Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Fresno Health Care Advocate Among State's Women of the Year
GV-Wire-1
By gvwire
Published 6 years ago on
March 6, 2019

Share

Fresno non-profit leader Davena Witcher, who is working to build a health center for underserved residents of Mendota, was recognized Monday as a California Woman of the Year honoree in ceremonies at the state Capitol.

“Davena Witcher is an exceptional woman who has dedicated her time to transform and save babies’ lives.”State Sen. Andreas Borgeas

Each year, the state Legislature recognizes one woman in each district from across the state for serving their regional communities with distinction. Witcher, the Fresno-based Executive Director of AMOR – Alliance for Medical Outreach & Relief, was selected for the honor by state Sen. Andreas Borgeas.

Established Hospital in Afghanistan

Witcher joined AMOR in 2008 and played a key role in developing the organization’s cornerstone project, a 100-bed hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan, offering maternal and child services in the war-torn country. She now leads the effort to establish a health and neighborhood resource center in Mendota, which will offer primary care, dental, youth and family services to the rural communities of western Fresno County.

“Here in the 8th Senate District, we are incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by amazing people who do impressive things for our community and for the world, Borgeas said. “Davena Witcher is an exceptional woman who has dedicated her time to transform and save babies’ lives.”

Witcher has a bachelor’s degree in nursing with a background in neonatal and transplant services. Under her leadership, AMOR has brought together numerous community service organizations and health partners to bridge service gaps in the Mendota area, which is impacted by highly concentrated poverty. The project is slated to break ground in May.

Joins Other Leading Women Honored by Legislators

Witcher joined other local honorees selected by area legislators, including:

  • Misty Her, Instructional Superintendent for Fresno Unified, named by Assemblyman Joaquin Arambula. Her was born in a POW camp in Laos and was 5 years old when her family came to the United States. As an adult, she became a pioneer in education, becoming the first vice principal of Hmong descent in Fresno Unified and then the first Hmong female principal in the United States. Today, she leads Fresno Unified’s improvement efforts in implementing curriculum, staff development, evaluations, and student assessments.
  • Whitney Bunker, a foster child advocate who founded City Without Orphans, selected by Assemblyman Jim Patterson. The organization raises awareness and helps find loving homes for children in the foster care system.
  • Barbara Jean Hill, Girl Scout leader and educator, named by Sen. Melissa Hurtado. Hill has worked in education and corrections and was co-founder of a women’s domestic violence shelter in Coalinga in 2003. She has also been recognized by the Girls Scouts organization as Leader of the Year.
  • Sandy Sills, CEO of the Dinuba Chamber of Commerce, selected by Assemblyman Devon Mathis. Sills is chair of Dinuba’s Economic Development Commission and volunteers with several non-profit organizations in her community.

Californians with National Profiles Named Also

Also among the 2019 California Woman of the Year class were two recipients who are also well-known on the national level.

Kathy Griffin

Dr. Christine Blasey Ford was named Woman of the Year by Palo Alto Assemblyman Marc Berman. Last year, Ford gave testimony in a highly-watched U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee hearing that she had been sexually assaulted by then U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. Ford is a research psychologist at the Stanford School of Medicine. She is set to receive her award at a private event later this month.

The other high-profile recipient was and activist Kathy Griffin, selected by Santa Monica Assemblyman Richard Bloom. Griffin is a two-time Emmy and Grammy award-winning actor-comedian, writer, and producer. In a statement, Bloom noted Griffin has helped raise more than $5 million for HIV/AIDS services and LGBTQ causes and has performed for active military servicemen and women serving overseas.

Bloom credited Griffin with being “a fervent champion for First Amendment rights and a host of causes for which she has dedicated considerable energy and time.”

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

LA Dodgers Pledge $1 Million to Support Families Impacted by ICE Raids

DON'T MISS

Pakistan to Nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize

DON'T MISS

Vance, in Los Angeles, Says Troops Need to Stay, Blasts Newsom Over Immigration

DON'T MISS

Nuclear Diplomacy Stuck, Israel Says It Killed Top Iran Commander

DON'T MISS

Mahmoud Khalil Vows to Resume Pro-Palestinian Activism After Release From US Jail

DON'T MISS

Trump Says He Wants to Fund More Trade Schools. Just Not These.

