“There's a reason 'MOM' turned upside down spells WOW” states Haven Nisly at the beginning of the essay entitling mom to be selected as one of Time Warner Cable San Diego's 50 Best Moms. Over 3,000 essays were submitted, but only fifty mothers were honored at this annual community event which has been inspiring elementary, middle and high school kids to reach deep in their hearts to find the words to accurately convey why their mothers are the best in the county.
All 50 Best Moms 2009
On May 9th, at the Hyatt in La Jolla, proud mothers and their families were treated to a solemn yet moving celebration honoring the many sacrifices a mother makes out of love for their children and the community they live in. Sam Bass, of KYXY radio station, and Tiffany Lynch, Time Warner Cable's Community Relations Director were co-MCs for the luncheon. There was no shortage of stories about courageous mothers spotlighted at the gathering; one mom is rasing six kids while holding a job, another hid her illness from her kids until she couldn't any longer, and one mother worked in rice fields while pregnant to feed her children. Mothers will sacrifice it all to give their kids the best life they possibly can.
Master of Ceremonies Sam Bass of KYXY 96.5
Time Warner Cable's Tiffany Lynch and Suzette Valle
A mother is “a rainbow, a dove, a rose,” wrote thirteen year old Alanna DePinto about her mother who fought breast cancer twice while taking care of her Alzheimer's-stricken mother. Diane Bell highlighted this passage of the middle-schooler's essay for the 50 Best Moms article she wrote in Saturday's Union Tribune. I was fortunate to be the judge of this winning essay, and also had the privilege of meeting both daughter and mother at the special banquet.
Contest Winners Tricia and Alanna DePinto
Other judges in this years competition included KUSI's Kristen Cusato , Congresswoman Susan Davis, KGTV's Lauren Renynolds, Assemblymember Lori Saldana and Coronado Mayor Casey Tanaka. (Click on the Program to see a complete list of winners and judges)
I really look forward to this yearly contest because it shows how a mother's love and sacrifice knows no limits. And with so many unrealistic role models being hurled at kids today, this essay-writing competition reaffirms that moms, and parents, are still their own children's' best role models (though we moms sometimes think our kids are not paying attention to all that we do!).
For those who would like to watch the ceremony, a summary video will be posted on San Diego on Demand channel 144 under TWC Programming, and on the website, in the next week or so. Keep checking!
Finally, congratulations to all the deserving mothers, and thanks to Time Warner Cable for allowing me to once again humbly assist in selecting these outstanding mothers!
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