SAN DIEGO – As part of its ongoing commitment to cultural diversity and responsible banking, Union Bank, N.A., partnered with KPBS to honor 16 local individuals including two individuals from the LGBT community who are making a difference to enrich the lives of others. The honorees were announced throughout 2012 as part of the Cultural Diversity Partnership, which recognizes and pays tribute to local heroes from eight diverse communities, and the year-long celebration of diversity culminated with a ceremony and reception Feb. 5, at the San Diego Natural History Museum. Recipients were formally recognized for their work that helps improve not only their local communities, but the region, the nation and the world.
The 2012 LGBT Pride Month honorees were Larry “Tito” Baza, current executive president of the San Diego Democratic Club and board member of Honor Pac (a statewide Latino LGBT political action committee), and Jeri Dilno who currently serves on the board of directors for LGBT Pride and is member of both the City’s Balboa Park Committee and the San Diego County Democratic Central Committee.
The other 2012 Local Heroes recognized were: JiAel Brownell and Bishop Roy Dixon (Black History Month); Michelle Houle and Dr. Doris A. Howell (Women’s History Month); Dennis-Michael Broussard and Mike Kawamura (Asian Pacific American Heritage Month); Jill Borg Spitzer and Gussie Zaks (Jewish American Heritage Month); Michael A.V. Cruz and Danny Gutierrez (Hispanic Heritage Month); Louis Frick and Laurel Moorhead (Disability Awareness Month); and Patricia A. Dixon and Leroy Elliott (Native American Heritage Month).
“Diversity and inclusion are an important part of our Union Bank heritage, and we are proud of our Local Heroes program in partnership with KPBS that celebrates cultural diversity in our communities,” said Union Bank Senior Executive Vice President Pierre P. Habis, head of Community Banking. “The program shines a spotlight on the accomplishments of extraordinary individuals, and we are thrilled to honor them with the recognition they deserve.”
The host for the evening was Kathi Diamant, an award-winning actor, author, broadcaster and adjunct professor at San Diego State University.
