At its sixth annual awards event, LEAP (Learn. Engage. Advocate. Partner.) honored three community members who have made significant contributions to the well-being of children and families on the Central Coast.
The virtual event raised $50,135 for LEAP and highlighted the achievements of local leaders Dr. Lynn Fitzgibbons, Ernesto Paredes, and Amir Abo-Shaeer, LEAP’s first distinguished alumnus.
“We’re incredibly honored to celebrate these community champions today,” said Lori Goodman, executive director of LEAP.
“Dr. Lynn Fitzgibbons has been instrumental in advancing healthcare and medical education in our community. Ernesto Paredes has devoted his career to advocating for families and improving accessibility. Amir Abo-Shaeer, our first distinguished alumnus, continues to transform education through innovation,” Goodman said.
“Each of these remarkable individuals embodies LEAP’s mission of supporting families and children across Santa Barbara County,” she said.
The hour-long virtual ceremony was co-hosted by Goodman and local media personality Catherine Remak.
Attendees heard heartfelt stories from staff, community members, and families about LEAP’s expanding services across Santa Barbara County.
“We live in a very special place,” said Dr. Fitzgibbons. “We have compassion across the community. We have kindness, but we also have a lot of need.
“Serving a community like this is truly a privilege, and we’re very privileged to have organizations like LEAP who stand up for and support our community’s most in need, day after day, month after month, and year after year.”
“Thank you, LEAP, for 54 years and counting of your commitment to the children and families of this community,” Paredes said. “We need LEAP in this community. It’s so important and impactful — the resources that the LEAP program provides are without measure.”
The LEAP Awards, the organization’s biggest fundraising event of the year, generated support for key community services throughout Santa Barbara County.
Proceeds will benefit LEAP’s Early Education Programs and Children’s Centers, Family Resource Center, Diaper Bank, and after-school that provide supplies and services to families in need.
“LEAP is a perfect partner for us to get outside the walls of the hospital. Together, our organizations, working with many other nonprofits in the community, can make a real difference. I really give a tremendous amount of credit to LEAP,” said Ron Werft, president/CEO of Cottage Health.
“LEAP stands for community. It’s one of those essential services in Santa Barbara County that many families couldn’t do without,” said Jackie Carrera, president/CEO of the Santa Barbara Foundation. “It’s a hub for resource sharing, partnership, comfort, and trust.
“It’s not just the childcare or one piece of what LEAP provides that makes it so special, but it’s all those things together and the way it touches every aspect of children and their families that need it the most.”
The honorees:
Fitzgibbons is program director, Internal Medicine Residency Program at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, and medical director for Infection Prevention and Control.
An infectious disease specialist, she plays a role in patient care, community health, and medical education. She earned her medical degree from the University of California, San Diego, and completed her residency at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, followed by an infectious disease fellowship at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, Oregon.
Paredes grew up in Santa Barbara, attending local public schools through SBCC before transferring to USC, where he earned his bachelor of science degree in gerontology.
Paredes’ first job was with the Channel Islands YMCA; then in 1991, he accepted a position with Easy Lift Transportation.
After serving as executive director for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), he returned to Easy Lift in 2005 as executive director, where he continues his work as a community advocate.
Paredes has also been recognized for his community efforts with such honors as Court TV’s Every Day Hero national award; Santa Barbara Independent Local Hero award; Pacific Coast Times’ 40 under 40 award; Leadership of Santa Barbara County Distinguished Leaders award; San Marcos High School Foundation’s Community Leader award; and Man of the Year award from the Santa Barbara Foundation.
Amir Abo-Shaeer is a teacher at Dos Pueblos High School; a MacArthur Fellow in Residence; and co-founder of Dos Pueblos Engineering Academy.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in physics and master’s in mechanical engineering and education at UCSB. Before becoming a teacher, he was a mechanical engineer working on research and development in academia, the aerospace industry, and the telecommunications industry.
Abo-Shaeer began teaching science and engineering at Dos Pueblos High in 2001. In 2010 he was named a MacArthur Fellow and has won numerous awards for his work in education. He is a visionary leader in educational innovation and transformation, both locally and beyond.
Abo-Shaeer and Emily Abo-Shaeer are working to establish a first-of-its-kind Center for Creative Learning on the Dos Pueblos campus.
The new facility will house original exhibits designed and fabricated by students in a large gallery, and will enable a re-envisioning of the way that students’ time during the school day is harnessed for authentic community engagement and contribution.
LEAP works to mitigate the effects of poverty, racism and trauma by providing high-quality, trauma-informed child care, comprehensive, culturally sensitive family support, and visionary community leadership.
For more, visit www.leapcentralcoast.org.