Published in the February 17 – March 1, 2016 issue of Morgan Hill Life

By Erin Machado

Machado,Erin-webCelebrate Morgan Hill is a fun-filled night of friends, dinner, dancing and honoring some of the most giving and caring people in Morgan Hill. Coming Feb. 27, the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce will honor Jeff Perkins as “Man of the Year,” Sandy de la Cuesta as “Woman of the Year,” Andrea Kusanovich as “Educator of the Year,” Annalicia Anaya as “Student of the Year,” Marian Tankersley as “Volunteer of the Year,” and Guglielmo Winery as “Business of the Year.”

These amazing honorees were chosen by nominations from the community and various organizations in Morgan Hill and were then voted in as recipients by a panel of previous Celebrate award winners. If you know of someone or a business you would like to nominate for next year, follow us at www.morganhill.org where we get the nominations out in the October/November time frame.

The event itself is a wonderful evening. Cherisse White of Cherisse’s Hair Salon treats each winner, if they so choose, to a little pampering with a new haircut or style for the event. As they walk in to the event at the Community Center, the winners and their families join up with Chamber of Commerce members, area dignitaries, elected officials, sponsors, and their friends with glasses of champagne before a special evening of dinner catered by an award-winning chef, wine from our local wineries, a silent auction and fun mystery box prizes.

The awards are presented to the honorees with tributes via videotape from some of their most ardent supporters.

Each winner then speaks for a few minutes to the 200 or so in attendance. After all the awards are handed out, and the dignitaries have passed out their recognition certificates, the extensive silent auction gets the full attention of the guests and the dancing begins.

The Chamber of Commerce is thrilled to put this event on each year and to recognize the extremely magnanimous and caring people that we have here in Morgan Hill. Whether they take the time to give a bit extra back to their students or peers, or give back to the community, honoring that level of service is something we are very proud to do.

Tickets for this event sell out every year. Whether you attend annually or have never gone and want to see what it is all about, visit our website at www.morganhill.org and purchase your tickets or call us at (408) 779-9444. You do not need to be a member of the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce to attend. The theme this year is the 1920s/Great Gatsby. People can choose to dress in this 1920s style if they wish.

In addition, if you or your businesses wish to donate a silent raffle item or a mystery box prize (such as a gift certificate), for some extra promotion, we would be thrilled to have that. Again, call us and we can schedule a time to pick up your item.

Erin Machado is the director of membership for the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce. She wrote this column for Morgan Hill Life.

DETAILS

What: Celebrate Morgan Hill
When: 6. to 10 p.m. Saturday Feb. 27
Where: Community and Cultural Center, 17000 Monterey Road
Tickets: $95 and available at www.morganhill.org or by calling the chamber at (408) 778-9444