PPCC 2025 Awards Announcement
View this email in your browser
Pacific Palisades Community Council
PPCC 2025 Awards Announcement
PPCC is proud to announce
the 2025 Awards Honorees:
Citizen of the Year,
Golden Sparkplug,
Pride of the Palisades,
and (NEW this year),
Awesome Advocates
Citizen of the Year
JIM CRAGG
For visionary leadership in founding the Palisades Long Term
Recovery Group and assistance with emergency relief to
provide critical post-Palisades Fire support to vulnerable
Palisadians, and for extensive voluntary service
benefitting the community through his work with the
American Legion Post 283, both before and after the Fire.
_________
Golden Sparkplugs
JESSICA ROGERS
For laser-focus on ensuring critical community
security, by taking action to arrange for installation
of Flock license plate reader cameras at
key entry and exit points in the Palisades.
_________
MARYAM ZAR
For founding the Palisades Recovery Coalition,
with programs such as the neighborhood “visioning
charrettes,” to share information and build consensus
to rebuild a stronger and safer community.
_________
Pride of the Palisades
(Two honorees are worthy of recognition
in this extraordinary year)
CHUCK HART
For exceptional heroism during the Palisades Fire and in its
aftermath, through his dedication and tireless work to save
properties and help the community, and to secure safety
by clearing streets and countless public and private areas.
–––––––––
TEAM PALISADES
For neighbors voluntarily coming together across the
community and organizing the r
emarkable Block Captain
system,
and consistently providing key information,
assistance
and collaboration opportunities, as
Palisadians
embark on rebuilding after the disaster.
–––––––––
Awesome Advocates
(A new award for two deserving
recipients in this extraordinary year)
SUE PASCOE
For relentlessly pursuing important stories, asking hard
questions and informing readers about issues that matter
most to the Palisades community, pre- and post-Fire.
–––––––––
SPENCER PRATT
For using new media after the Palisades Fire to bring
nationwide attention to its unimaginable community
impact, and for persistence in seeking answers
and assistance for disaster recovery.
–––––––––
We salute
Jim, Jessica, Maryam, Chuck,
Team Palisades, Sue
and
Spencer,
for their
outstanding contributions to Pacific Palisades.
–––––––––
More details about their accomplishments will be
announced at the November 13, 2025, PPCC meeting.
The awards will be presented on
December 11, 2025,
at the Awards Gala dinner at Spruzzo Restaurant in the Highlands.
The community is invited to celebrate with the Honorees!
Look for event details and invitation coming in mid-November.
Sp
ecial Commendations
At our meeting on
November 13, 2025,
PPCC will also thank and acknowledge the
notable community contributions
of the following special individuals:
Youth
William Chapin
– For his actions the day after the Fire to save homes that were still burning; for obtaining jackets for fellow Eagle Scouts who had lost theirs in the Fire, and discount codes from outfitters so that Scouts could replace backpacking and camping gear; and for creating four outdoor chess tables now temporarily used at the Westchester YMCA – to be moved to Simon Meadow when the Lowe Family YMCA is open, for children and the community to learn and play chess.
Julia and Leo Wolfberg
– For their initiative, “Cards for Kids,” in coordinating donations from local residents and a sports card shop, and distributing gift bags containing sports memorabilia such as sports collection cards, Pokémon cards and even signed baseballs to scores of Palisades children who had lost homes and all their belongings in the Fire.
News
Sarah Shmerling,
Editor-in-Chief,
Palisadian Post
– For
many years of consistent, reliable and thorough coverage of PPCC meetings and actions; for efforts to ensure that the Pacific Palisades community was and continues to be informed of all local news; and for
ongoing
support and devotion to the community in the aftermath of the Fire.
Last But Not Least
. . .
PPCC recognizes and expresses our heartfelt thanks for
the
countless
Palisadians who, during this inconceivably
difficult and unprecedented year, have worked to save lives
and property, assisted neighbors and businesses, raised
funds, disseminated information, formed support groups,
organized events, and
continue to take important actions
to serve, support, renew, uplift, restore and rebuild
our beloved Palisades community!
We are . . . Palisades Strong!