Carol Naomi Tanita Named a "Woman of the Year" in the 29th Congressional District
Washington, D.C.– Yesterday, at a reception in Pasadena, Representative Adam Schiff (CA-29) honored Carol Naomi Tanita of Monterey Park for her commitment and service to our community by naming her a “Woman of the Year.”
“Carol has maintained an active spirit for all her passions in life, and continues to be involved with the community as a tireless volunteer and parent,” Rep. Schiff said. “We are fortunate to have Carol as a member of our community, and we can all be inspired by her example.”
Born in the Boyle Heights region of Los Angeles, Carol grew up committed to her education. Upon graduating high school with honors, she attended the University of Southern California, where she attained her Bachelors and Masters degrees in the field of Education, and earned her Specialist Credential in Bilingual Cross-Cultural Education in Japanese.
Carol served as a member of the PTA of Brightwood and Repetto Elementary Schools for 12 years, and received numerous awards, including the title of Parent of the Year at Repetto Elementary School for her exemplary service.
In 2007, Carol was presented with the Community Service Award by the Alhambra Educational Foundation. Her continuous efforts were always appreciated, as she repeatedly received the Honorary Service Award and Continuing Service Award at Mark Keppel High School. Upon the graduation of her children, Carol continued to be active with the PTSA and the Mark Keppel Alliance. As a result of her unwavering commitment, she was awarded the Golden Oak-- the highest award the California PTA gives for outstanding service to schools and communities. During 20 years of committed service, Carol has surpassed 9,000 volunteer hours.
Carol also serves the community beyond the realm of education. For two years, she served on the F.A.C.E.S.’s Board at Pacific Clinics and the Family Advisory Council at the Eastern Los Angeles Regional Center, which serves individuals with developmental disabilities. Currently, Carol dedicates her time to Parents In Community Inclusion (PICI), a group which mentors families and educators in creating an inclusive community for special needs individuals.
Carol served as a parent volunteer for the Boy Scouts of America as well, when her son Nicholas enrolled as a Cub Scout. Over the years, she served as the Parent Committee Chair, Treasurer, and now is the District Finance Chair for the Mission Amigos District of the San Gabriel Valley Council Boy Scouts of America, which serves the cities of Monterey Park, Alhambra, San Gabriel, Rosemead, El Monte and South El Monte.
Every March, during Women’s History Month, Rep. Schiff honors one outstanding woman from each of the communities in the 29th Congressional District. These women come from all walks of life and represent the thousands of women who make a positive impact in our region. While there are no specific criteria for nomination, Rep. Schiff looks for women who — through their work or volunteerism — have improved the quality of life for our community.
Rep. Schiff represents California’s 29th Congressional District, which includes the communities of Alhambra, Altadena, Burbank, Glendale, Monterey Park, Pasadena, San Gabriel, South Pasadena and Temple City.
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