HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 5356
CITY OF PALO ALTO OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
December 1, 2014
The Honorable City Council
Palo Alto, California
Proclamation for Marion Mandell, Vice-President of Oaxaca,
Neighbors Abroad of Palo Alto
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A: Proclamation for Marion Mandell (DOC)
Department Head: Beth Minor, Acting City Clerk
Page 2
CITY OF PALO ALTO
PROCLAMATION
Marion Mandell
Neighbors Abroad of Palo Alto
WHEREAS, since 1964, the City of Palo Alto and Oaxaca, Mexico have enjoyed a Sister Cities
relationship, this year being the 50-year milestone and Marion Mandell, Neighbors Abroad Vice-President of
Oaxaca led the celebrations with a 30-person delegation in June 2014; and
WHEREAS, Marion Mandell has been the key champion of this Sister-City relationship, building lasting
friendships with Oaxaca for many years, providing diplomatic and cultural enrichments for Neighbors
Abroad and the City of Palo; and
WHEREAS, Marion Mandell has been the primary organizer of the student exchange program that, for
almost 50 years, has developed cultural understanding and built family connections between Palo Alto and
Oaxaca each summer for high school students and is now an inter-generational program where multiple
generations have participated in this program; and
WHEREAS, Marion Mandell has led numerous adult tours to Oaxaca, allowing Palo Altans to experience
and appreciate the rich, artistic life of Oaxaca City and its region and has made improvements to the
observatory, a science center for the Oaxacan students; and
WHEREAS, Marion Mandell has worked tirelessly to benefit Albergue Infantil Josefino, a children’s
home which cares for 55 orphaned, abandoned and abused children; the Niño-a-Niño (child-to-child)
program educates children how to teach each other basic health care, nutrition and environmental awareness,
which has reduced childhood deaths from double digits to 1 – 2 percent; and
WHEREAS, Marion Mandell, together with Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs, has organized the donation of
eight good-condition emergency vehicles from Palo Alto to Oaxaca where such vehicles are named after
Palo Alto fire personnel, including former Fire Captain Joe Carlton, Jorge Salazar, volunteer driver Bob
Wenzlau, former Fire Chief Nick Marinaro and an ambulance named after Marion Mandell.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Nancy Shepherd, Mayor of the City of Palo Alto, on behalf of the City Council
do hereby proclaim our gratitude to Marion Mandell who has so magnificently served as an ambassador to
our Sister-city of Oaxaca, Mexico and thank her for the time and effort she has expended to bring our two
cities together in mutual appreciation.
Presented: December 1, 2014
______________________________
Nancy Shepherd
Mayor