Dan Ashcraft to Receive Distinguished Citizen of the Year at State of the City

By: Ryan Guitare

Congratulations to Dan Ashcraft, founder of Ashcraft Designs who will be awarded the Distinguished Citizen of the Year at the State of the City on Friday, September 15^th, 2023.

Since 1953, the Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce has selected the Distinguished Citizen of the Year whose achievements have been significant to the community and to the general welfare of the people of Torrance.

Ashcraft’s accomplishments are shown with over 200 awards and 20 patents for his contributions to the design industry ranging from ID Magazine to the Art Directors Club of New York, but his accolades don’t end there.

Ashcraft served for many years at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where he found a passion for “giving back, working with people and helping people.” Ashcraft was then ordained as a Bishop at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Redondo 2^nd ward which ended up leading him to his next journey.

“I heard there was an opening in the Torrance Police Department. They were interviewing for Chaplain, and I have great respect for the Torrance Police Department and the work that they do.” He continues, “this is a way that I might be able to give back to the community and to the department and be a part of their efforts to fulfill their mission in the city of Torrance.” From then on Ashcraft was involved in the community in many ways.

In 2014 Ashcraft started with the Torrance South Bay YMCA Major Gifts Campaign where he worked for several years. He met more and more people through the Campaign and “the quality of the volunteers, other people who were volunteering to be on Major Gifts Campaign and then the effect I saw that the YMCA had on the lives of young people, adults, seniors and the transformation that, that organization made in the lives of these people,” said Ashcraft.

Dan Ashcraft has not only been there for the community but has played an integral part in bringing people together and being a helping hand for many. Congratulations to Dan Ashcraft on being awarded Distinguished Citizen of the Year.