The California Wellness Foundation is proud to present its 2007 California Peace Prize honorees. Each received a cash award of $25,000 as an acknowledgment of their commitment to prevent violence and promote peace in their communities.

Casey Gwinn

Casey Gwinn has worked to prevent domestic violence and child abuse for more than 20 years. Previously, Gwinn served as the San Diego City Attorney, at which time he founded the San Diego Family Justice Center, a “one-stop shop” for domestic violence victims who need help navigating more than 30 city and county departments. The U.S. Department of Justice has singled out the Center as a national model.

Patricia Lee

Patricia Lee has served as a deputy public defender in San Francisco since 1978 and has practiced in the juvenile courts since 1981. She is currently the managing attorney of the San Francisco Public Defender’s juvenile office, and co-director of the Pacific Juvenile Defender Center, which seeks to improve the quality of representation provided by juvenile-delinquency attorneys.

Cora Tomalinas

A former nurse, and a current full-time volunteer and community activist, Cora Tomalinas has been an advocate for health and peace for three decades. She works with the San Jose Police Department and other community entities to combat gang crimes and provide educational opportunities for at-risk youth. Tomalinas was recently asked by city officials to serve on the City of San Jose’s delegation of the California Cities Gang Prevention Network, a collaborative in 13 cities of the National Council on Crime and Delinquency and the National League of Cities.