Three Coastside women honored in county Women’s Hall of Fame

Three Coastsiders are among the six women to be inducted into the San Mateo County Women’s Hall of Fame on March 18..

“It is the great privilege of the Commission on the Status of Women to recognize the contributions and achievements of these exceptional women and young women,” said Jei Africa, President of the Commission. “The Women’s Hall of Fame is a reminder of the wealth of talent and generosity women bring to our county communities every day of the year.”  Tickets can be purchased online at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/95677.

• Denise Aquila of Half Moon Bay, a realtor who has a passion for helping where there is a need, is nicknamed the "Coastal Soccer Queen" for bringing professional-level soccer to high school students on the Coast by founding a chapter of the American Youth Soccer Organization; she serves as a Commissioner for the Regional Housing Endowment and Trust to help create local affordable housing options, seeks to impact family violence as an Advisory Council Member of Communities Overcoming Relationship Abuse and is a cancer survivor who raises substantial funds for cancer research by running marathons.
• Kerry Lobel of Pescadero, current Executive Director of Puente de la Costa Sur Resource Center in Pescadero, is a nationally recognized leader who is honored for her work developing programs for South Coast immigrant agricultural workers and their families; offering opportunities for empowerment, education, youth summer employment, mental health services, drug & alcohol prevention, legal services, tax preparation and access to dental care.
• Julia McKay McKeon of Moss Beach, who has been a catalyst for improving healthcare and quality of life on the San Mateo Coastside through more than two decades of volunteer and professional leadership resulting in the development of the Sonrisas Community Dental Center and two other health related non-profits serving the health needs of thousands of low-income Coastside residents.

Other honorees were:

• Luisa Buada, CEO of Ravenswood Family Health Center is a visionary leader who has led the development of a comprehensive health care program that has expanded healthcare access and strengthened the safety net for uninsured and underinsured residents of East Palo Alto and Menlo Park.
• Sally Stewart, of Portola Valley is a tireless advocate for students and public education who has served for 38 years as an elected school board official, first on the Portola Valley Elementary School Board and then on the Sequoia Union High School District along with numerous roles in education leadership on the County and State level.
• Fiona  Kathleen  Murphy of Foster City, 2010 Young Woman of Excellence,  is a senior at Hillsdale High School and a multi-talented youth leader with a passion for community service who is a distinguished scholar/athlete, award winning Irish Dancer, vocalist, youth leader at St Bartholomew Church and the youngest participant to ride the Cinderella Classic 100K Bike Ride raising funds for battered women.