SAN MATEO, CA – DECEMBER 11, 2020 – The San Mateo County Event Center and Fairgrounds announced today that it is being honored with the 2020 Children’s Leadership Award presented by 4C’s of San Mateo County, to celebrate local champions of the early care and education field.
Event Center CEO Dana Stoehr, and Parking Operations Manager, Justin Aquino will receive the Community Partnership Award on behalf of the San Mateo County Event Center for efforts in assisting childcare providers regarding emergency supplies. This award comes on the heels of the Event Centers’ ongoing commitment to avail itself as a community resource, most recently with the Samaritan House Holiday Program and continued support of San Mateo County COVID testing.
“When the pandemic hit, and the shelter-in-place orders were issued, childcare providers needed emergency supplies (masks, gloves, sanitizers, other PPE) to remain in compliance with health orders and to protect the health of children, families, and staff to the greatest extent possible. 4Cs, First 5, and the County all worked to procure supplies for our child care providers and other community partners who work with families and children,” shared David Fleishman, Executive Director of 4C’s of San Mateo County. “Dana Stoehr and the entire Event Center team has been responsive and solutions-oriented at every turn, and there have been a lot of turns. When I asked Dana what the Event Center needed to implement all this, costs-wise, her response was, “Just tell us what you need.” This was all being done pro-bono to help the community. It was then that I learned that the San Mateo County Event Center is a non-profit organization and that Dana was the first woman Executive Director in its almost century-old history.”
“Childcare providers located throughout the county have limited free time. Our ability to deliver directly to them was received with so much gratitude. It has been my pleasure to be involved with such a vital agency in our community “, said Justin Aquino, who, with Nesh Pal and a volunteer from the SMC Office of Education, spent many hours on the frontlines making over 600 deliveries of 7,000 items to County families.
“The San Mateo County Event Centers’ mission is to serve our community in times of crisis and celebration,” says Dana Stoehr Event Center CEO. “It’s been a very rewarding experience to give back.”
The event will be virtual this year and will be held from 7 – 8 pm. Tickets can be found here: 2020 Children’s Leadership Awards Tickets, Wed, December 16, 2020 at 7:00 PM | Eventbrite
