Riverside Neighborhood Partnership to Honor Community Leaders at 13th Annual Gala

The Riverside Neighborhood Partnership will celebrate outstanding community members at its 13th Annual Good Neighbor Award Gala on Saturday, Nov. 8, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Evergreen Masonic Center, 5801 Chicago Ave.

The event recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to improving Riverside neighborhoods. Tickets cost $30 and include dinner, with proceeds supporting the partnership's neighborhood outreach programs.

The partnership is currently accepting nominations through an online form for community members who "work with their neighbors and in their neighborhoods to help create community and make Riverside a great place to live," according to the organization's website. All nominees will be recognized at the gala, where winners will be announced.

This year's awards will be given in three categories:

The Jack B. Clarke Sr. Good Neighbor Award honors individuals who embody the qualities of an exceptional neighbor through their passion, skills and willingness to help others. Named for Jack B. Clarke Sr., the award recognizes those whose contributions make Riverside neighborhoods special places to live, work and play.

The Neighborhood Hero Award recognizes individuals who may not live in a particular neighborhood but have devoted significant time and energy to neighborhood improvement. Recipients are those who have gone "above and beyond" for community betterment.

The Neighborhood Spirit Award celebrates groups or organizations that foster connections and create opportunities for neighbors to engage with each other through projects, events or other activities that strengthen community bonds.

"Many of the winners are local individuals who have often been overlooked, so it's incredibly meaningful to see their contributions celebrated within the community," said Jessica Qattawi, president of the Riverside Neighborhood Partnership. "Over the past 13 years, I've seen a shift toward more grassroots, collaborative efforts. Neighbors are increasingly stepping up to support one another in creative and meaningful ways."

The partnership typically welcomes about 100 attendees, including city officials, neighborhood leaders and the families and friends of honorees.

Last year's ceremony drew 17 nominations across three categories. Winners included Pete Benavidez, who received the Neighborhood Hero Award for his decades-long leadership of Blindness Support Services; Sharron Lewis, vice president of the Riverside County NAACP, who won the Jack B. Clarke Sr. Good Neighbor of the Year Award; and Riverside Neighbors Opposing Warehouses (R-NOW), which received the Neighborhood Spirit Award for its grassroots activism against warehouse development in the Orangecrest and Mission Grove neighborhoods.

The 2.5-hour evening will feature dinner, live entertainment, raffles and a silent auction. The partnership encourages attendees to "dress to impress" for the formal event. Free parking is available.

The Riverside Neighborhood Partnership, founded in 2011, works to strengthen neighborhoods through resident engagement, beautification projects and community advocacy. The organization represents more than 30 neighborhood groups across the city and promotes the awards through city council members, social media and participation in community events.

Awards are given in multiple categories, though specific categories for this year's event have not been announced. Previous years have included recognition for youth leadership, neighborhood beautification and community safety initiatives.

Nominations require two to three photos and a written explanation of no more than two pages describing how the nominee exemplifies the award criteria. The deadline for submissions is Oct. 25.

"We encourage nominators to provide detailed information about how the nominee has made a positive impact in their community," Qattawi said. "It's completely free, and there's no limit—you can nominate as many deserving individuals as you'd like."

More information: For tickets and additional information, visit rnpinfo.com. Nominations can be submitted at docs.google.com.