Sen. Dodd: Woodland Housing Advocate is Woman of the Year

WOODLAND – Janet Ruggiero, who led a distinguished career as a community development director in Yolo and Sacramento counties before applying her skills in her retirement to helping the homeless and creating housing, has been named Woman of the Year for Yolo County by Sen. Bill Dodd.

“I am deeply honored and humbled,” Janet Ruggiero said. “There are so many women more deserving of this award.  The commitment to serve is a tradition for me handed down by my mother who always volunteered. So it is her example that has caused me to stay committed to help others, especially those in need.  It was important to give back to the community because you have a responsibility to serve and to use your skills to benefit others and to encourage them to do the same.”

“Janet’s dedication to bettering her community and helping those in need is exemplary,” Sen. Dodd said. “As both a professional and volunteer, she has made a remarkable contribution to Woodland. She has demonstrated great leadership and a deep compassion for others.”

Ruggiero was Woodland’s community development director from 1979 to 1998 and held the same post in Citrus Heights until her retirement in 2008.  Along the way, she has been active in her community, serving as a board member of the nonprofit housing group, Friends of the Mission, as well as being a charter member of the League of Women Voters of Woodland, where she leads the group’s housing study. She is a past board member of the League of California Cities and has done extensive work on state legislation in the area of housing. In years past, she has provided professional training to planning commissions across the state.

Ruggiero also devotes countless hours to her church, Woodland’s Holy Rosary Parish, where she is working to develop a new building. She is director for board formation of the De La Salle Institute in Napa, providing training to school board members in eight states.

###

Senator Bill Dodd represents the 3rd Senate District, which includes all or portions of Napa, Solano, Yolo, Sonoma, Contra Costa, and Sacramento counties. You can learn more about the district and Senator Dodd at www.sen.ca.gov/dodd.