Community Corner

Longtime Monrovia Volunteer Named Portantino's 'Woman of the Year'

Beth Costanza, who once worked for the Monrovia Chamber of Commerce, was honored in Sacramento on Monday.

A longtime Monrovia volunteer who has donated her time to myriad local organizations was named the 44th Assembly District's Woman of the Year and honored in a ceremony in Sacramento on Monday.

Beth Costanza, who worked for the Monrovia Chamber of Commerce in the 1990s and has long volunteered at the , was singled out for the award by Assemblyman Anthony Portantino (D-La Cañada Flintridge).

Costanza said she learned of the award after receiving a call from Portantino two weeks ago.

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"I think he actually asked my permission to be Woman of the Year and I told him I was amazed and thank you very much and I would accept it," Costanza said.

Costanza retired from her position with the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce last week, where she had worked for the last 12 years. In addition to her work with the Monrovia chamber and Foothill Unity, Costanza has also volunteered for the Monrovia Association of Fine Arts (MAFA) and served two terms on the city's Community Services Commission. She has also served on the board of Foothill Family Services and volunteered as a Girl Scout leader.

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"She is a tireless worker for our schools and our businesses and has earned the respect of our community," said Portantino in a written statement. "It is fitting that the State of California recognizes her many accomplishments."

On Monday, Costanza flew out to Sacramento and met with Portantino and his staff. She and about 80 other women were honored in a ceremony at the capitol Monday morning.

Costanza spent much of her time at each chamber helping small businesses and advising entrepreneurs, she said. A former small business owner herself, she and her husband Angelo Costanza ran Ballard's Butcher Block and the Cheyenne Supper Club in Arcadia.

Now that she's retired, Costanza said she plans to focus even more time on her volunteer efforts, though she hasn't decided exactly where that will be.

"I havent’t quite figured out where I’m going to volunteer but I will certainly be doing that," she said.


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