Awards honor community spirit

Deirdre Newman

Fran Ursini, whose family owns the Newport Rib Co., usually opts for

California casual over a suit and tie.

When he did don a tie on Thursday to accept a Community Spirit

Award for his family, a representative of the Kiwanis Club cut it in

half.

The good-natured ribbing provided one of the many laughs at a

luncheon sponsored by the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce and South

Coast Metro Alliance at the Hilton Costa Mesa.

In addition to the Ursini Family, Experian received a Community

Spirit through Corporate Leadership Award, and Police Chief Dave

Snowden, who is retiring in June after 16 years at the helm, took

home the Individual Achievement Award.

The recipients were chosen because they exemplify the values the

community as a whole aspires to, City Manger Allan Roeder said.

“There just are not words that are enough or appropriate to

commend all of you for your active participation,” Roeder said.

“We’re all a better community because of that.”

Experian, one of the nation’s largest information technology

companies, received the Corporate Leadership award, based on its

extensive community involvement with Orange County schools, Habitat

for Humanity and the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.

Chief executive Don Robert, expressing gratitude for the award,

emphasized that the company does not require community service among

its employees.

“It just kind of happens, and that’s what makes this so special to

me,” Robert said.

The Ursini family was honored based on the community service of

Fran, his wife Karen, daughter Laura and son John.

Among his myriad involvements, Fran Ursini has been an active

member of the Kiwanis Club for more than 20 years and is this year’s

incoming president.

Fran Ursini was humbled by the award.

“I’m really honored,” Fran Ursini said. “So many people deserve

this more than we do. We made our living off of the city, and it’s

good to give back.”

The admiration and affinity for Snowden was evident from the

introductory video played before the award was presented. The video

featured former mayor and Daily Pilot columnist Peter Buffa being

arrested and Del Heintz, AT&T; Broadband’s director of local

government affairs for Southern California, being booked.

“I was one of those who hired Dave, and after 16 years, we

couldn’t have chosen a better chief, and we chose a good golfer as

well,” Buffa said in the video.

Snowden was honored for his achievements on and off the force,

including bringing the community and the police department closer

together, reducing crime and his involvement with organizations such

as the Hoag Hospital 552 Club.

In accepting his award, Snowden de-emphasized the individual

nature of the honor.

“This whole individual achievement is not really that,” Snowden

said. “It’s about relationships with family and friends ... with all

of you that give so much to this community. This is a community I

love. No award means more to me than this.”