Good Neighbors 2024

Each year, the Community Living Campaign honors San Franciscans who volunteer their time and care to make their neighborhoods better places for us to age and thrive together. They are some of the many neighbors who contribute to vibrant communities all over our City.  Join us in  celebrating the impact these Good Neighbors working with us have had throughout San Francisco. Together, we are keeping our neighborhoods vibrant and connected.

• Advocacy: Chinese Crochet Team – SinHing Lee, ManYi Ma, Jinzhu Liang, FangYu Li, Susie Chen, RuiYuan Lim
• Bayview Grocery Network – Mary Cerutti
• Cayuga  – Steve Indig
• Chinese Community Connectors – Emily Lee
• Computers & Access, Chinese – WanLing Ma
• Computers & Access, English – Nathalie Soler
• Crocker Amazon  – Mo Ling Sit
• Inclusion & Access/Sidewalk Search Party – Blandina Bello Hernandez
• Inner Sunset- Millie (Milagros) Cenidoza
• Midtown Terrace – Evangeline Villanueva
• Miraloma Park – Jennifer Okano
  
• Miraloma Park – Ferruccio Morassi
• OMI Grocery Network – John Glen
• Park Merced Grocery Network – Orlando Trevinio
• Potrero Hill – Ruth Carsch
• SF Reserve – Paul Hickman
• St. Francis Square – Sylvia Lew
• Sunnyside Community Connectors – Marilyn Koehler
• Senior Power – Diane Lawrence

Read about some of this year’s good neighbors below and watch this year’s videos.

Advocacy: Chinese Crochet Team – SinHing Lee, ManYi Ma, Jinzhu Liang, FangYu Li, Susie Chen, RuiYuan Lim
.These people are really a big help for the crochet project. This year, they’ve helped crochet many Forget-Me-Not flowers, beautiful faux flowers that we gave to city decision-makers to remind them to “Forget us Not” during budget time. We also gave them as gifts to our donors at our annual event this year. We are greatly indebted to the fine craftsmanship of the flowers and for their help during a hard budget year. 

Bayview Grocery Network – Mary Cerutti
The Bayview Home Delivered Grocery Network honors Mary Cerutti, a dedicated volunteer who helps ensure that seniors and people with disabilities in Bayview get fresh fruits, vegetables, and proteins each week. We are very grateful for all she does

 

Cayuga  – Steve Indig
The Cayuga neighborhood is honoring Steve Indig, an active member of the Neighborhood association (including a lot of planning for the recent fall festival). He regularly cleans Alemany and our stairway and offers valuable tech help to many of our neighbors. Thank you, Steve!

 

Chinese Community Connectors – Emily Lee
We are thrilled to recognize Emily Lee as our Good Neighbor. A dedicated, long-term volunteer, Emily has been part of our Cultural Exchange program for nearly three years, teaching English classes every Wednesday. Her commitment and care are evident in the strong relationships she’s built with her students, who can truly feel her dedication to their success and her deep connection to the community. We are honored to have Emily’s passion and hard work as part of our program and proud to celebrate her as our Good Neighbor.

Computers & Access, Chinese – WanLing Ma
WanLing is truly a good neighbor and an incredible help to all those around her. She consistently offers her support to neighbors with their technology challenges, often visiting their homes and working with me over the phone to assist them. WanLing is always encouraging her neighbors to keep learning, patiently guiding them through any difficulties. Thanks to her efforts, several of her neighbors are now able to join our online computer class, continue developing basic tech skills, and stay connected with family and friends through their phones.

Computers & Access, Chinese – Nathalie Soler
We are delighted to recognize Nathalie Soler as this year’s CLC Computers & Access–English Good Neighbor Award recipient. As a dedicated Health Science student at the University of Florida, Nathalie shares her enthusiasm for education and technology with the CLC community by volunteering to teach both our Translation Tools and Recipes classes. Through her Translation Tools class, Nathalie patiently guides learners step-by-step through platforms like Google Translate and Microsoft Translator, helping to break down language barriers and create meaningful connections. In her Recipes class, she introduces participants to a variety of recipe sites, sparking culinary creativity and helping people find dishes to suit any taste or occasion. Nathalie’s commitment to building a welcoming and inclusive digital learning environment makes her an invaluable Good Neighbor to the CLC community.

