【ANN NEWS, ARCADIA】
U.S. Rep. Judy Chu recently held the 2026 Congressional Leadership of the Year Awards ceremony in Arcadia, Southern California, honoring 10 outstanding individuals and organizations from California’s 28th Congressional District for their contributions in areas including community service, education, public service, business, journalism and youth development.
Chu said at the awards ceremony that this year’s honorees are “everyday leaders” in their communities, including educators, volunteers, community activists and small business owners who have made a difference in the San Gabriel Valley through their actions.
“I am proud to honor them, not only for what they have accomplished, but for the profound impact they continue to make in our communities every day,” Chu said. She added that the honorees’ service once again demonstrates the significant power of community engagement, helping others and individual action.
Among this year’s honorees are two distinguished individuals who have long been active in Southern California’s Chinese American community.
Pulitzer Prize-winning Chinese American photojournalist Ringo Chiu received the Building Bridges Award. Over the years, he has documented major news events across Southern California and the United States through photojournalism, including California wildfires, Black Lives Matter protests and immigration enforcement operations. Organizers said he has repeatedly taken risks to enter news scenes, documenting history through images, connecting different communities and fostering understanding and empathy during times of social crisis.
Veteran Alhambra Unified School District board member Robert “Bob” L. Gin received the Lifetime Achievement Award. Gin has served on the Alhambra Unified School District Board of Education for more than 24 years, dedicating himself to public education and youth development. He also helped advance the district’s establishment of a comprehensive TK-through-12 educational system, expanding educational opportunities for more than 14,000 students.
With his final term on the Board of Education nearing its end, organizers specifically recognized Gin’s decades-long contributions to educational leadership, community collaboration and the development of younger generations.
Other honorees include:
- Christy Lee and Janet Lee of Fair Oaks Burger, recipients of the Business of the Year Award. Following the Eaton Fire, the restaurant hosted farmers markets, food distributions and community events, providing Altadena residents with a platform for mutual support and rebuilding.
- Meredith and Michael Miller of Webster’s Community Pharmacy, recipients of the Business of the Year Award, recognizing the pharmacy’s 100 years of service to the Altadena community and its continued support for residents during the pandemic and the Eaton Fire.
- Javier Arellano, recipient of the Community Activist of the Year Award, recognized for his longtime service to the Upland community, donating meals to first responders and essential workers, and actively advocating for men’s mental health.
- Ruben Karapetian, recipient of the Community Activist of the Year Award, recognized for his work on community rights and human rights issues while serving as executive director of the Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region.
- Altadena Meals on Wheels, recipient of the Nonprofit of the Year Award, recognized for providing nutritious meals to seniors and residents in need for 53 years and for rebuilding its meal delivery services following the Eaton Fire.
- Dean Sheldon Serwin, recipient of the Volunteer of the Year Award, recognized for more than a decade of involvement in youth, education, arts and community affairs in South Pasadena.
- Otis Triplett, recipient of the Volunteer of the Year Award. Triplett, 88, is a U.S. Army veteran who has spent nearly 30 years volunteering in the Pasadena community and mentoring young people.
- Mikaela Hong, recipient of the Youth of the Year Award. She is a student at La Cañada High School and has been battling Stage 4 childhood cancer for seven years. She founded the Pediatric Hope Project, which provides free online one-on-one tutoring and emotional support to children with serious illnesses, and has actively advocated for designating September 3 as “National Neuroblastoma Awareness Day.”
Chu said the honorees, who come from diverse backgrounds, serve their communities in different ways. Their experiences reflect the longstanding spirit of mutual support within the San Gabriel Valley’s diverse communities and demonstrate the important role individuals and community organizations play in responding to wildfires, illness and social challenges.
