California's Strongest People You Can Bank On

For 112 years, Farmers & Merchants Bank has held fast to the core values of honesty, faith, service above self, and integrity, among others. It is this commitment that has served as the backbone of our organization through good times and bad, all the while assuring our customers that their assets will always be safe and secure.

Our long-standing tenure as a regional bank has provided the opportunity to serve a diverse group of individuals who share these values. They are visionary leaders who have shaped the very landscape of their communities and the lives of their neighbors. To honor their contributions, F&M established and is proud to present F&M’s “California’s Strongest People You Can Bank On” Awards.

These awards are designed to honor the virtues and characteristics F&M values in its customers. Each recipient embodies a personal virtue that exemplifies F&M’s own beliefs such as integrity, community, and goodwill toward others. They are people from different communities, industries, generations and backgrounds who are united by an unyielding commitment to caring, progress, and ‘doing Good.’

2019 California’s Strongest People You Can Bank On Honorees

Recipient	Organization/Affiliation	Community
Claudia Copley	4GIRLS	Long Beach
Donald Glasgow	Kingdom Builders Ministry	San Clemente
Randy Gordon	Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce	Long Beach
Jim Holden	Fish for Life	San Clemente
Vera Jimenez	Redondo Beach Rotarian	Redondo Beach
Gary Remland	Rotary Club of Orange	Orange
Dr. Kenneth Tokita	Parnassus Society	Tustin
Lailanie Jones	Precious Lamb Preschool	Long Beach
Tim Jones	The Beacon House Association of San Pedro	San Pedro
Debbie Painter	Autism by the Sea	Corona Del Mar

2018 California’s Strongest People You Can Bank On Honorees

Recipient	Organization/Affiliation	Community
Cherie Schenck	Project Self-Sufficiency	Huntington Beach
Dr. Christina Miller	Mental Health America of Los Angeles	East Long Beach
Dora Jacildo	Comprehensive Child Development, Inc.	Long Beach
Eric Forest Zahn	Tidal Influence	Long Beach
Jan Montague	San Clemente Village	San Clemente
Dr. Jerry R. Schubel	Aquarium of the Pacific	Long Beach
Jim Hogan	Standing Stone Ministries, Inc.	Rolling Hills Estates
Joe Baldo	Higher Ground Youth and Family Services	Fullerton
Dr. Kimberly BeDell	California Children's Rehabilitation Foundation	Memorial Hospital
Marty Burbank	OC Elder Law	Fullerton

2017 California’s Strongest People You Can Bank On Honorees

Award	Recipient	Organization/Affiliation	Community
The Honesty Award	Father Jose Magaña	St. Anthony Catholic Church	Long Beach
The Faith Award	Sister Marguerite McCarthy	Little Sisters of the Poor San Pedro	Rolling Hills Estates
The Loyalty Award	Cynthia Roe	National Center on Adoption and Permanency	San Juan Capistrano
The Integrity Award	Adam Coughran	Safe Kids Incorporated	Lake Forest
The Dedication Award	Dr. Inderpal Randhawa	Translational Pulmonary & Immunology Research Center	Long Beach
The Gratitude Award	Sylvester "Duke" Givens	Duke Enterprises	Bixby Knolls
The Humility Award	Dr. Standiford Helm II	Helm Center for Clinical Trials	Laguna Hills
The Dependability Award	Lara Fisher	South County Outreach	Lake Forest
The Compassion Award	Brenda Wells	I-5 Freedom Network	San Clemente
The Service Above Self Award	Sasiston Punjienseang		Lakewood

2016 California’s Strongest People You Can Bank On Honorees

Award	Recipient	Organization/Affiliation	Community
The Honesty Award	Bill Nelson	Fresh Beginnings Ministries	Newport Beach
The Faith Award	Ken Korver	Emmanuel Reformed Church/The Compton Initiative	Downey
The Loyalty Award	Angeles Ceballos	CREER Comunidad y Familia	San Juan Capistrano
The Integrity Award	Reggie Berry	Goals For Life Foundation	Lakewood
The Dedication Award	Dr. Miriam Mackovic-Basic	Complete Women Care Inc.	Bixby Knolls
The Gratitude Award	Patti Widdicombe	McDonald's	Garden Grove
The Humility Award	Mike Sheldrake	Polly's Gourmet Coffee	Belmont Shore
The Dependability Award	Joe Lins	Century 21 Discovery	Fullerton
The Compassion Award	Dr. Patricia Drown	San Clemente Domestic Violence Task Force	San Clemente
The Service Above Self Award	Kathy Tillotson	Build Futures	Downey

Learn more about our 2016 People You Can Bank On.

2015 California’s Strongest People You Can Bank On Honorees

Award	Recipient	Community
The Charity Award	Dr. John L. Blake	Long Beach
The Compassion Award	Katherine Holman	San Juan Capistrano
The Dedication Award	Dr. Kenneth B. Deck	Laguna Hills
The Duty Award	Terry Geiling	Long Beach
The Goodness Award	Annette Kashiwabara	Lakewood
The Gratitude Award	Yetta Kane	Long Beach
The Helpfulness Award	Carol Wait	Long Beach
The Kindness Award	Coronada King Haywood	Long Beach
The Selflessness Award	Debora Wondercheck	Newport Beach
The Service Above Self Award	James and Carla Hogan	San Clemente

Learn more about our 2015 People You Can Bank On.

2014 California’s Strongest People You Can Bank On Honorees

Award	Recipient	Community
The Kindness Award	Nate Jones	East Long Beach
The Goodness Award	Ellinor B. Ward	Laguna Hills
The Charity Award	Carmen & Miguel Escobedo	Rolling Hills Estates
The Devotion Award	Dr. Ralph Opacic	Fullerton
The Gratitude Award	Rick Rodriguez Sr.	Downey
The Helpfulness Award	Mark Gabay, Arman Gabay, & Norma Gabay	Main Office - Long Beach
The Dedication Award	Bill O’Connell	Huntington Beach
The Compassion Award	Dr. Elisa A. Nicholas	Memorial Hospital
The Service Above Self Award	Mamie Yong Maywhort	San Juan Capistrano
The Selflessness Award	Dominic Collaro	Rossmoor

Learn more about our honorees from past events of People You Can Bank On.