They will be honored at the Hearts of Gold Gala Saturday at the Best Western Hood River Inn.

Whitten and Pelayo were chosen for “exemplifying exceptional advocacy and/or action in contributing to the community’s health.”

Whitten will receive this year’s health professional award. She is recognized by the courts, State Department of Human Services and peer professionals as an expert in children’s mental health. Last year, she came out of retirement to oversee the development and implementation of the Systems of Care for Mid-Columbia Center for Living.

“Janet’s expertise and dedication in collaborating with local partners to ensure that the complex needs of families struggling with mental illness, regardless of ability to pay, are met is just one example of her commitment to our community,” said Rena Whittaker, executive director of the PHRMH Foundation.

Pelayo, health promoter at Nuestra Comunidad Sana, a program of The Next Door Inc., and family services coordinator at Mid Columbia Children’s Council, will be recognized for his role as a community partner. In addition to Pelayo’s extensive work with the Latino community in providing health education and lay counseling on diabetes, HIV/AIDS and oral health, he began Hombres Autoresponsables para Parar el Abuso (HAPA), a long-term intensive support group for perpetrators of domestic violence, in 1994. Through this program, he has helped hundreds of men learn to control their anger and work through their emotions before becoming violent.

“He is devoted to ensuring all people live healthier lives, children get a good education and families in crisis get the help they need,” Whittaker said.

Tickets for the Hearts of Gold Gala are $75 and can be reserved by calling the foundation office at 387-6474. The event is open to the public and will feature a champagne reception, plated dinner and silent and live auctions. All proceeds will benefit PHRMH foundation’s The ONE Campaign.