Scott Burns honors Maria Cabrera with a Paul Harris Fellow.
The Paul Harris Fellowship is one of the most prestigious awards in Rotary and thereby named after the founder of Rotary, Paul Harris, who founded Rotary 117 years ago. The Fellowship was established in his honor in 1957 to express appreciation and recognition for a contribution to the Rotary Foundation. A Paul Harris Fellow is an individual who contributes $1,000 or in whose name that amount is contributed, recognizing him or her for extraordinary services rendered.
Scott Burns recognized Maria Cabrera with a Paul Harris Fellow for her dedication to the Old Spanish Days organization. Maria served as the 2022 Fiesta La Presidente and several served in numerous roles during her 20+ years on the Old Spanish Days board.
Maria Cabrera, born in Colombia moved to San Fernando Valley at age 11, then moved to Santa Barbara from the valley in 1983 with her husband, Francisco, and her daughter, Marisol. Her son, Pablo, was born in 1984. She has been a part of Santa Barbara’s Fiesta fabric through her family’s involvement with dance groups. They first danced at Fiesta Pequena in 1990.
Her daughter was Junior Spirit and Spirit, after Marisol and Pablo went to college, she got on the Fiesta board and worked in the background on many events.
Her 2022 theme was “Todos Juntos en Familia” translates “All Together as a Family.” She helped bring the community together as a family, such as we in Rotary are family.
Rotarians have a tradition of supporting The Rotary Foundation by honoring others who have demonstrated through their actions they are living by the guiding principles of Rotary. In recognition of Maria’s efforts, Scott bestowed this honor of a Paul Harris Fellow to her.
We congratulate and thank both Maria and Scott for their service and generosity!