Manhattan Beach Unified School District volunteer Edie Babbe was honored in a special presentation in Universal City this week as one of three individuals named Parent Volunteers of the Year by the Los Angeles County Office of Education.

Babbe had been recognized as the MBUSD Parent Volunteer of the Year, then the 33rd District PTA Volunteer of the Year before Monday's honor.

"Edie Babbe sees the big picture," said MBUSD Superintendent Dr. Michael Matthews in a press release. "She understands that school funding has been reduced drastically, and she has taken steps with other volunteers that have impacted classrooms, schools, the district and all of California. She is truly an amazing leader."

Babbe earned her award due to recommendations and endorsements by parents and district personnel, who have worked with her on school and community committees, councils, boards and special task forces.

Some of Babbe's highlights include having served as Grand View Elementary School PTA President (2004-2006), Manhattan Beach Council of PTAs President (2006-2009), and Manhattan Beach Education Foundation Board (2004-present).

She has played a crucial role in MB PTA statewide advocacy efforts since 2004, according to the release. She was an active member of the South Bay Youth Project and Children's Health Center to provide counseling services to those who needed but could not afford them. Babbe also volunteered for the recently established Greater South Bay Education Coalition, a consortium of South Bay school districts that share budgetary strategies, resources, and lobbying efforts.

"One of Edie's proudest overarching accomplishments was to work with others to elevate local PTAs from being isolated fundraisers to being a cohesive power-house working hand-in-hand with school and district administrators to maintain district excellence in the face of horrific fiscal cutbacks," said Ida Vander Poorte, president of the MBUSD Board of Trustees.