Cypress College, community groups invite Garden Grove residents to Americana Awards and safety event

Howard Kimmerman, executive director of the Cypress College Foundation, told the Garden Grove City Council the Americana Awards will mark their 50th anniversary on March 15 at the Westin Anaheim Resort and singled out Garden Grove honoree Dr. True McMahon.

"The Americana Awards are very important to what we do and how we raise those funds," Kimmerman said, noting the foundation gives more than $500,000 in scholarships and emergency assistance and that 885 students from Garden Grove attend Cypress College this semester. He introduced Dr. True McMahon as Garden Grove’s Americana Citizen of the Year and said former NBA player AC Green will be the person of the year.

Dr. True McMahon, who the presenter said has practiced medicine in Garden Grove for more than 22 years and serves on several community boards, thanked the council and invited residents to the gala.

Separately, Ruby Garcia, founder of the Andy and Aidan Safety Group (a 501(c)(3)), invited residents to the fourth annual "Communities Come Together" event on April 23 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Community Meeting Center, 11300 Sanford Avenue. She said the free event will include safety stations tailored for families of all abilities, interactive sessions with the Garden Grove Police Department and the Orange County Fire Authority, and a new water-safety station; the first 10 families to RSVP will receive a free water vest from Swim Brave.

Council members also promoted a resource fair at Santiago High School on March 1 that will offer dental and vision screenings, free haircuts and additional community resources.

No council action was required for the presentations; they were informational items and community invitations.