Five people who have long and distinguished records of service to the Catholic and greater Los Angeles communities were announced last week as recipients of the 2007 Cardinal's Award.

The honorees are (in alphabetical order) Fe Israel Benito, Richard C. Dunn, Anita Finie, Philip M. Hawley and Dr. Steven B. Sample, who were presented by Cardinal Roger Mahony at the annual awards luncheon, held Sept. 7 at San Antonio de Padua School in East Los Angeles.

Cardinal Mahony praised the "generosity of heart, talent and expertise" of the honorees. "They give themselves in a special way to service of others," he said.

San Antonio de Padua will be the site of a new inter-parochial Catholic pre-school that will be this year's beneficiary of funds raised by the Cardinal's Award Dinner (to be held Feb. 10, 2007 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel). The pre-school will serve four East L.A. parishes: Assumption, Our Lady of Talpa, St. Mary and San Antonio de Padua.

"We know that the earlier we get children into some kind of learning program and enjoying learning, the easier it is for them to succeed as they go along," said the cardinal."

The first inter-parochial preschool will also include a parent education component to serve Latino immigrant parents with English language learning as well as parenting skills.

The Cardinal's Awards Committee, Catholic Charities and an anonymous donor are already beginning the work. The cost of construction has been secured; however, funding is needed to equip classrooms, cover operating expenses for the first year and to begin an endowment for tuition assistance.

Since 1990, $5.4 million raised from the Cardinal's Award Dinner have supported nearly 70 programs, agencies and relief efforts in all pastoral regions of the archdiocese. The 2006 honorees bring to 89 the number of men and women honored with the award. For information on the 2007 Cardinal's Award Dinner, call (213) 637-7636.