The winner of the Individual Champion award is Sunne Wright McPeak, president and CEO of the California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF), a statewide nonprofit that aims to close the "digital divide" by widening the adoption of broadband.
San Joaquin County won the Project/Organization Champion, based on its Innovative Care for Adolescent Needs (I-CAN). The winners were first reported in the Lake County News.
CETF advocates digital inclusion in all areas, including education, workforce preparation, health care, public housing and the delivery of government services. McPeak has helped lead in the formation and funding of the California Telehealth Network, to bring broadband Internet to rural health-care clinics, hospitals and medically underserved communities at an affordable rate. Last month, the CEFT added six new seats to its board of directors, bringing the total to 14 board members plus the president.
San Joaquin County created its I-CAN app as a means of streamlining placement and other services for "at-risk" youth. The previous process was manual and not as detailed as the app.
The winners will be honored June 21 at the California State Fair Gala, which benefits the youth scholarship programs of the Friends of the California State Fair.
