Through his altruism and civic-mindedness, Lambert established the Tournament of Champions Youth Track and Field Meet , the Tournament of Champions Youth Basketball Tournament, the Pre-Christmas Basketball Tournament and a campership alliance to provide summer camp scholarships for about 600 low-income youth. Lambert has also helped launch school-based, after-school sports programs and sponsorships for recreation and education programs. The founder of the Santa Barbara Youth Soccer Coalition, co-founder of the Endowment for Youth Committee and founder of the Yes I Can Program, Lambert has effectively networked with local foundations and businesses to provide monetary support and sponsorship for a multitude of programs and activities in the Santa Barbara area.
No stranger to honors, Lambert most recently received the Dr. Carlos Ornelas Award from the Santa Barbara Human Relations Commission in 2004 and the California Parks and Recreation Service District Eight and the City of Santa Barbara Parks and Recreation Community Service Award in 2003.
He was an Olympic Torchbearer for the 2002 Winter Games in Utah and received the Santa Barbara News Press Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002. Lambert was tapped as the Santa Barbara County Man of the Year in 1993 and as a Santa Barbara Independent Hero in 1996, adding to his list of list of tributes.
Lambert and Thelma, his wife of 34 years, live in Tucson, AZ, and have two sons and three grandchildren. Nancy Rapp, Interim Parks and Recreation Director, will present Lambert with tonight’s award.
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