Hearts of Hayward Awards

The contributions of literacy advocate René Besold and retired Mount Eden High School Vocal Music Director Ken Rawdon are to be featured at tonight’s 40th Annual Volunteer Recognition and Awards Dinner.

For the past 39 years, the Dinner, sponsored by the City of Hayward and Alameda County, has served as an opportunity to thank Hayward’s most dedicated community members with Hearts of Hayward awards.

Besold, longtime member of the board of directors of the Literacy Plus Council of Hayward and Eden League of Women Voters, is to be recognized at tonight’s dinner at St. Rose Hospital’s Grand White Tent with the Hearts of Hayward Lifetime Achievement Award. A former California School Employees Association human resources director, Besold is active with the American Cancer Society Relay for Life fundraiser and willingly shares her knowledge of resume writing and job-interview prep.

Rawdon, who served 27 years as Mount Eden High vocal music director and two tours as a teacher at King Middle School, is being honored with the John N. Pappas Humanitarian Award. Under Rawdon, vocal music at Mount Eden expanded from one small choir of 15 to a program involving 140 students in six choirs whose members have competed around the country and gone on to professional singing careers.

Video recognitions of Besold and Rawdon can be viewed after conclusion of the Volunteer Recognition and Awards dinner on the City of Hayward website here.