The Newport Beach Fire Foundation neared $1 million in cumulative donations at its awards gala on Friday, Aug. 28, honoring four members of the city's fire and lifeguard departments.
The foundation named Dustin Suppe its 2026 Firefighter of the Year, Rhodes Rosenthal its Seasonal Lifeguard of the Year, Rob Marienthal its Lifeguard Supervisor of the Year and Walid Harding its Civilian of the Year at the Balboa Bay Resort, Stu News Newport reported.
The ceremony took place on the resort's Member's Lawn overlooking the bayfront. Multiple Lifesaving Awards were also presented.
Suppe, a firefighter-paramedic, earned a Lifesaving Award for a cardiac arrest save in the department's 2024 annual report. The Firefighter of the Year award is his second department recognition in two years.
The foundation launched in summer 2024. Less than two years later, it approached the $1 million donation mark at the Aug. 28 gala.
Mayor Lauren Kleiman, City Councilmembers Sara Weber, Joe Stapleton and Erik Weigand, and City Manager Seimone Jurjis attended the event.
More information about the foundation is available at nbfdfoundation.org.
