Woodlake Pride instills responsibility, leadership, confidence and respect through gardening.

The California Wellness Foundation will honor these three community leaders at its 19th annual California Peace Prize ceremony in San Francisco Nov. 17. In recognition of their efforts to prevent violence and promote peace, the honorees will each receive a cash award of $25,000.

In 1993, Jimenez, together with his wife, Olga, founded Woodlake Pride, a volunteer organization that puts youth to work in innovative beautification projects throughout the community.

"We get kids involved in doing something positive," Jimenez said. "Our goal is to plant gardens, grow kids and grow a community."