Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas; director/actor Justin Baldoni, and Karina Moreno Corgan, principal of Dolores Mission School received the 2017 Spirit of Healing Award from the Los Angeles Christian Health Centers (LACHC) on April 8.
The three visionaries were honored for their leadership and dedication to humanitarianism and transforming lives.
“In their own unique way, each of the Spirit of Healing honorees has used their gifts, whether as a public servant and elected official, actor and entrepreneur, or educator, to enrich the lives of others, advocate on behalf of the most vulnerable and share God’s love with the community,” said Lisa Abdishoo, M.D., LACHC CEO.
Ridley-Thomas has called homelessness the civil rights issue of this era. Under his leadership, the Board of Supervisors streamlined the Los Angeles County bureaucracy to “make immediate and efficient use of the incoming funds to end the crisis of homelessness.” In addition, the Supervisor has led efforts to ensure that the concept of a “health home” and access to quality health care become a reality for everyone by increasing the funding for, and number of community clinics, such as Los Angeles Christian Health Centers, in underserved areas.
Baldoni also was honored for his commitment to creating and effecting positive change. Baldoni created the first-ever Skid Row Carnival of Love and is a co-founder of The Wayfarer Foundation, whose mission is to support social issues that coincide with the compelling cause driven storylines produced by Wayfarer Entertainment including uplifting those experiencing homelessness and supporting people who are living with a terminal illness. He also plays Rafael on CW’s “Jane the Virgin.”
Corgan has been principal of Dolores Mission School since 2007. She is dedicated to leading the school community to achieving academic excellence and personal growth for every child. “Our mission is to ‘form men and women for and with others.’ This is very important because it is grounded in Ignatian principles and values that are directly related to what Christ Jesus calls us to do,” Corgan said.
The Los Angeles Christian Health Centers, founded in 1995, is a non-profit Federally Qualified Health Center that provides low-cost and no-cost health care services throughout Skid Row, Boyle Heights and South Los Angeles. Funds raised from the Spirit of Healing Awards event will be used to show God’s love by providing comprehensive medical care, mental health care, dental services, social services, and optometry to thousands of people who are experiencing homelessness, living in public housing or shelters.
To learn more, visit lachc.com.