Honored WIFE & HUSBAND NATIONAL HUMANITARIAN OF THE YEAR 2026-2027

TWO OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL COUPLES IN THE WORLD HONORED FOR THEIR WORK AND SERVICE TO DISADVANTAGED

PEOPLE AND FOR FEEDING MORE THAN 4.6 MILLION HOMELESS PEOPLE, ALONG WITH 15 MILLION BOTTLES OF WATER.

By Clifton Harris

CHEFS LIZET ANGULO & BASIL: 

A STORY OF SURVIVAL, RESILIENCE, SERVICE, AND LEADERSHIP

At the young age of 13, she was Raped and now 69 years old, Lizet Angulo survived sexual violence and trauma. Rather than allowing those experiences to define the rest of her life, she continued forward and dedicated herself to serving others, strengthening her community, and creating opportunities for people around her.

Angulo serves as President of the 28th District Agricultural Association (28th DAA), the governing board of the San Bernardino County Fair. She was appointed to the Fair Board by California Governor Gavin Newsom in 2024 and subsequently became President of the Board.

Angulo’s accomplishments also include her work as a chef and member of the American Culinary Federation (ACF). In 2023, she received the ACF National Cutting Edge Award, recognizing her contributions to the culinary profession and the development and mentoring of other culinarians.

 Chef Lizet Angulo has expanded her work beyond culinary arts and community service into national media and communications. According to information provided by her organization, she owns and operates 18 national media publications and has access to a database reaching approximately 110 million people.

Her communications operation is also reported to include approximately 120 million telephone contacts/devices for phone-banking and large-scale outreach. These figures are presented as part of her organization’s national communications and outreach capabilities.

Through these media, communications, culinary, and humanitarian resources, Lizet’s work seeks to reach disadvantaged communities, provide assistance, raise awareness, and give people a voice.

 Chef Lizet Angulo and Chef Basil are being recognized together for their humanitarian and community service with the 2026–2027 Humanitarian of the Year Award, honoring their dedication to helping others and making a positive difference in their communities.

Chef Basil is also a military sexual-assault survivor and disabled U.S. Army veteran who has continued serving his community despite the trauma he experienced.

Together, Chefs Lizet Angulo and Basil represent a powerful message of resilience, survival, service, compassion, and hope. Their lives demonstrate how survivors can transform painful experiences into a commitment to helping others.

“Surviving trauma does not have to be the end of someone’s story. It can become the beginning of a life dedicated to helping others.”

Their journey demonstrates that survivors can continue to lead, serve, advocate, mentor, and contribute to their communities.

FROM SURVIVORS TO CHEFS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, AND HUMANITARIANS

Lizet Angulo and Basil have built lives encompassing culinary arts, business, community service, advocacy, leadership, mentorship, media, communications, and humanitarian work.

Lizet Angulo — Accomplishments

*President — 28th District Agricultural Association / San Bernardino County Fair Board

*Appointed by California Governor Gavin Newsom to the Fair Board in 2024

*2023 ACF National Cutting Edge Award recipient

*Chef and American Culinary Federation member

*President of Management Business Services

*President/Founder of Ladies Taking Key Opportunities (Ladies TKO)

*Community involvement supporting veterans, military families, disadvantaged people, and community members

*Recognition for humanitarian and community service

*Reported ownership/operation of 18 national media publications

*Reported database reaching approximately 110 million people

*Reported access to approximately 120 million telephone contacts/devices for phone-banking and outreach

A SHARED MISSION OF SERVICE

Chefs Lizet Angulo and Basil have made service to others a central part of their lives. Their experiences as survivors have helped shape a message centered on compassion, dignity, resilience, and helping those who cannot help themselves.

Their humanitarian work includes efforts to provide food and assistance to people experiencing homelessness and other disadvantaged individuals. According to figures provided for this profile, their efforts have helped feed more than 4.6 million homeless people, ALONG WITH THEIR 15 MILLION BOTTLES OF WATER.

THEIR MOTTO:

“HELP THOSE WHO CANNOT HELP THEMSELVES.”

That simple statement captures the spirit behind

 their humanitarian work and their commitment

 to their communities.

Chefs Lizet Angulo and Basil are survivors who

have transformed adversity into purpose—and

turned that purpose into a lifetime of culinary 

achievement, humanitarian service, leadership,

mentorship, advocacy, and helping others.