FAIRFIELD — An active high school senior, a breast cancer survivor and nonprofit director are the recipients of this year's Soroptimist International of Solano County annual awards.
Renae Jackson, a Vanden High School senior, earned the Violet Richardson Award, named after Violet Richardson Ward, the first president of the first Soroptimist Club. It is for girls ages 14-17 who volunteer in the community or at their school. The winner receives a cash award for themselves and a charitable organization of their choosing.
The Womens Opportunity Award is for females 18 and older needing financial assistance to complete their college education. It went to Suisun City resident Willena Glaster.
Linda Mahoney, director of Heather House, Fairfield's homeless shelter, earned the Ruby Award for women helping other women.

Willena Glaster
Glaster applied after learning about the award from the financial aid director at Brandman University. She's working toward a degree in early childhood development.

“I've been working with children since I was about 15,” Glaster said. “I love it.”

She and her husband have seven children in their blended family. A 15-year-old remains at home and attends Fairfield High School. 

Glaster started college in 1977 and left to marry and have children. After a divorce, she returned to school again.

“Then life happened again,” she said.

Three years ago, after a 20-year-plus absence, she returned to school, eight months after being diagnosed with breast cancer. In 2008, she had three strokes due to diabetic complications.

She takes the majority of her classes online and attends some evening courses. During the day, she operates an in-home day care center. She also sells Mary Kay Cosmetics.

The Gary, Ind., native has lived in Suisun City about seven years. She previously lived in Vallejo.

She brings a wealth of experience working with children ranging from working in her son's tutoring business to serving on the Black Infant Health Coalition board of directors.

“I was stunned and humbled that through all of the adversity with my health, God is still able to show he can do anything if you trust and believe in him,” Glaster said of the award.

With the honor, she said, comes great responsibility. Her goal is to be an example of excellence.

With her degree in hand, Glaster would like to work with preschool and kindergarten students dealing with learning disabilities and open her own charter school.

Linda Mahoney
With Heather House since it began in 2001, Mahoney said she's honored to win the Ruby Award given to a woman making a difference in the lives of women and children.

“It's humbling Soroptimist would choose to recognize my work,” Mahoney said, adding that she can't do it alone.

“This is a huge collaborative effort. I've had a wonderful staff over the years and the community has been so supportive of the work we have done,” she said. “There is no way one person could do this by themselves.”

In the past decade, about 600 families have found permanent housing through Heather House.

Calling it life-changing work, Mahoney, who grew up in Lafayette, had a stable life. Her parents have been married 65 years and still reside in the same house where she grew up.

“I had wonderful role models and great parents,” she said.

Now, she's exposed to a different side of life, one that involves generational poverty and domestic violence.

“We're here to break that cycle,” she said. “We know we can because we have been successful over and over.”

The majority of people Mahoney sees at Heather House lack a support system, she said.

“When we face a struggle, we have someone to fall back on, to bridge the gap for us,” she said. “These families don't have that resource.”

Mahoney knew she had to take the Heather House job after making a visit to a local welfare motel. During the visit with a resource person to help the family, Mahoney saw six kids, sleeping lengthwise, in one twin bed.

“I saw that and I just thought I needed to do something. I was a mom. I had four kids, all raised in Fairfield. They had grown up,” she said. “I felt like all these children needed our help.”

She finds great passion in her work. Mahoney never pictured herself running a homeless shelter.

“I graduated from college with a degree in social work. I thought using my degree was raising my children,” she said.

Renae Jackson
One wonders how Renae Jackson finds time to sleep.

The Vanden High School senior is always on the go whether it be running cross country or track or volunteering at The Leaven, a Christian-based after-school program.

“She has a passion for everything she does,” said Cyndi Jackson, her mother. “She is totally dedicated to helping others.”

Jackson aspires to be a doctor, possibly a cardiologist or neurologist.

She's already been accepted at Long Beach State and is waiting to hear from other colleges like UC Davis and UC San Diego, where she has also applied.

“Solano (Community College) is always an option, but I prefer to start out at a four-year college,” she said.

She began volunteering with The Leaven about three years ago.

“One of the most important things is reading,” she said. “A lot of the kids don't speak English as their first language, so their parents can't help them with homework. Reading is critical to getting anywhere.”

Her sophomore English teacher at Vacaville Christian Schools encouraged her to give it a try.

“I love tutoring kids,” Jackson said.

She and her mother hope to participate in this year's Team in Training, which benefits the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Jackson had a classmate last year diagnosed with leukemia.

“It fits me perfectly since I'm a runner,” she said.

Jackson encourages everyone to volunteer in their community. She said every little bit can make a difference.

Reach Amy Maginnis-Honey at 427-6957 or amaginnis@dailyrepublic.net.