Supervisors last week honored the five Riverside County Women of the Year winners, a program started eight years ago by Board Chair Karen Spiegel.
“I want to thank my colleagues for always jumping in and participating in some of my crazy schemes,” Spiegel said. “But this is something that is really special to honor those who have stepped up and far and beyond.”
Each supervisor selects one woman from their district for the honor, with the ceremony held during the month of March, National Women’s History Month.
District 1: Rabbi Suzanne Singer
Rabbi Suzanne Singer served Temple Beth El in Riverside for 15 years, before retiring in 2023, and continues to support congregations across the Southland.
She is the daughter of a Holocaust survivor and has dedicated her life to advancing justice, human dignity and interfaith understanding by serving on local commissions and expanding trauma treatment efforts abroad.
“In the 50 some years that I have lived in Riverside, I have been moved and pushed by several different women in this community who I refer to as the conscience of this community,” Supervisor Jose Medina said. “Change doesn’t happen by itself, it takes individuals pushing, individuals calling on us to aspire to do better, aspire to do more, and those individuals live among us in this community, and one person who exemplifies that, that I know, is Rabbi Suzanne Singer.”
Singer dedicated the honor to her sister, Michele Singer Reiner, whose birthday would have been Tuesday.
District 2: Linda White
Linda White is a retired educator from the Corona-Norco Unified School District who has continued to support students at Orange Grove High School as a volunteer mentor.
She also serves the community generating critical support for cancer research and survivor programs through her work with Relay for Life and for local service initiatives addressing food insecurity, youth programs and community outreach through her work with the Rotary Club of Corona.
“She’s touched so many lives in many other areas within the city of Corona, the Corona-Norco Unified School District and now countywide,” Spiegel said. “And I just want to thank you for all the time and commitment you have done in all of the activities, and I’m sure I’ve missed many that you have been doing.”
White thanked Spiegel and the county for the honor.
“It’s a privilege to reside in Riverside County,” she said. “I think we’re an exceptional county, and I’m very honored to be a recipient of this award.”
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District 3: Leah Di Bernardo
Leah Di Bernardo is the founder of and chef at E.A.T. Marketplace, a farm-to-table restaurant, specialty food market, home delivery service and sustainable education/event space in the heart of Old Town Temecula.
For nearly two decades, she has supported her community through school gardens, local food initiatives and mentorship programs that work to uplift farmers, women entrepreneurs and youth.
“Leah’s dedication to our Third District community runs deep,” Washington wrote in a social media post. “Through her passion for local food, youth education, and uplifting women in business, she has created spaces where connection, growth and opportunity flourish.”
Di Bernardo thanked the county, the supervisors, her daughter and all of the women who came before and paved a path for her success.
“I want to thank the women who built this country, who built this county, and the women who were jailed and imprisoned for using their voices throughout time, for centuries, and the women in our county who continually lift each other up,” she said. “And just a quick appreciation for the immigrant women in this county that, as a food service provider, I stand on their shoulders, and I’m so appreciative of them and of the women in my family before me who have lift[ed] me up.”
District 4: Sensei Tamara Canedo-Lifschutz
Sensei Tamara Canedo-Lifschutz is the founder and CEO of Seiden-Juku, a La Quinta-based nonprofit organization dedicated to building leaders through the art of Karate-Do and Para-Karate serving individuals with disabilities as well as youth impacted by foster care, abuse and bullying.
She is also the Para-Karate coach for Team USA by USA Karate with the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Community.
“When I heard her story, it was at an event, and she received an award,” Supervisor V. Manuel Perez said. “I couldn’t believe that we have a sensei that does this line of work for the benefit of the community.”
Canedo-Lifschutz thanked Perez, her family and the community she serves.
“Sometimes we are given the greatest gift, and that is the gift of love,” she said. “And when you are given love, like I was from my mom, you’re able to pour your love into the people that sometimes need it the most.”
District 5: San Jacinto Councilmember Valerie Vandever
San Jacinto Councilmember Valerie Vandever’s commitment to her community goes far beyond her service on the council.
In addition to volunteering at weekly food distribution events in the city, she’s also a member of the local Rotary and Soroptimist clubs, the American Legion, the Legion Auxiliary and the San Jacinto Chamber of Commerce.
“I’m so amazed by not only the work that she does on the city council, but even in the community as well,” Supervisor Yxstian Gutierrez said. “She really does give back.”
Vandever thanked Gutierrez for the honor.
“I couldn’t be happier to be chosen Woman of the Year,” she said. “Thank you so very, very much. I appreciate it.”
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