MADERA – Camarena Health and Kern Family Farm will receive the Crystal Tower Award at the 16th annual Business and Education Shareholders’ Luncheon on August 27 sponsored by the Madera County Compact.
The Crystal Tower Award is given to businesses that have displayed exemplary career focused partnerships with schools in Madera Camarena Health was nominated by Elizabeth Puga at Madera South High School. Camarena Health has been a partner with the school for more than five years.
Camarena Health recently built a school based health center on the Madera South High School campus. They also provide opportunities for students including job shadowing, health career days, equipment donations, and has provided money to help Madera Unified focus on mental health issues.
Kern Family Farm was nominated by Michelle Dungan at North Fork Elementary School. Kern Family Farm has been a partner with North Fork Elementary School for the past 15 years.
Along with monetary donations, owner Hansel Kern volunteers all day in the school garden every Friday. This allows all students on campus to tend to various areas in the garden such as the greenhouse, vineyard, fruit trees, and garden crops. The garden now grows produce that is used in the cafeteria salad bar. The family store, The Gnarly Carrot, also donates snacks for the students.
The Business and Education Shareholders’ Luncheon will be held in the Madera County Superintendent of Schools’ Conference Center from 11:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m.
Tickets to the luncheon are $30 per person or $240 for a table of eight. Business and community members are encouraged to attend.
Angel Reyna, the new president of the Madera Community College Center, will be the keynote speaker.
Each year principals and superintendents from each school district in Madera County are encouraged to nominate businesses that have a strong relationship with their school for the Crystal Tower Award.
A review board from the Madera County Compact reviews the nominations and selects businesses they feel best exemplify the goal and mission of the Compact.
The Business and Education Shareholders’ Luncheon is hosted by the Madera County Compact. The luncheon is sponsored by Madera County Superintendent of Schools, California Health Sciences University, Camarena Health, First 5 Madera County, State Center Community College District, and The Specialty Crop Company.
The Madera County Compact is a coalition of business, community and education leaders working collaboratively to support efforts to improve the quality of life in Madera County.
The Madera County Compact promotes business partnerships with schools to improve the achievement levels and skills of students and prepare young people for the increasing demands of society and the workplace.
Please call Kristi Winter at 559-662-3873 for more information and to purchase tickets.
Past recipients of the Crystal Tower Award include A/Dolphin Associates, B-K Lighting, Bridge Store, Dr. Robert Brosi, Citizens Business Bank, Educational Employees Credit Union, Evapco West, JBT FoodTech, Greenleaf Orchards, Kings Valley Industries, Kuckenbecker Tractor, Madera Agricultural Services, Madera Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Mowers Plus, Madera Community Hospital, Movies Madera, Oakhurst Physical Therapy, Ozterity Lighting, Pacific Ethanol, Pete’s Sport Shop, Ponderosa Telephone, Rancho San Miguel, Round Table Pizza, Sierra Ambulance, Sierra Telephone, S & J Lumber, Tenaya Lodge, Valley Bowl, The Vineyard Restaurant, Vulcan Materials, and WestCoast Products & Design.