DON'T MISS

Two Days of Terror: How the Minnesota Shooter Evaded Police and Got Caught

DON'T MISS

B-2 Bombers Moving to Guam Amid Middle East Tensions, US Officials Say

DON'T MISS

Israeli Strike on Tehran Kills Bodyguard of Slain Hezbollah Chief

DON'T MISS

Bentley the Porch-Crasher Pup Hopes for a Forever Home

UP NEXT

Vance, in Los Angeles, Says Troops Need to Stay, Blasts Newsom Over Immigration

UP NEXT

Nuclear Diplomacy Stuck, Israel Says It Killed Top Iran Commander

UP NEXT

Bentley the Porch-Crasher Pup Hopes for a Forever Home

UP NEXT

This Fresno Family Had Six Graduations, Ranging From Pre-K to High School

UP NEXT

Amazon’s Prime Day 2025 Levels Up With Four Days of Deals Starting July 8

UP NEXT

Voice of America Parent Terminates Over 600 More Staff in Likely Death Knell

UP NEXT

Fresno County’s Ruth Fire Destroys Structure in Yokuts Valley

UP NEXT

Ninth Circuit Strikes Down CA’s ‘One-Gun-Per-Month’ Law

UP NEXT

Town Hall Unveils New Season With Best-Selling Authors, ‘Jeopardy!’ Host, and More

UP NEXT

Fresno Police Investigate Fatal Shooting, Seek Public’s Help

Despite Clashes With US Presidents, Israel’s Netanyahu Usually Gets His Way

5 hours ago

Pope Leo Urges International Diplomacy to Prevent ‘Irreparable Abyss’

5 hours ago

Oil to Open Higher as US Strikes on Iran Boost Supply Risk Premium

5 hours ago

US Strikes Against Iran Not Aimed at Regime Change, Pentagon Chief Says

5 hours ago

US Bombing of Iran Started With a Fake-Out

5 hours ago

Pakistan Condemns Trump’s Bombing of Iran a Day After Nominating Him for Peace Prize

5 hours ago

World Awaits Iran’s Response After Trump Says US ‘Obliterates’ Nuclear Sites

5 hours ago

Mariska Hargitay Comes to Terms With a Lifetime of Family Secrets

6 hours ago

Mysterious Ancient Humans Now Have a Face

6 hours ago

World Leaders React to US Attack on Iran

18 hours ago

Advisory Warns of ‘Heightened Threat Environment’ in US After Iran Strikes

WASHINGTON  -An advisory from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security warned on Sunday of a “heightened threat environment in the Uni...

4 hours ago

A "No war on Iran" banner is held as people attend an anti-war demonstration in Los Angeles, California, U.S., June 21, 2025. (Reuters File)
4 hours ago

Advisory Warns of ‘Heightened Threat Environment’ in US After Iran Strikes

Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan meets with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi as they are flanked by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and members of Turkish and Iranian delegations, during the 51st Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), in Istanbul, Turkey, June 21, 2025. (Reuters File)
4 hours ago

Muslim Countries to Set up Contact Group to Seek Israel-Iran De-Escalation

4 hours ago

Visalia Police Seek Public’s Help in Sexual Assault Investigation

President Donald Trump speaks as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu waves following a meeting in the White House, in Washington, U.S., April 7, 2025. (Reuters/Kevin Mohatt)
5 hours ago

Despite Clashes With US Presidents, Israel’s Netanyahu Usually Gets His Way

Pope Leo XIV holds a Jubilee audience on the occasion of the Jubilee of Sport, at St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican June 14, 2025. (Reuters File)
5 hours ago

Pope Leo Urges International Diplomacy to Prevent ‘Irreparable Abyss’

An oil tanker is being loaded at Saudi Aramco's Ras Tanura oil refinery and oil terminal in Saudi Arabia May 21, 2018. (Reuters File)
5 hours ago

Oil to Open Higher as US Strikes on Iran Boost Supply Risk Premium

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth holds a briefing at the Pentagon, after the U.S. struck Iranian nuclear facilities, during the Israel-Iran conflict, in Arlington, Virginia, U.S., June 22, 2025 in this still image taken from handout video. Reuters TV/U.S. Department of Defense/Handout via REUTERS
5 hours ago

US Strikes Against Iran Not Aimed at Regime Change, Pentagon Chief Says

A satellite view shows an overview of Fordow underground complex, after the U.S. struck the underground nuclear facility, near Qom, Iran June 22, 2025. MAXAR TECHNOLOGIES/Handout via REUTERS
5 hours ago

US Bombing of Iran Started With a Fake-Out

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend