Mark J. Benjamin Community Impact Awards

HRC Board Members and 2019 Mark J. Benjamin Award Recipients
From Left to Right: Nat Trives, Natalya Zernitskaya, Gary Avrech, Laura Rosenbaum, Mary Luthy, Lindsay Call, Jody Priselac, Karen Gunn, Perry Roshan-Zamir, 2019 MJB Award Recipient Barbara Inatsugu, John Maceri, 2019 MJB Award Recipient Terri Decker, Donna Gentry, Stephanie Cohen, Shawn Landres, Sheila Banani, & Ana Jara

Ordinary people doing extraordinary things…

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Past Award Recipients:

2019 – Terri Decker and Barbara Inatsugu 

2018 – Victoria Roshanzamir, Larry Arnstein, and Celine Bundy-Kahn

2017 – Judi Barker, Neil Carrey, Elizabeth Cruz and
Steve Vielhaber

2016 – Louise Gabriel, Donna Gentry, Michael Jackson and Scott Sale

2015 – Leslie Abell, Barbara Neff, Blake Richetta and Nat Trives

The Santa Monica Bay Area Human Relations Council hosted it 2019 Mark J. Benjamin Community Impact Awards on September 11, 2019. 

Congratulations to Terri Decker, a volunteer with the nonprofit No Limits for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children and Barbara Inatsugu, a volunteer with the League of Women Voters of Santa Monica!

To learn more about these remarkable women, please read about their service at https://hrcsantamonica.org/the-2019-mark-j-benjamin-community-impact-award-recipients/

The goal of the HRC’s Mark J. Benjamin Community Impact Awards Program is to recognize individuals who, through their behavior and commitment, are role models for a respectful and socially just community and whose involvement with community organizations as a volunteer contributes to and impacts building an inclusive community.  Our honorees are people who:

  1. Promote understanding within our diverse community,
  2. Take actions that make a difference, and
  3. Demonstrate compassion for others.

Our program is named for Mark J. Benjamin—a true hero who gave generously and thoughtfully in support of our community. 

On May 26, 2013, the HRC Directors honored Mark Benjamin, President and CEO of Santa Monica-based Morley Builders for his thoughtfulness and generosity in supporting the work of the Human Relations Council, saying "He is a true hero." On May 29, 2013, Mark lost his life in a tragic accident.

On May 26, 2013, the HRC board honored Mark Benjamin, President and CEO of Santa Monica-based Morley Builders, for his thoughtfulness and generosity in supporting the work of the HRC. On September 29, 2013, Mark lost his life in a tragic accident.

 
Mark exemplified who Studs Terkel described when he wrote:
Heroes are not giant statues framed against a red sky. They are people who say: This is my community, and it is my responsibility to make it better. 

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