Beth Gendreau receives Mayor’s DNA Award

Beth Gendreau and Mayor Sean Ashton. Photo courtesy city of Downey

DOWNEY – Beth Gendreau, 31-year resident of Downey, received the Mayor’s DNA Award for outstanding volunteerism, selflessness, extraordinary leadership and exceptional service in an effort to make the community of Downey a better place to live. 

The award was presented at the Feb. 27 city council meeting by Mayor Sean Ashton. 

Beth and husband, Scott, have three children who were educated in the Downey Unified School District. She has been active in the PTA for 21 years, serving first at Price Elementary School, then president of PTA at Griffiths Middle School. After serving as a board member of the Downey Council PTA for many years, she became its president, serving the allotted two terms. 

She was director of the PTA H.E.L.P.S. food pantry for seven years and currently works with Downey First Christian Church FoodHelp with their food distribution program on Saturdays, as well as their community outreach. 

Beth is still active on two PTA boards, serving as their parliamentarian and continues to be a part of Thirty-Third District PTA as Head Start Consultant where she serves on the Policy Council for LACOE Head Start. She is also a member of Downey Unified School District Parent Advisory Committee for LCFF (Local Control Funding Formula).  

Beth is chairman of the CROP Hunger Walk, which is held annually,  and serves as treasurer for Downey Coordinating Council. She’s also an appointed member of Downey’s Public Works Committee.  She is employed by Downey Unified School District, working in the cafeteria. 

Beth has been a Girl Scout leader and co-leader for 19 years, starting with a troop of Daisy Scouts through Senior Scouts and assisted her youngest daughter in achieving the Gold Award, an equivalent to the Boy Scouts Eagle Award. She still assists her cousin’s troop with various activities when needed. 

Beth is involved with daughter, Kelly’s Non-Profit LEASH Animal Rescue, as well as the non-profit Environmental organization, Trails 4 All, where she represents them as a member on the working committee of the Lower Los Angeles River Revitalization Project.  

In 2015, Beth Received the Woman of the Year Award for recognition in the area of Non-Profits, for the 32nd Senate District of California.

Beth said she “appreciates the recognition given by her community and thanks her family and friends for their continued support of her effort to help make the City of Downey a wonderful place to live.”