Lori Butterworth, Neighbor

Lori Butterworth is the founder and former executive director of Jacob's Heart Children's Cancer Support Services and the Children's Hospice and Palliative Care Coalition. During her tenure at both organizations, she designed, implemented and secured sustainable funding for innovative programs for families of children with life-threatening conditions. Lori led the campaign that officially established September as Children's Cancer Awareness Month in the State of California by executive order and spearheaded several California healthcare policy initiatives including the enactment of the Nick Snow Children's Hospice and Palliative Care Act of 2006.

A bilingual educator, Lori developed curriculum and taught Spanish Language Arts and Literature, Social Studies and Government in the Los Angeles and Oakland inner-city schools for more than a decade. She was instrumental in establishing a high school for girls in rural Guatemala.

Lori is the recipient of numerous awards including the Oprah Winfrey's Use Your Life award and the California Association of Nonprofits Award for Innovation in Program Development.

Lori is currently mentoring the next generation of community leaders through her work at Ceiba Public Schools and is working with Mayor Montesino to co-organize the Watsonville Youth City Council.

The purpose of the Watsonville Youth City Council is to provide opportunities for young people to participate in city government and for city government to hear from youth. This project provides practical life skills and help young people succeed in the future and have a positive impact on our entire community.