Crocker Amazon Community Connectors – Mo Ling Sit
Ling is a quick-thinking leader and valued member of the CLC community, particularly in the Excelsior and Crocker Amazon neighborhoods. Known for her generosity and humility, she became a standout volunteer during the pandemic, offering help at Crocker Connector events and consistently bringing warmth and positivity to the community. Originally from Canton, China, Ling’s compassion shines through her behind-the-scenes work, especially in food preparation for Crocker Potlucks and ensuring smooth event setups and cleanups. Her infectious energy and leadership, such as her standout role at the 2023 Sunday Streets booth, have made a lasting impact, helping to keep the community engaged and connected.

Inclusion & Access/Sidewalk Search Party – Blandina Bello Hernandez
We proudly nominate Blandina “Blandi” Bello Hernandez as this year’s Good Neighbor for her dedication to the Sidewalk Search Party. Blandi has devoted countless hours crafting paper ducks that we use to mark and identify unsafe sidewalks throughout the city. Her work brings much-needed attention to the sidewalk challenges that make it difficult for people with disabilities to navigate San Francisco. Thank you, Blandi, for your invaluable contribution!

Inner Sunset – Millie (Milagros) Cenidoza
Millie Cenidoza is a dedicated Good Neighbor for the Inner Sunset Community Connectors program in 2024 and has been an integral part of our community since its inception. A regular participant in our exercise classes, Tai Chi sessions, and walking groups, Millie is always welcoming new faces and encouraging others to join. She goes out of her way to check in on homebound neighbors, offering support and suggesting ways to grow our community. Her kindness, generosity, and enthusiasm shine through in every interaction, whether it’s helping others on field trips, offering assistance with public transit, or providing much-needed support. Born in the Philippines and having moved to San Francisco in 1972, Millie worked tirelessly as a financial analyst while raising her son, who now has children of his own that Millie helps care for. A parishioner at Saint Anne of the Sunset, Millie is a beloved presence in the Inner Sunset, effortlessly making aging look as graceful and easy as a morning walk around the block, always with a wave and a smile for her neighbors.

Merced Extension Triangle (METCC) – Gin Moon 
Gin is METCC’s Good Neighbor this year for good reason. Almost without fail, he brings a food contribution (fruit, eggs, etc.) every week to share at our Tuesday Exercise + Social. He offers without being asked to take another participant home after our social hour. Gin’s generosity enables the participant’s husband (who drops her off) to stay home or play golf after his Tuesday morning task. Always helpful in class, Gin wears a smile and stays to socialize. There’s a range of good neighbors’ styles, and Gin’s style includes contribution, participation, and saying “yes” to some of the programs and services offered by the Community Living Campaign.

Midtown Terrace – Evangeline Villanueva
Midtown Terrace Senior Exercise is proud to announce the recipient of the CLC 2024 Good Neighbor Award: Evangeline Villanueva. We all know and love Evangeline as the Office Manager of the Forest Hills Christian Church, the site of the weekly exercise program. Without a doubt, our program would not run as smoothly without her consistent support and fulfilling our many special requests. She is the master of unconditional support. Her rapport and ability to get along with everyone reflect her strong faith and commitment to Forest Hills Christian Church. Her generosity of time and energy captures the spirit of Forest Hills Christian Church. Evangeline accomplishes great things with her relaxed nature and kind heart. She is responsible and always reliable. Today, we recognize our unsung hero, our hidden gem, our super-quiet superhero, and thank her for all she has done for us.

Miraloma Park – Jennifer Okano
Jennifer Okano is a church administrator at Cornerstone Trinity Baptist Church (CTBC) on Teresita Blvd. and has served the church for many years.  CTBC was originally established in the Sunset district in 2001 and moved to the Miraloma neighborhood in November 2011.   Jennifer was raised in the Richmond district and has lived and worked in San Francisco all of her life. Jennifer enjoys meeting, getting to know, and serving her Miraloma neighbors in the community through church partnerships with various Senior events.  These neighborhood partnerships include the CLC Senior Exercise group, the annual Tea Party, the MIP clubhouse clean-up, various ministry programs such as the neighborhood Beautification (community clean-up),  the annual Mission 4:19 Middle Schoolers/Seniors bingo and board games event, and the annual Trunk or Treat to name a few.  Jennifer feels blessed with the many opportunities to always meet her neighbors, encourage one another, and extend God’s love and faith to her Miraloma neighbors. 

Miraloma Park – Ferruccio Morassi
Ferruccio has been a volunteer since 2015. He comes from a background of serving people, being friendly, and having a great sense of humor. He has been in the hospitality business for 40 years, including owning a restaurant in Petaluma, CA. Ferruccio realizes the importance of helping in all areas of the Miraloma Community whether it’s a day of exercise, a special event, or just showing up no matter what.  He has helped in the kitchen, serving and greeting for our potlucks, tea parties, or any other event. He is great at calling Bingo, as he has lots of experience on cruise ships. Our connectors enjoy his personality and get a kick out of his humor—he has not lost his accent yet! We are thankful to have him as a volunteer and wanted to thank him as a good neighbor.

