We are delighted to announce the YWCA Glendale’s 2020 Heart & Excellence Award Honorees. We invite you to join us for our 23rd Annual Legacy Luncheon on April 15th, where we will pay homage to the 100th anniversary of women’s right to vote by recognizing trailblazing women from Glendale, Burbank and Pasadena who have made significant gains to advance the rights of women and girls:

Technology Award

Ani Torosyan, CEO, Dish Divvy

Ani Torosyan is the CEO and co-founder of DishDivvy, a Los Angeles-based food tech startup that provides a platform for local, talented HomeCooks to connect with nearby neighbors, who are seeking wholesome, homemade food. Ani launched the company about 18 months ago here in Glendale, with the mission of helping folks in the community eat better, by tapping into the age-old tradition of homemade food for solving the modern-day ‘what’s for dinner’ dilemma.

Young Woman Award

Hasmik Burushyan, Community Outreach Coordinator, Glendale Armenian American Grassroots Advocacy (ANCA)

Hasmik Burushyan is an undergraduate student at UCLA majoring in Political Science and a community organizer. Through her involvement in the Armenian Youth Federation and other volunteer non-profit organizations, she shows a commitment to social justice, including the advancement of all women and girls. Hasmik works on political campaigns, organizes community events, and supports media campaigns, all with the goal of ensuring that the voices of women and other marginalized peoples are recognized.

Environment Award

Monica Campagna, Green Team Captain, Franklin Elementary and Core Member, Glendale Environmental Coalition

Monica Campagna is the former Artistic Director of TRIP Dance Theatre, with a decades long background in contemporary dance, choreography and teaching. In the last decade; however, she has dedicated herself to volunteerism and activism in the field of environmental sustainability, promoting clean energy solutions for the City of Glendale as a core member of the Glendale Environmental Coalition and tending a 3-acre all California native plants campus as Green Team captain at Franklin Elementary. At Franklin, Monica continues to work with other parent volunteers and GUSD staff on waste reduction initiatives including establishing the school district’s first organics sorting for off-site composting program, a school wide vermi-composting program and helping to promote programs to reduce food waste and single-use plastics on campus.

Racial Justice Award

Phyllis Kim, Executive Director, Comfort Women Action for Redress and Education (CARE)

Phyllis Kim was born and raised in South Korea, before immigrating to California with her family in 1990. Phyllis joined the campaign to pass House Resolution 121 that urged the Japanese government’s accountability for the military sexual slavery, the so-called “Comfort Women” issue, in 2007. Phyllis stayed in the movement to continue the work through building memorials in Glendale and San Francisco and including this history in California 10th Grade World History framework. Phyllis is currently the executive director of Comfort Women Action for Redress and Education.

Arts & Culture Award

Suzanne Weerts, Burbank Arts Commissioner

Suzanne Weerts is the Founder and Creative Artistic Director for JAM Creative, a storytelling group committed to bringing diverse voices to the stage to connect communities while supporting local charities. Suzanne has served as a mentor with Young Storytellers and a Speaker Coach for TedX Pasadena Women. As a writer, she has shared her stories on stage at Story Salon, WORD NOW!, Expressing Motherhood, Storytime, Breaker/Broken, Off My Head and in several festivals. A longtime Arts and Education advocate and member of the Board of Directors for the Burbank Arts For All Foundation, Suzanne was recently appointed to the Burbank Cultural Arts Commission and chairs the city’s Utility Box Beautification Project.

Business & Industry Award

Tamika Farr, Executive Director, El Centro de Amistad

Tamika Farr is a strategically-focused executive director with over 10 years of nonprofit executive management experience, who earned a master’s degree in business administration. Tamika is committed to leveraging her business acumen to garner resources for marginalized communities. Her aptitudes and knowledge were honed in highly regarded agencies such as Rosemary Children’s Services, YWCA Pasadena-Foothill Valley, and El Centro de Amistad.

Community Impact Award

Teresa Rivera, Mental Health Supervisor, Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health

Teresa Rivera is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) currently working with underserved, vulnerable populations experiencing chronic mental illness with the Los Angeles Department of Mental Health. Teresa began her career in Social Services in 2005 as a Case Manager with the Salt Lake City YWCA Domestic Violence Shelter. Over the last 15 years, she has dedicated her career to advocacy and social justice in different capacities using a social worker lens, through street outreach, therapy and community organization to promote education on the impact of unresolved trauma and to reduce the stigma of mental illness.

Special Recognition

Suzonne and Randy Slaughter

Suzonne Slaughter is the partially-retired owner of California Financial Works. A Glendale resident for over 40 years, she is deeply committed to uplifting our community. She is Past President of both the YWCA Glendale Board and USC Verdugo Hills Hospital Women’s Council, and currently a Member of Las Candelas, Glendale Soroptimist, and Kiwanis. As a financial industry professional for 25 years, she has served as President of several local and state insurance and financial advisors associations. She also co-founded ASTER, a nonprofit organization serving seniors.

Suzonne’s partner in humanitarianism is her husband, Randy Slaughter. After a significant career in the entertainment industry as an independent theatre owner and film distributor, Randy has devoted his time to community-based service. He is involved in several local non-profits including the Glendale YWCA, Glendale Salvation Army, The Alex Theatre, Glendale Arts and the Kiwanis Club of Glendale, where he is currently serving as President under his theme “Lights, Camera, Action, Kiwanis Continues to Care!” A Vietnam Veteran, Randy is also a dedicated member of the Evan Survivors Association.