By Matthew Criswell

The College of Health and Human Services hosted its annual “Community Heroes” awards event Friday at the Smittcamp Alumni House.

The event is held each year to honor individuals in the community who have had an impact on children and families throughout the Central Valley. Winners were honored for their contributions to the community. Each was nominated by a department at Fresno State, or a center or institute within the College of Health and Human Services.

“‘Heroes Awards is an annual event where ‘unsung heroes’ in our community that work in the health and human services sector are recognized for their contributions,” said Beth Wilkinson, development coordinator for the College of Health and Human Services.

“Every year, each department in the college and some of our research centers nominate someone in their field who is making a difference in lives of families and the Central Valley community at large.”

The 2014 award winners and their nominating departments are: James Beauchamp, communicative disorders and deaf studies; Break the Barriers, kinesiology; James Wong, nursing and the Central California Center for Excellence in Nursing; Creative Therapeutics Physical Therapy, physical therapy; SAFE founding board members, SAFE Central Valley Coalition; Daniel Shydlerk, public health; Brent Smither, recreation administration; Margaret Jackson, social work education and Central California Social Welfare Evaluation, Research and Training Center; Robert Riddick, Central California Children’s Institute; and Walter Ramirez, ­Central Valley Health Policy Institute.

One of the groups honored at the event was Break the Barriers, a local organization dedicated to the inclusion of people with all abilities and disabilities. Break the Barriers was established in 1983 by Deby and Steve Hergenrader. The program began with 20 students, and now it has over 3,000 students in-house and partners with 145 schools throughout 32 school districts, providing inclusive programs during and after school.

“We were so honored to be recognized alongside so many other amazing people,” Deby Hergenrader said. “It was very inspiring to see all that is being done in the community.”

At the event, each individual was able to share what he or she was doing in their respective fields.

“The event was very classy,” Hergenrader said. “From the invitations all the way down to the delicious food, it was a great event.”