HONOREES

2008 Honoree



Senator John Burton
Senator John Burton has been one of the most effective leaders in the State of California over the last 40 years. He began his career as a deputy attorney general before his election to the State Assembly in 1964. He was then elected to Congress in 1974 and returned to private life in 1983. In 1988, Burton returned to the State Assembly and then moved on to the State Senate in 1996, becoming President Pro Tempore in 1998 until his retirement in 2004. The cumulative impact of his leadership is significant. While in the State Legislature, Burton focused on a range of issues including access to care, mental health and the prevention of violence and substance abuse. A longtime supporter of violence prevention, Sen. Burton's advocacy ensured that juvenile crime prevention programs received historic levels of support.

During his 40 years of public service, including terms in the U.S. Congress, the California State Assembly, and the California State Senate, Burton was a champion of California's most underserved populations. Although he retired as President Pro Tempore of the Senate in 2004, Burton's commitment to Californians continues as the volunteer chair of the John Burton Foundation for Children Without Homes. Through this project, Burton is seeking to address broad changes in the child welfare system relating to foster care.

Special thanks and congratulations to past Honorees and Outstanding Youth.

Honoree
Senator John Burton

Outstanding Youth
Dylan Ruggles
Perry Jones

Honoree
The Editorial Board of the San Francisco Chronicle

Angel Award
Henry Breen

Outstanding Youth
Naveh Pilate
Felipe Collin

Honoree
Shannon Chain

Outstanding Youth
Omar Turcios
Samantha Mitchell
Nadiyah Shereff
Cassandra Mitchell

Honoree
David Inocencio

Outstanding Youth
Teresa Fulford
Arnisha McCall
Sean Tanner

Honoree
Honorable Katherine Feinstein

Outstanding Youth
Ahmed Alnaif
Mitchell Salazar, Jr.
Tamika Marie White
Joseph Wydler
Ronald Turner

Outstanding Youth
David Jefferson
Charles Lam
Jennifer Tamplin
Kareem Erwin

Honoree
Jack Jacqua

Honoree
Michael Pritchard

Honoree
Honorable William "Bill" Gargano