Al Minturn was the first program director of LA’s BEST. This award was established in 1992 to honor his life and outstanding involvement and dedication, as well as his humanitarian spirit. He instilled the value of service and making a difference in the world to members of our LA’s BEST community. In the past, awardees have made significant contributions to the promotion and improvement of the quality of life for our LA’s BEST community.
The Al Minturn Humanitarian Site Coordinator Award recognizes Site Coordinators who promote the health, happiness, and wellbeing of those in the LA’s BEST community, including students, their families, LA’s BEST staff, and individuals within the day school community.
2025 Award Recipient
Tyra Finney, Site Coordinator at Lizarraga
Tyra exemplifies the true spirit of the Al Minturn Humanitarian Site Coordinator Award through her commitment to the happiness and well-being of everyone in the LA’s BEST community. Her presence brings joy and stability, creating a space where students, families, staff, and school partners feel genuinely valued and supported.
As a Site Coordinator, Tyra leads with compassion and integrity. She prioritizes the needs of others, offering a safe space where students can thrive and staff can grow. Whether she’s mentoring her team, encouraging a student through a tough day, or engaging parents in site activities, Tyra is always present, intentional, and kind. Tyra is deeply invested in her team’s growth, providing ongoing guidance, support, and professional development to help others succeed.
Tyra’s selflessness, empathy, and wholehearted leadership leave a lasting impression on everyone she encounters. She is a shining example of what it means to lead with humanity, and we are proud to honor her with the 2025 Al Minturn Humanitarian Site Coordinator Award.
2024 Award Recipient
Priscilla Galvez, Site Coordinator at Sylmar Elementary
Since joining LA’s BEST in 2005, Priscilla has been a cornerstone of her community, forging strong relationships with faculty, families, and students. Her dedication is evident in her relentless advocacy for the program, ensuring that classrooms reflect LA’s BEST culture and students have enriching environments. Priscilla goes above and beyond by attending every weekend game, giving parents peace of mind and supporting students in sports.
Priscilla deeply understands the needs of the students they serve, ensuring that no child goes hungry by making snacks readily available. Her work helps bridge language barriers for families, helping parents navigate resources and understand the benefits of the program. Some of her efforts to secure opportunities, like the Kids for Dodger Baseball event, provide unforgettable experiences for the students. By explaining the importance of sports participation and facilitating access to these activities, she ensure that all students can engage in healthy and safe extracurricular activities, truly embodying the mission of LA’s BEST.
2023 Award Recipient
Coreena Parraz, Site Coordinator at Lassen Elementary
Corenna goes above and beyond her duties as a Site Coordinator. She is constantly offering support to her fellow LA’s BEST staff AND the school day teachers, administration, students and parents as well. Coreena ALWAYS puts the safety of her students first. On MULTIPLE occasions, Coreena was observed staying two to three hours after her shift to write a report to help the needs of a child.
Coreena is constantly advocating for new programs at her site. I’ve seen Coreena reach out to her supervising staff to push for programs she wanted to bring to her site.
Coreena asked her staff to select a couple students/families that could use extra support during the 2022 Holiday Season. She asked these students to make a wish list and all her staff selected an item to purchase from the students’ wish list.
