Our local community treasure, Julie Kimiyo Hubbard, was one of three nationwide winners of the inaugural AARP Asian American and Pacific Islander Community Hero Awards! The other two winners were from Chicago, Illinois and Garden Grove, California and puts San Jose in good company in this inaugural competition.
This award was created to acknowledge the volunteers and staff of non-profit organizations serving AAPI seniors age 50 and above.
Both the winner and the organization for which they work receive $1,000 in cash! On behalf of Julie and the Yu-Ai Kai Senior Center, Executive Director Ryan Kawamoto completed the application for this award and said that “it was one of the easiest applications to write because Julie is so great-if anything-the hardest part was the word count obstructing me from going on and on!”
Voting for the contestants was done via Facebook and E-mails with Gil Asakawa playing a major role in organizing the program and compiling the results. Gil mentioned at the awards ceremony that he could tell the folks deeply cared about Julie because just about every E-mail ballot submitted included personal comments about her!
AARP Vice President, Daphne Kwok came in from Washington, D.C. with her entourage to present the award after joining the Yu-Ai Kai Seniors in their weekday nutritional lunch. Yummm, I had seconds! She expressed that the winners tirelessly devote their time, talents, and passion to provide an invaluable service to our community. Please join me in congratulating “Queen Julie” as her co-workers now call her!
(article by Leon Kimura)
