(Burbank, CA ­ September 19, 2002) Community volunteers Mary Alice O'Connor and Tomme Lenz are the recipients of the first annual Woodbury University Movers and Shapers Award. The Movers and Shapers Award recognizes and promotes outstanding volunteer efforts by members of the Burbank community.

The two will be honored Sunday, September 29 during a special ceremony from 2 to 4 p.m. at the New Woody's in Cabrini Hall, Woodbury University, 7500 Glenoaks Blvd., Burbank.

"Both Tomme and Mary Alice have made Burbank a better place to live," says James Dean, vice president for university advancement, Woodbury University. "They are truly movers of the community and shapers of the future and of people and of institutions."

O'Connor's volunteer efforts have touched nearly every segment of life in Burbank. She served more than 10 years as a member of the Burbank Board of Education, took on leadership roles in her children's Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts troops and was a PTA volunteer. O'Connor also has been involved with the Burbank Family Service Agency, Burbank YMCA, Burbank Community Hospital and Burbank Health Care Foundation. She chaired the community fundraising committee for the Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center's capital campaign. At Woodbury, she is a member of the President's Executive Council and supports the annual fashion show and Library Associates.

O'Connor organized Burbank Bus to Bowl programs for the Hollywood Bowl and was first chair of the Children's Open House at the Bowl, which for more than 30 years has introduced thousands of children each year to the joys of music, dance, poetry and theater.

For her efforts, O'Connor has received the National Volunteer Center Beautiful Activist Award and the Older American Recognition Award. She and her daughter J.P. were recognized earlier this year by Congressman Adam Schiff as Burbank Women of the Year for the 27th District and she is an honorary life member of the Burbank Chamber of Commerce.

Lenz also has a longtime commitment to the Burbank community, volunteering her time to benefit causes related to education and health. She first joined the McKinley Elementary School PTA in 1970 and stayed active in PTA as president at John Burroughs High School, president of the Burbank chapter and finally as president of the First District that covered 24 cities from Burbank to Pomona and more than 135,000 PTA members.

Lenz completed her PTA work with four years at the state level on the board of managers. She left that position after being elected to the board of the Burbank Unified School Districts, where she served a four-year term.

Lenz is past president of la Providencia Guild of Childrens Hospital, serves on the board of trustees for Burbank Community Hospital and has worked on various committees at St. Joseph's Medical Center, including the Breast Cancer Project and the new hospital construction campaign now underway. She is also a member of La Cadena Women's Club, which raises scholarship money for Burbank high school graduates.

For more information about the Movers and Shapers event or to purchase tickets to the awards reception, please call Woodbury University at 818.767.0888, ext. 215. Tickets are $25 per person and include refreshments.

Founded in 1884, Woodbury University is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in Southern California. An accredited, nonprofit university, Woodbury is located on a 22-acre residential campus in Burbank and offers bachelor's degrees from the School of Architecture and Design, Business and Management, and Arts and Sciences. Woodbury also offers a master of business administration as well as weekend and evening study for working adults. A San Diego campus was established in 1998 to offer bachelor of architecture degrees.