More than 15 years ago, Yolanda Hernandez’s daughter was her inspiration to try to improve the educational opportunities for the students in San Ysidro.

 Hernandez felt that the needs of special students like her daughter weren’t being met by the local school district.

 “The children in special education didn’t have much support,” she remembers. “The school district back then didn’t want to deal with this.”

  That’s when she decided to run for the San Ysidro School District governing board, and the community supported her; she had already proven that she could handle the responsibility after a decade of serving in the governing board at Our Lady of Mount Carmel School. She was elected and for the past 15 years she’s been reelected to the post, where she fights to improve the education of all children in San Ysidro.

 For Hernandez, her work in the community, always supporting causes that try to give a better life to all people in San Ysidro, is in honor of her daughter.

 It is because of her love and dedication to San Ysidro, that Hernandez will receive the Dolores Adame Community Service Award, during the Abrazo 2009 gala organized by Casa Familiar, a social services agency in this border community. The event will be on Friday, August 28, at the Loews Coronado Bay Resort.

 The award is given out each year to people who, like Hernandez, give the best in them to bring more opportunities to San Ysidro and its residents.

 “It’s an honor to receive this award,” said Hernandez, who has lived in San Ysidro for 32 años.

 And the award has more meaning because it is named in honor of Mrs. Dolores Adame, who was always involved in the community and who always encouraged Hernandez to serve the people.

 “Mrs. Adame was always a fighter,” said Hernandez, who also serves on the Casa Familiar board. “She was one of my mentors, because she also fought for education and against injustices.”

 Manuel H. Paul, superintendent at the San Ysidro School District, said that for the school district is an honor that its governing board president receives such an award.

  In addition to Hernandez, Casa Familiar will recognize the work of other community members with Abrazo awards, including Hermanos Lopez, Arkisource, Steffen Rupp, and Jim and Jeanette Roache.

 “All of them are people who have really changed San Ysidro on their own will,” said Andrea Skorepa, president of Casa Familiar. “They are people who serve the community and who care about the community.”

 Skorepa said that some 350 people are expected to attend the gala, which is the only fundraising event for Casa Familiar during the year.

 Abrazo 2009 is celebrated with the first San Ysidro centennial.

 Skorepa said that people like Yolanda Hernandez make San Ysidro a better place to live for thousands of families of Mexican origin.

 “We want to celebrate people like Yolanda that serve people with their hearts,” she said.

 To learn more about Abrazo 2009, visit www.casafamiliar.org or call (619) 428-1115.