the Palisades News. https://www.palisadesnews.com/
Tickets for the gala are no longer available. The PPCC’s annual gala serves as a vital possibility to celebrate the strength and unity of the Pacific palisades community and to acknowledge those who have gone above and beyond in times of crisis.The PPCC continues to support long-term recovery efforts and encourages residents to stay informed and engaged in community initiatives. https://www.ppcc-ca.org/
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