“Neal and Linda Hooberman of Clinton are the first recipients of Island County’s Community Health Hero Award, presented Dec. 5 at a special meeting of the Island County Board of Health and the Community Health Advisory Board (CHAB).Established earlier this year by CHAB, the award commemorates outstanding service in the field of community health by recognizing individuals who have reached beyond their routine activities to directly or indirectly impact our community’s health in such areas as personal health, environmental health, safety and quality of life issues. It is in these latter two areas that Neal and Linda Hooberman have excelled, CHAB said.Shortly after retiring to Whidbey in 1994, the Hoobermans committed themselves to helping the children of Island County by establishing the Child Abuse Prevention Foundation (CAPF) and focusing their efforts to enlist community leaders in support of their cause, said CHAB. The Hoobermans’ involvement has been crucial to the success of CAPF.During the past five years, CAPF – with funding provided by the community through grants, donations and fund-raising events – has developed awareness and implemented prevention activities, such as a resources guide, two community crisis and respite nurseries, and the Network of Needs program.The organization also provided grants to promote programs such as Readiness to Learn, the CADA Puppet Theater (a project of the Citizen Against Domestic and Sexual Abuse) and teen pregnancy/parent education programs. CAPF also started the Better Birthday Club, a summer camp program, teddy bear outreach project, and the bicycle recycle program.In the last year alone, 80 children received presents through the Better Birthday Club; 800 teddy bears were distributed to abused children and to fire, police and hospital departments; 10,000 Resource Guides were distributed; 1,000 Honor Our Children posters were displayed all over Whidbey Island; and awareness meetings were held with clergy, community leaders and service clubs.Over $100,000 in revenues was generated and nearly $70,000 was spent on programs and awareness activities.With this Community Health Hero Award, CHAB hopes to not only honor committed citizens and their efforts, but also to further CHAB’s mission of assisting the Island County Board of Health in improving and maintaining the physical, mental and social well-being of county residents.Other nominees recognized for making significant contributions in bettering the community’s health included Miriam Raabe, Nel Whitaker, Debra Valis, Lynn Willeford, Barbara Cope, Bernita Sanstad and Trish Rose. Each nominee will receive a Certificate of Recognition for service to the community. “