Terry Applebaum at Rutabegorz

This month’s winner, Terry Applebaum, didn’t hesitate when choosing where to spend her coupon.  She went straight to Rutabegorz, her longtime favorite.  She swears by their Garlic Chicken Salad and pumpkin cookies that are “so fat they should be called cake-ies!”

Villa Park residents for 34 years, Applebaum and her husband, Jay, raised their three daughters in the community.  Today, they enjoy visiting with family in Los Angeles, and out of state, strolling through the Plaza and shopping at the Orange Home Grown Farmers & Artisans Market.  A proud Dodgers superfan, Applebaum also loves playing mah jongg with friends.

While she has many interests, one of Applebaum’s most gratifying experiences has been 15 years with the Assistance League of Orange.  At the local nonprofit, she serves alongside “a wonderful, dedicated group of women giving back to the community,” says Applebaum, who volunteers through the scholarship committee, the Now and Again Thrift Shop and HALOS (Helping A Little One Succeed).  The latter organization helps children build reading skills.

Her favorite time of year is the scholarship luncheon each May, when high school recipients share heartfelt speeches.  “I honestly can’t think of anything more fulfilling than being a part of the Assistance League,” she says.