Colton’s Unforgettable Hearts Shine

On Friday, Feb. 13, the unforgettable giving hearts of Colton were honored. Three Colton individuals and businesses were honored during the fourth annual Unforgettable Hearts award ceremony, held at the historic Fox Event Center in downtown Redlands the day before Valentine’s Day, as The Unforgettables Foundation recognized the heartfelt services these awardees – who were among 53 total individuals, businesses and organizations from the Inland Empire honored in four separate groups – provide for their community. Tommy and Maria Ramos of Shawnee’s Smile, Paul Sandoval of Taco Joe’s and Michelle Kapuscinski of Fiesta Village were this year’s Colton awardees who were honored alongside others from the cities of Fontana, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga and Rialto. The event opened with a welcome from The Unforgettables Foundation Founder Tim Evans and recognition of sponsors by TUF Chairwoman Eileen Hards. This year’s special guest speaker was Sen. Mike Morrell, who helped Evans start the annual Unforgettable Hearts awards four years ago. “Mike and I created this event four years ago to thank people. That was the simple goal,” Evans told the crowd. “This is an opportunity to thank the people in our community. There are so many people who do so much for others.” Over four years, Evans shared, the annual event has now honored over 200 individuals, companies, organizations, charities and families who have helped their communities through their service, whether financial or otherwise. Sen. Morrell touched on the importance of service in his special guest speech. He quoted a 1630 speech given by John Winthrop, the first governor of the Massachusetts colony, saying it was man’s duty to “do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with our god, for this end we must be knit together in this work as one. We must entertain each other in brotherly affection… we must delight in each other, make others’ conditions our own, rejoice together, mourn together, labor together and suffer together. That is a lot of what you do for our community,” Morrell said. Redlands Mayor Pro Tem Jon Harrison welcomed the full house of attendees to the city of Redlands, saying, “Welcome to Redlands. It’s my pleasure to welcome you all here to this fantastic event for The Unforgettables. I met Tim many years ago when he was part of a very small group of caring hearts getting this organization started… seeing this large group here today is really heartwarming for me to see the vision and the caring that he brought forth.” Fontana Mayor Acquanetta Warren led the invocation; Highland Mayor Pro Tem Penny Lilburn led the Pledge of Allegiance; Abbey Umali, a 2015 Hearts award recipient, performed the National Anthem; and Brenda Lorenzi and Stan Morrison were this year’s masters of ceremonies. Tommy and Maria Ramos accepted the award for their organization, Shawnee’s Smile, created out of the experience and challenge of having a child born with a cleft palate. Shawnee’s Smile aims to bring a smile to other families also affected. The Ramos family has championed the organization and helped dozens of others in honor of their daughter Shawnee. Paul Sandoval, owner of family-owned Taco Joe’s, accepted the award this year for the business. For over 25 years, Taco Joe’s has served Colton residents and others with their amazing food, warm hospitality and their famous salsa. In 2010, Sandoval took ownership from his mother and continues to run the business while giving back to the community he calls home: Taco Joe’s is an active member of the Colton Chamber of Commerce, works with the Colton Police Officer’s Association’s K9 fundraiser, donates to several cancer funds, donates meals to families in crisis as well as the business community, and participates in car wash fundraisers, toy drives, community team and individual athlete sponsorships. Michelle Kapuscinski, owner of Colton’s Fiesta Village, was also honored. With a long history of involvement with family recreation, Kapuscinski has worked throughout the country in the business. She spent six formative years working with Scandia amusement park in Ontario and for the last 12 years has been the owner and president of Colton’s 10-acre family fun park Fiesta Village, known for its customer service and family ambiance. The Unforgettables also presented its annual Summer Austin award, presented by Judy and John Austin, parents of Summer Austin who died in an accident 18 years ago at 20 years old, to Tom Pernice Jr. Charities, for donating over $100,000 to TUF over the years. At Friday’s event, Tom Pernice Jr. Charities donated another $35,000 to TUF with a special check presentation. Pacific Life Foundation was also presented with the Unforgettable Summer Austin Award this year, which has contributed over $20,000 in grants to TUF and over $84 million to community and national nonprofit organizations since 1984. The Orange Belt Funeral Directors, Cemetery and Crematory Association was the third honoree with this award, partnering with TUF in several events through the years including golf tournaments and other community awareness events, while also working to benefit low income families and aiding other charity care cases every day. Additionally, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians was the inaugural recipient of the Unforgettable WeCare award, presented by TUF and Wescom Credit Union. WeCare is the charity arm of Wescom Credit Union, helping give $10,000 to TUF over the last 10 years. The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians was recognized for their outstanding contributions to TUF over its 15 year history, giving over $100,000 in total to the organization. Other special recognitions included Joanie Morrell, wife of Sen. Mike Morrell, for her support of her husband and the communities he represents; the presentation of TUF’s Volunteer of the Year award to TUF board member Stan Morrison, a retired basketball coach, former UC Riverside athletic director, life coach and current senior vice president at Security Bank in Riverside; and the awarding of the Doctor of the Year award to Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital forensic pediatrician Dr. Amy Young, who received this title at TUF’s 2014 Lights for Little Lives event.