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Each year the L.A. County Fair honors Community Heroes – young adults and adults – from 18 surrounding cities during the 23 days of the Fair, Sept. 4 – Oct. 3. Thursday, Sept. 16 is Diamond Bar Day at the Fair, a day to celebrate the work of volunteers, humanitarians, students, neighbors and community organizations to make their city a better place to live.
Diamond Bar Day festivities include a parade at 5 p.m. down Broadway featuring community groups and bands. At 5:30 p.m., a presentation will be held to honor Diamond Bar’s Junior Hero Yolanda Gong and Adult Hero Mei Lien Chang on the Building 4 Stage.
Yolanda Gong is active with the Diamond Bar High School Leo Club sponsored by the Diamond Bar Breakfast Lions Club. Involved with the Leo Club since she was at Chaparral Middle School, Yolanda has served as the Sergeant-at-Arms maintaining order for the Leo Club’s 550 members. She assisted the club president as a member of the board, and has volunteered hundreds of community service hours, for which she was recognized by Lions Club International with their Youth In Service Silver and Gold Awards for volunteering more than 100 hours in one year. This year she was fourth highest in the club with 148 hours. Her community activities have ranged from volunteering at the city’s 4th of July Blast to raising funds for Haiti Earthquake Relief and Orphanages in Thailand. “Yolanda is always willing to help others. We have watched her grow from an energetic young girl to a fine young lady who is humble, confident and caring,” states Jack and Wanda Tanaka of Diamond Bar.
Adult hero Mei Lien Chang has supported education and community organizations. She was involved with the Diamond Bar High School Brahma Foundation and the Chinese American Parents at Diamond Bar High School, helping to raise thousands of dollars to support projects. She was vice president of the Friends of the Diamond Bar Library, working on the annual Wine Soiree and Librarian Luncheon. She is a founder of the Diamond Bar Chinese American Association, and is very active in the Diamond Bar Chinese School. She has been instrumental in the success of the Chinese New Year’s program and the annual Dinner Dance. She and her husband Wen generously donate to Cal Poly and Western University, and she was Vice Chair of the Cal Poly Partners in Education that funded teacher scholarships. She has also served as Vice President of the Mt. San Antonio College Foundation and on the board at Western University. “Mei Lien and Wen are extremely generous to worthwhile organizations that are in need of support,” states Kathleen Newe of Diamond Bar. “She never looks for recognition, so many do not know of the tremendous contributions she has made. She has made a positive impact on thousands of people over the years.”
Diamond Bar residents, friends, family and supporters can join their community celebration on Sept. 16 for just $5 before 5 p.m. with a coupon or voucher available at lacountyfair.com. Coupons are also available at the Diamond Bar Chamber of Commerce, City Hall and other community locations. Come for the Fair; stay for the community festivities: parade at 5 p.m. and hero presentation at 5:30 p.m.
The L.A. County Fair opens Labor Day weekend, Sept. 4 – 6 and then Wednesday – Sunday, Sept. 8 – Oct. 3, closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Live thoroughbred horse racing at Fairplex Park will be Sept. 9 – Sept. 27, dark Mondays Sept. 13, 20 and Tuesdays.
For information about ways to save at the Fair, visit lacountyfair.com.
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Under the direction of the Los Angeles County Fair Association, Fairplex is home to the L.A. County Fair, the largest county fair in the world, as well as The Learning Centers which encompasses Fairtime Learning, The Child Development Center, The Career and Technical Education Center (CTEC), the Junior Fair Board, and the Millard Sheets Center for the Arts. Fairplex also operates a diverse hospitality business with the Sheraton Fairplex, McKinley’s Grille, KOA RV Park, Finish Line Sports Grill, Cornucopia Foods, and the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel and Conference Center (opening 2011). The campus is also home to the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum and the Auto Club Raceway at Pomona; horse-racing and Barretts Equine Limited; as well as the Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition. For more information, please visit www.fairplex.com.
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