Left to right: Martha Rosenblatt and Claudia Mendoza-Carruth
The Sonoma Valley Hospital Foundation has announced that Claudia Mendoza-Carruth and Martha Rosenblatt have been selected to receive the organization’s Pulse Award, given each year to recognize outstanding Sonoma Valley women who have made significant contributions to the community through their volunteerism, community involvement and philanthropy.
Mendoza-Carruth and Rosenblatt will be honored at the Foundation’s 11th annual Celebration of Women luncheon on Monday, May 23, 2016, beginning at 11:30 a.m. at The Lodge at Sonoma Renaissance Resort & Spa. Proceeds from the event benefit women’s health and wellness programs at Sonoma Valley Hospital, including Project Pink which funds mammograms for uninsured women each May and October.
“Our two honorees this year exemplify the strong community spirit that makes the Sonoma Valley such a special place,” said Dave Pier, Executive Director of the Hospital Foundation. “Both Martha and Claudia are being honored to recognize their long-term volunteer commitments and the tremendous impact they have had through their efforts. We are delighted to be able to recognize them for their many achievements.”
Tickets for the luncheon are available at the Foundation’s website, www.svhfoundation.com, as is more information on the event. Tickets cost $125. To make a donation in honor of any of the honorees or to inquire about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Julia Cervone at 707.935.5331 or jcervone@sonomavalleyhospital.org.
We are so fortunate to have (left to right) Karen Collins, Kimberly Blattner, and Rose Mary Schmidt providing leadership as co-chairs for Celebration of Women 2016.
The Hospital Foundation is grateful to the community for supporting its programs and this event, notes Pier. “We are fortunate this year to have Kimberly Blattner, Karen Collins and Rosemary Schmidt providing leadership as co-chairs for Celebration of Women 2016.”
About This Year’s Honorees
Claudia Mendoza-Carruth came to the U.S. 25 years ago from Colombia and both her career and volunteer work have focused on multiculturism and serving as a bridge between cultures in our community.
After studying broadcasting at Academia Arco in Bogotá, Columbia, Claudia was a host of an interview program on national television. In California, she continued developing a career in media as manager of the Small Business Exchange newspaper and as radio personality at Radio Romántica. She also led the establishment of a diversity communications program at PG&E. Her firm, mc(2) Multicultural Communications provides translations, interpretation and the development of communications plans for businesses with a Spanish-speaking workforce.
Claudia and her husband of 20 years, Kevin Carruth, have lived in Sonoma since 2006. Claudia has served as President of the Board of La Luz and established the Vamos al Cine program for the Sonoma International Film Festival. She has been honored with a number of awards including the Nuestra Voz Amistad Award, the PG&E Diversity Champion Award, the SJSU Diversity and President’s Awards, and she shared the Jefferson Award for La Luz in 2013.
Martha Rosenblatt and her husband Stephen moved to Sonoma in 1989 from Salt Lake City. Soon after settling in, she and Stephen helped found the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art where Martha served on the incipient board of directors and as one of the early board presidents. She also has a long-standing involvement with La Luz which began when she co-chaired their early fundraisers which later became “Noche de Luna.” She has continuously served on the La Luz board for the past seven years, including a term as president.
Other volunteer efforts include the Sonoma Valley Film Festival, the Sonoma Valley Fund where she was a founding member and now serves on the Advisory Council, as well as Bouverie Reserve docent, El Verano’s early reading program tutor, and most recently, serving on the Jack London State Park Advisory Council.
Martha was born in Chicago and attended University of Wisconsin, Madison. She and Stephen married in 1986 and, with their combined families, have five children and 11 grandchildren. While her volunteer work has brought her much joy and many rewards, her true fun comes from being part of the “Overview Volley Ball” team – still going strong after 25 years.