Board Chair Penner receives Improving Lives award
BSCC Board Chair Linda Penner, center, is seen here with Kathryn Wage and Kim Bond of the nonprofit agency Mental Health Systems after receiving the group’s Improving Lives award. Linda was honored at the agency’s annual Be the Hope luncheon recently in Fresno. The nonprofit serves individuals and families impacted by mental illness and substance abuse disorders in the Central Valley. Linda was honored for her “dedication to improving lives across both the County of Fresno and State of California,” while she served as the Fresno County Chief of Probation and President of the California Chiefs of Probation. In making the award, CEO Kim Bond told the crowd that Linda supported treatment and rehabilitation in her work with juveniles and offenders on probation. “She is compassionate and kind always believing in doing the right thing. There’s a phrase we use at MHS: Warrior spirit and servant heart. This certainly describes Linda Penner: Ready to fight when the need arises and yet always willing to serve the community and the people in it.”