The entrepreneur and founder of several social entities María Zaragoza Lloret, Neighbor Exemplary 2018

Benidorm will recognize next Tuesday, October 23, with the Exemplary Neighbor Award 2018 to the businesswoman, former councilor and founder of several social entities Maria Zaragoza Lloret. This is reflected in the proposal moved by the jury of this distinction, which the mayor, Toni Pérez, has made public today at a press conference in which he was accompanied by the Councilor for Citizen Participation, Mª Jesús Pinto; and by the first and second vice presidents of the Neighborhood Council, Fernando Montes and Christian Corriani; the representative of this body that manages the Exemplary Neighbor Award, Paca Fuster; and several counselors.

The mayor recalled that this initiative of the Neighborhood Council "recognizes the task of people involved with the city and especially with the citizens"; and has applauded "the success" of the jury of this eighth edition of the Exemplary Neighbor Award, since María Zaragoza Lloret "is exemplary in practically all facets of her life".

Perez has indicated that the award-winner is "a committed woman" and that "she is involved in the daily life of different organizations in the city that are social, cultural, religious and linked to traditions and customs". He also stressed that she was "one of the two women" councilors in the first democratic corporation, "a time in which women's access to public responsibilities from the political vocation was more difficult than in our days and demanded a lot of vocation, commitment and courage ".

Master of profession, María Zaragoza Lloret has participated in the management of various hotel businesses. He has been a founding member of the Red Cross in Benidorm and the Alianza Popular party. In addition, since its founding it has been a member of Caritas Parroquial and the Association Against Cancer; as well as member of several brotherhoods, of the Cultural and Recreational Association La Barqueta, and of the Association of Neighbors of the Old Town. Waitress of the Mare de Déu del Sofratge, she has also been president of the Festes Majors Patronals and a precursor in different native and traditional festivals.

The first vice president of the Neighborhood Council has stressed that the time when María Zaragoza Lloret began her activities, which she still maintains, "redoubled the merit, because then women had it even more difficult".

On this occasion, the jury that has studied and evaluated the different candidates has been composed of six members, including Antonio Gonzaga and Eusebi Chiner, Exemplary Neighbor in 2012 and 2017 respectively.

The award ceremony will be held on Tuesday, the 23rd, at 12.00 in the Hall of the City Hall.

In addition to Antonio Gonzaga and Eusebi Chiner, in previous editions the Exemplary Neighbor Award has been awarded to Francisco Fenoll, Francisco Alvado, Carmen Cerdá, Mª Rosa González and Juan José García - both posthumously - and Casimiro Vila.