Day One Executive Director Set to Receive Nonprofit Executive Director of the Year Award     (10/6/2005)

State Senator Jack Scott, Assembly Majority Leader Dario Frommer and Assembly member Carol Liu will present Tahra Goraya with the Nonprofit Executive Director of the Year Award as part of their sixth annual Women In Business Award Luncheon on October 19 from 11:30 am- 1 pm at the Pasadena Hilton.

Ms. Goraya, Day One executive director for nearly five years, will be one of twenty-five distinguished women in private enterprise, science and technology, arts and entertainment to receive the distinction for her contributions to the community.  

Ms. Goraya oversees the operation of the 17-year-old Pasadena-based organization, which strives to reduce and prevent harm associated with alcohol, tobacco and other drugs among youth and families and the neighborhoods throughout San Gabriel Valley.  Under her leadership, Day One’s collaboration has become regionally and nationally recognized for its depth, breadth and comprehensive approaches for improving the quality of life for its constituents.  Program areas include:  education and awareness, alternative activities, capacity building trainings for parents and communities, and environmental and public policy advocacy.

Within the last several months, Goraya has been successful in securing funding from local foundations, Los Angeles County Health Services, and the Federal Governments Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration.

In addition to her involvement with Day One, Ms. Goraya is active in a number of social justice issues, civil right advocacy, and women’s health issues. She established the Minority Health Fair, Young Women’s Conference, Young Men’s Conference and African American HIV Conference in Bakersfield, where she previously resided.  In Pasadena, she established the annual Youth Fest, a communitywide month-long celebration promoting positive and healthy activities every year before the beginning of the new school year.  

”Day One is extremely proud of Ms. Goraya’s recent and significant successes improving the health, well-being and lives of the youth in our community by putting into action her innovative programs and ideas,” stated Day One Board Chair and Attorney Randy Renick.

Viewed as an expert in collaborative advocacy, Ms. Goraya has provided consultative and technical assistance services for state and local governments; faith and community-based organizations; school systems; corporations and other public and private sector entities.

Additionally, she serves as the first female president of the board of the Southern California Chapter of Council on American Islamic Relations, a leading national civil rights organization. Recently, she was selected as a Women’s Policy Institute Fellow by California Women’s Foundation.

Day One is a seventeen year-old community-based nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide an organizational structure by which Pasadena and Altadena will reduce the problems associated with alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use. Day One convenes, develops, coordinates, and provides prevention services.

Other items by this author:
Day One “Friend-Raiser” Celebrating Community Champions
Sober Spring Break - Parents! Have You Talked to Your Teens?

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