Martha de la Torre and Joe Badame were honored by the Rio Hondo Chapter of the American Red Cross with the “Hometown Heroes Award”

Los Angeles, CA - July 12, 2010- As El Clasificado celebrates its’ 22 anniversary, connecting buyers and sellers in the Hispanic grassroots communities of Southern California, Martha de la Torre and Joe Badame, co-founders, were honored by the Rio Hondo Chapter of the American Red Cross with the “Hometown Heroes Award” for their commitment to community service.

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The American Red Cross, Rio Hondo Chapter, recognized the courage, valor, and sacrifice of the many local heroes who have become involved with the legendary institution in cities such as Bell Gardens, La Mirada, and Pico Rivera. In Norwalk, Martha de la Torre and Joe Badame, founders of El Clasificado, accepted their award as corporate heroes for their constant support of the community, after years of hard work and dedication.

De la Torre, who has years of involvement with the American Red Cross, claimed that she is “proud and honored to have received such award because it not only demonstrates that we are a company that is growing and creating jobs in the community, but also that we are very involved in community events to support our people. We love going out to festivals and street fairs to connect with the public and find out what our readers want.”

However, de la Torre assures that it’s not all about donating money to the Red Cross. “I always abide by the proverb that says ‘give someone a fish and you feed him for a day; teach someone to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.’ That’s exactly what we do in the community; we provide free seminars and events that can help them create a better life.”

This entrepreneur, who comes from an Ecuadorian family, says that although she now owns a nice house and lives a comfortable life, her parents started with only 17 dollars in their bank account. “Education is what made the difference; it opens many doors in life.”

“We are very proud of being recognized as a Hometown Hero by the American Red Cross, an organization that has helped so many and is so trusted, ” said Joe Badame, co-founder and Chief Operations Officer of El Clasificado. “At the end of the day, one of the most rewarding things about El Clasificado is the lives that we have changed by giving so many people jobs in the communities surrounding East LA, Norwalk and now with our new office in San Bernardino.”

The awards ceremony, which took place at the Rio Hondo event center in Downey, California, was emceed by actor Tony Plana, who is well-known for his work in several films as well as his performance in “Ugly Betty.” Plana presented awards to local heroes such as Evelyn Cruz, who saved the life of a coach who suffered a heart attack, or Krystl Emery and her husband Philip, who founded “Pet Prescription Team,” an organization for abandoned animals. The Red Cross honored another couple, Celia and Mario Jimenez, who are proud owners of Mario’s Tacos in Pico Rivera. They both have donated money and food to the community for years.