The founder of World Famous VIP Records will be among a dozen Long Beach people and businesses honored Friday evening for the work they do in their community.

State Sen. Ricardo Lara, who represents Long Beach and other southeast cities in the county, will host his annual Excellence in the 33rd District Awards in downtown Long Beach where he will honor those improving the quality of life of residents in the 33rd Senate District, it was announced today.

“The Excellence Awards celebrate the people who give the Southeast its soul and its swagger,” said Lara.

The Long Beach honorees include:

• Kelvin Anderson Sr., who helped launch Snoop Dogg’s career through his World Famous VIP Records studio, will be given the Community Icon Award.
• The Jenni Rivera Love Foundation, which helps women and children in domestic violence and abuse situations, will be recognized as the Nonprofit of the Year Award. It’s named after the late Latina singer Jenni Rivera who was a teen mom in Long Beach struggling with poverty and domestic violence.
• Soroptimist of Lakewood/Long Beach, which provides resources to women and girls that lead to social and economic empowerment.
• The Willmore City Heritage Association, known for rehabilitating historic homes and sponsoring neighborhood cleanups, tree plantings and recreational activities.
• Long Beach Gray Panthers, who advocate for seniors on issues like health care, and affordable housing.
• Los Cerritos Wetland Trust, which works to protect and restore the estuary of the Los Cerritos Wetlands.
• AIDS Food Store, an all-volunteer organization that provides food for more than 100 people living with HIV/AIDS.
• Beach Cities Mustang Club founder Jon Schultz who led a campaign that raised $160,000 to build a state-of-the-art, ADA-accessible play structure at Carver Elementary in the South of Conant neighborhood.
• Community advocate Thary Ung, who served as a Citizen Police Complaint commissioner representing the city’s 6th Council District and helps raise funds and contribute time to Cambodian nonprofits in the community.
• Nguyen Lawyers, a boutique litigation firm that supports youth programs and provides college scholarships for local high school students.
• The Power of One Self Defense Institute, which offers free classes to women and the youth and runs Power of One World Leadership Foundation, which seeks to build schools in Nepal and host backpack and school supply drives.
• The Long Beach Minister’s Alliance, a coalition of church leaders and community advocates that use faith to address on public safety, health and education.

Other honorees include The Rock Club Music Is The Remedy nonprofit in Signal Hill; Bell-based El Arca; family care provider Human Services Association in Bell Gardens; The Lady Killer Barbershop in Cudahy; Communities for a Better Environment in Huntington Park; the Lynwood Alumni Association; Big Al’s Pizzeria in Maywood; Mujeres Unidas Sirviendo Activamente in Paramount; Konoike-Pacific in South Gate; Primestor Development in the unincorporated Florence-Firestone/Walnut Park community; Melissa’s/World Variety Produce in Vernon.

Click here for a list of last year’s winners.