Potrero Hill – Ruth Carsch 
Good Neighbor,  Ruth Carsch, has been a dedicated participant in our programs since we launched in the winter of 2022. She has been a constant presence in our Chair Yoga Class and has actively participated in numerous events, including our Clothing Swap, Community Cookie Party, and Stroke Presentation and Luncheon. Ruth has even stepped in to lead the Chair Yoga class when the instructor was delayed. A retired reference librarian from the San Francisco Public Library, Ruth also has experience as an educator and consultant. Born in London, she moved to the U.S. at the age of four and was raised and educated in New York. She relocated to San Francisco in the early 1970s and has been a cherished member of the community ever since.  

SF ReServe – Paul Hickman 
Paul was one of the first members of the Emergency Preparedness team at CLC, having joined in March 2022.  He is so friendly and charming, some folks have called him “the face of CLC”.  Before joining CLC, Paul was at Felton Family Service Agency for 12 years, and prior to that, spent eight years working at St. Anthony’s.  Paul is originally from Boston. Paul is  a bright light for so many people, always reaching out, connecting and making every space he graces a better place to be. He is a role model for how to work hard with care.

St. Francis Square – Sylvia Lew 
Sylvia Lew has been the secretary and administrator for St. Francis Square Housing Co-op since 2001, and our choice for Good Neighbor this year. Though not officially a neighbor in that she does not live here, she fits a different definition of neighbor as a person who shows kindliness and helpfulness toward others beyond what she is required to do. And her tasks are many– secretary and communications central for almost 300 apartments, the liaison among: cooperators; the Board of Directors; the housing manager, maintenance workers, and outside service workers; mail and package deliveries; and the office itself, and much more. She speaks Cantonese and Mandarin and facilitates communication with our monolingual Chinese households. She is so nice to everyone, diplomatic, and genuinely kind. No matter how much she has on her workday plate, she is good-humored, attentive, and unhurried to every one of us. She does so many extras for us—if something is left hanging, she helps see it through from home after hours. We are so fortunate to have such a caring person looking out for us all.

Omi Grocery Network – John Glen
It was a unanimous decision to select John Glen as Good Neighbor of 2024. John has lived in the OMI community for over 50 years and has always been a blessing to the OMI Neighbors. In the early years, John would provide free labor for tune-ups, oil changes, and brake jobs for seniors in the neighborhood. John has been volunteering with the HDGP from the onset; Deloris McGee recruited him to deliver groceries along with Ned Reese. In August 2022, John had an accident on his motorcycle and suffered a TBI and a broken ankle. After three months in the hospital and intense therapy, John has resumed his role of volunteering at the HDGP and with our extended community events. The CLC-OMI staff and volunteers would like to thank John for his continued services.

Park Merced Grocery Network – Orlando Trevinio
The Park Merced Home Delivered Grocery Network honors Orlando Trevinio, a dedicated volunteer who helps with packing and deliveries to ensure that Park Merced seniors and people with disabilities get healthy foods twice each month. Thank you, Orlando.

Sunnyside Community Connectors – Marilyn Koehler
Sunnyside Connectors is delighted to honor Marilyn Koehler for all she does to contribute to the Sunnyside Community. A dedicated member of the group, she helps create a welcoming environment and is always willing to help. Thank you, Marilyn.

 

Senior Power – Diane Lawrence
Diane has many talents, which she has generously shared with San Francisco, the Sunset District where she lives, and our District 4 program, Senior Power. She has many accolades, including being the President of the Advisory Council to the Commission for SF Dept. of Disability & Senior Services (DAS). Despite this grave responsibility, Diane has been a friend and supporter of Senior Power since before its inception in September 2018. She was always there with suggestions, advice, and in many cases, “boots on the ground” as she attended meetings and worked at various activities, including street fairs and festivals. Not only has Diane promoted the resources of DAS and its many programs, but she has selflessly patronized and promoted The Adventures of Rob Raven, our book on climate change. Without missing a beat, she would swing into the benefits of belonging to the Senior Power, with its meetings and newsletter, as well as the Community Living Campaign organization as a whole, while promoting the DAS Hub and advising individuals of the various agencies in place to help our seniors and persons with disabilities. Her tireless efforts and enthusiasm have been a bonus for me, and I am proud to call her a friend. She is long past due for this recognition, and I am pleased to nominate her.