The League of Women Voters of the Claremont Area recently presented the Ruth K. Ordway Award to Teddie Warner.  The Ordway Award is given annually to a person who has performed outstanding community service.  Congressmember Judy Chu and Matt Lyons from Senator Chris Holden’s office presented certificates of recognition to Ms. Warner at the League’s annual holiday party held December 20.

Ms. Warner has been a longtime active volunteer for the Claremont Unified School District, the League of Women Voters, the Claremont performing arts scene, and the Claremont Presbyterian Church.

In 1984, Ms. Warner and her family moved from Pasadena to Claremont, where she immediately became involved in the recycling movement through the League of Women Voters Resources Management Committee, eventually also assisting with the League’s annual fundraising auction

For over 15 years, Ms. Warner served on Claremont Parent-Faculty Association and as PFA president at elementary, junior high, high school and district levels. She led numerous committees and campaigns for the school district, including chairing the Measure A campaign in the early 1990s.

In 1999, she was a founder of Claremont Educational Foundation, originally called Ed-Net. She served as vice president and president as the organization was getting on its feet. Its initial purpose was to provide music programs to replace the elementary music classes the district had cut during a budget crisis. Ed-Net, which morphed into CEF, currently raises $250,000 to $300,000 annually to support arts and technology programs at schools sites throughout CUSD. 

To honor Ms. Warner’s contributions, CEF issues an annual college scholarship in her name for a Claremont High School student who excels in community service.

From 1999 to 2005, Ms. Warner worked professionally as volunteer coordinator and as Healthy Start project manager for CUSD.

Ms. Warner also helped found the Claremont After-School Programs, CLASP, in 2005 and has just concluded three productive years as president. She helped CLASP make significant progress in securing a high level of stable funding, community outreach, program improvement and strengthening the staff performance and volunteer tutoring.

Ms. Warner is passionate about many things, one of which is the performing arts.  She has served as treasurer of Foothill Philharmonic, which supports the LA Philharmonic Orchestra; and for the past several years, she has organized a program for CLASP children to attend an annual children’s concert at Disney Hall with support from Foothill Philharmonic. 

At Curtain Raisers, which supports theater and dance, Ms. Warner has been a driving force in publicizing the organization’s scholarship opportunities to qualified college students in the performing arts. She also serves on the panel that interviews the students and selects the winners.

At the Claremont Presbyterian Church over the past decade, Ms. Warner has served in many leadership roles including Deacon, Moderator and chair of the pastor search committee.