LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. — The Crystal Hearts Ball is an exciting, elegant event hosted by The Youth Center each year. It honors and celebrates those who work hard to benefit our community in five different categories. They choose an individual, a family, an organization, a business and a youth nominee to be honored.

This year, the Crystal Hearts Ball will be held on Sept. 20 from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. Those attending will receive an excellent dinner, entertainment and the chance to participate in a silent auction. All proceeds from this event will go to the Youth Center’s Scholarship Program, further allowing them to benefit the lives of local children and families.

Here’s a look at this year’s Crystal Hearts Ball honorees:

Sam McCall will be honored as the individual of the year at the Crystal Hearts Ball in the fall. He is the dedicated owner of Cal Custom Interiors, located in Los Alamitos, and an impactful community member.

As a skilled craftsman, McCall has extended his expertise to help out the community in a variety of ways. He supported The Youth Center with the development of the new “Center for Youth” facility, providing them with the help they needed to complete the project.

Along with this, he has spent countless years volunteering at the Youth Center’s annual Christmas Tree Lot. He generously devotes his time to ensure that everything runs smoothly while the lot is open for business in December.

Sam McCall is an outstanding individual who generously dedicates his time and skills to serve the community. His commitment to serving local families truly sets him apart, making him a worthy recipient of this honor.

The Beckman Foundation earned this year’s honor as the organization of the year for the Crystal Hearts Ball. This incredible foundation has worked for years to help fund science programs and research organizations.

The foundation was founded by Dr. Arnold O. Beckman, who was a prominent figure in the world of chemistry and the inventor of the pH meter, along with his wife Mabel. This has influenced the organization’s desire to motivate young people to get involved in science.

“We are always looking at ways that we can tie back to the legacy of our founders. Certainly, innovation and scientific interest is core to what we do,” Anne Hultgren, the executive director of the foundation, said.

The Beckman Foundation works hard to foster science in the lives of the younger generation. They have worked with The Youth Center to support the Girls in STEM program in hopes of making a difference in the lives of local kids.

“If anyone in those classes goes on and says, ‘I can tackle science. I’m not intimidated by science. I think science is going to be fun and something that I can do, and I can see myself doing,’ that’s a win for us,” Hultgren said.

After winning this award, the organization plans to continue its involvement in the scientific aspect of the community. Each year, they give out their OC Beckman support grants, for which they receive proposals multiple times a year.

“We have new proposals that we’re looking at to see what we want to support in the future. (S)ome of those look really different and unusual… We have to see (if) they align with our funding priorities,” Kaerie Ray, a member of the foundation, said.

Overall, the Beckman Foundation is dedicated to fostering a love for science in the hearts of curious young kids and will continue to support innovative educational programs such as The Youth Center.

The Logue family is being presented with the award for family of the year. Together, Carrie, Daniel and their daughter Annika have made an immense impact on the community as a whole. The family attributes their desire to serve the community to their belief in the Christian faith.

“We have a heart for service and caring for others, which is rooted in our Christian faith. We are very blessed and look for ways to bless others. We strive to ‘love our neighbors as ourselves,” Carrie Logue said.

As the Executive Director of Los Alamitos Education Foundation (LAEF), Carrie works hard to enrich the daily lives of kids through educational, artistic, athletic and social programs offered at schools in the Los Alamitos Unified School District.

Daniel is a member of the Summer Harvest board, an organization that helps provide food to families who rely on the free meals from school during the summer. Each year, the family volunteers at food distributions and other events.

“Summer Harvest food distributions are memorable as (it is a time) when all three of us volunteer together,” Logue said.

As both Carrie and Daniel keep themselves involved in community service, they influence their daughter, Annika, to do so as well. She is a member of the National Charity League and does countless hours of volunteer work with her parents.

“Annika and I are proud members of the National Charity League, where we volunteer by babysitting at Precious Life Shelter, (provide) food for We Care (and doing) beach cleanups and more,” Logue stated.

Receiving this award is a huge honor for the family as it represents their dedication to the community they live in and is an incredible award from an acclaimed organization.

“We are so honored to be recognized and hope that our service might inspire others to reach out to those in need and give their time, talent, and/or a treasure to others,” Logue said.

This inspiring family could not be more deserving of the recognition they are set to receive at the Crystal Hearts Ball. With their strong will to help those in need, they will surely continue to leave a lasting impact on the community for many years to come.

The Saadeh Sisters are this year’s youth winners. These two young women have greatly impacted the children in the community. They both have worked closely with the Youth Center to create after-school programs that positively impact the local children.

Yara Saadeh is a junior at Los Alamitos High School who has worked closely with The Youth Center to create the Level Up! program that aims to help children develop their public speaking skills. She has also contributed to various other Youth Center programs.

Sarah Saadeh is a student at the University of California, Berkeley, where she majors in Civil Engineering. While she was still in high school, Sarah created the Girls in STEM program that provides young girls with better access to scientific knowledge. Over time, this program has expanded into the Kids in STEM program that is available to children of any gender from 1st to 7th grade.

Overall, these two young women have made an immense impact during their youth and are sure to do great things in the future.

The Family Plumber will be awarded the business award at this year’s Crystal Hearts Ball. For nearly 40 years, the Family Plumber has been a prominent name in the local plumbing industry. The company has partnered with the Youth Center for many events and has helped to support a variety of programs, including Camp SHARK in the summer.

This year, the Family Plumber installed water filtration devices at The Youth Center’s camp facilities to ensure the availability of clean and safe drinking water.

“I witnessed firsthand how active the kids are with the activities the Youth Center provides at Camp Shark. They need to stay hydrated, and it’s a must that they have safe, clean drinking water,” Mike Prencavage, the company’s owner, said.

Along with their continued partnership with the Youth Center, the business has big hopes for the future as they make moves to stay involved in the community.

“We plan to partner with local youth programs, (the) chamber of commerce and (the) community improvement departments throughout (Orange County) and (Los Angeles) to see where we can be of help,” Prencavage said.

Receiving a Crystal Hearts Award means a great deal to the Family Plumber, as it is a testimony to their hard work and commitment to serving the community.

“Over the history of our company, we have strived to be the best, and this award showcases that we are doing things the right way,” Mike Prencavage said.

The Family Plumber shines as an inspiring honoree for the Business Award at the Crystal Hearts Ball, making a remarkable impact on the families and children of our community.

This year’s recipients of the Crystal Hearts Ball awards are truly outstanding. Each individual or organization being celebrated has earned this recognition, and The Youth Center is thrilled to express its appreciation for all their hard work. To learn more about the Crystal Hearts Ball and ticket availability, visit theyouthcenter.org.