Lieu Honors Dr. Rebecca Foo as "Woman of the Year"

Sacramento , CA – Today, Assemblymember Ted W. Lieu (D-Torrance) honored Dr. Rebecca Foo as the 53rd Assembly District’s 2006 “Woman of the Year.”

“I am thrilled to have selected Dr. Foo as the “Woman of the Year” for the 53rd District,“ said Lieu. “She has risen above personal obstacles to become a respected and vital member of the community.“

Dr. Foo currently serves as Executive Director and President of the Switzer Learning Center, a non-profit organization designed to provide a nurturing environment and individualized education for students with exceptional needs. She just achieved her vision to design a state of the art special education school and treatment program that will serve students with a wide variety of learning, emotional, and behavioral problems in the South Bay Area of Los Angeles.

Dr. Foo became the driving force behind the new Switzer Learning Center by serving as architect, construction manager, and chief fundraiser, in addition to her other duties. Under her leadership, the 28,085 square foot facility was constructed $3 million dollars under budget and began enrolling students in July of 2005. Dr. Foo has touched the lives of thousands of children just, as her life was touched many years ago.

“This honor is especially meaningful to me because I had the chance to share it with one of my mentors before his passing last week,” said Dr. Foo. “He saw past my façade as a troubled youth and saw that there was something special deep inside that needed to be nurtured. Because of him, I have dedicated my life to providing the same nurturing and support to thousands of other troubled youth. I hope my honor today inspires all of my kids at my school to see that they also have the potential to achieve great things too if they just take the steps to turn their stumbling blocks into stepping stones.”

Dr. Foo is also the Vice President of the Board of Directors of the California Association of Private Special Education School, and is involved in many organizations that include Red Cross Disaster Mental Health Services, the Torrance Police Department Bureau of Justice Assistance Advisory Board, the California State Psychological Association, and many others. Her husband, Dane Collins and daughter Katie Robeson have been active supporters in her efforts and of the Switzer Learning Center.

The annual “Woman of the Year” ceremony gives legislators the opportunity to honor extraordinary women in California who are actively working towards making a difference in their communities. The 2006 “Woman of the Year” honorees were honored today in a special ceremony held on the floor of the State Assembly floor.