2010 Kimi Sugiyama Human Service Award

Mrs. Irene McReynolds of Bell was recently presented the 2010 Kimi Sugiyama Human Service Award during the recent Shinnen-Enkai (New Year's celebration. McReynolds is pictured with picture Rev. Dr. Steven E. Wirth of the Grace First Presbyterian Church in Long Beach.
This award is named after the late Kimi Sugiyama, a pioneer member of the Japanese Presbyterian Church in Long Beach and a pivotal figure in the Japanese American community in Long Beach, where she was instrumental in helping many Japanese workers who had little or no understanding of the English language and of American labor rights.
In loving memory of their mother, Kimi Sugiyama's children established the Sugiyama Fund at Grace First Presbyterian Church, as well as the annual Kimi Sugiyama Human Service Award. The award is presented annually to a person in the community in recognition of his/her outstanding creativity and self-sacrifice in extending God's love to others.
These characteristics certainly typify the life of Mrs. Irene McReynolds.