EAST LOS ANGELES-MONTEBELLO BPW NAMES MERCI EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MARTA ESCANUELAS WOMAN OF ACHIEVEMENT

“Woman of Achievement” Marta Escañuelas MERCI Executive Director Kathryn “Kitty” Bates, President of East Los Angeles – Montebello BPW

The East Los Angeles-Montebello Business and Professional Women selected Marta Escañuelas, Executive Director of MERCI, as its 2009 “Woman of Achievement.” She was honored at a dinner at DoubleTree Restaurant in Rosemead on October 21st.

President Kathryn “Kitty” Bates pinning “Woman of Achievement” pin on Marta Escañuelas

Escañuelas has been the Executive Director of MERCI since 2004. Presently, she is in the midst of a campaign to raise $300,000 to build a new group home, classrooms and an office building at MERCI’s 525 N. Chandler site in Monterey Park. MERCI provides people with severe to profound developmental disabilities an education in life skills and an opportunity to maximize their independence.

Escañuelas is a graduate of Chino High School, has a B.A. from California State University, Northridge and an M.A. in Business Administration with an emphasis in Nonprofit Management from the University of Judaism. She has more than 30 years experience in Human Services and has been affiliated with MERCI for fifteen years – 1991-2000 and 2005-present. She also has been a teacher in Special Education for San Gabriel.

Escañuelas is past President of Monterey Park Rotary and currently the co-chair of Monterey Park Rotary’s annual Casino Night, which will be held next spring. Funds from the event support Rotary’s activities in Monterey Park and internationally. Escañuelas serves on the Mt. Baldy Community Association, has been the Chair of the Mt. Baldy Run to the Top, has written grants for thousands of dollars to benefit the community and foster parents abandoned dogs. She was a sponsor of the 2008-09 Blue on Black Kennels in the Iditarod Race.

49th District Assemblymember Mike Eng recognized her in 2008 with a women’s leadership award, former Monterey Park Mayor Benjamin “Frank” Venti in January 2009 awarded her the Mayor’s Award of Excellence and in May 2008 the American Jewish University awarded her the Mickey Weiss Alumni of the Year Award.

In her acceptance speech Escañuelas mentioned that as a 21-year-old, she started at Hathaway Child and Family Services, which was a place for emotionally disturbed and abused children in Sylmar. The staff was expected to be surrogate parents to these children. Working there, she discovered her passion and her life’s work. Since then she has continued to work with children and adults who have emotional and physical disabilities. Marta thanked the organization. The organization told her that they planned to attend MERCI’s annual “Trees of Enchantment” fundraiser brunch at Luminarias Restaurant, 3500 Ramona Blvd., Monterey Park, Sunday, December 6th from        11:00 A.M. until 2:00 P.M. and suggested that the community turnout for this event. Tickets are $50. For more information on the fundraiser contact MERCI at (626) 289-8817 extension 17.

East Los Angeles – Montebello BPW Bea Palas, Treasurer and Mary Eger, Vice President.

East Los Angeles – Montebello BPW Ellie Mires, Secretary and Krystle Lisenby, Young Careerist Chair.