Those who volunteer feted by Morgan Hill nonprofit
Published in the Oct. 14-27, 2015 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Marty Cheek
Photo courtesy Susan Brazelton
Morgan Hill Community Foundation board members from left front row: Janet Librers Leach, Michelle McKay, Lisa Washington, Amy Whelan, and Pamala Meador; From left back row: Jeff Perkins, Rob Christopher, Mario Banuelos, Rene Spring, and Lee Murphy
The Morgan Hill Community Foundation is gearing up for its 10th Annual Philanthropy Celebration Nov. 13 at the Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center where 26 individuals and local businesses will be honored for their time volunteering with 24 nonprofits groups.
“It is no wonder that we have such a large group of honorees this year,” said MHCF President Amy Whelan. “Morgan Hill has an incredibly large population of people who know the value of philanthropy and volunteerism. You see them working week after week, event after event, with service for others as the guiding principle. Even though most honorees would humbly decline any sort of spotlight, the fact is they deserve praise, thanks, and grateful recognition for their tireless efforts.”
Each honoree will be referenced as “Morgan Hill Community Foundation’s Outstanding Philanthropist” at the annual event which has grown over the last decade from a lunch-time reception to an evening gala. Just in Thyme will do the catering and Guglielmo Winery, a sponsor, will be providing special print label bottles of wine for the event. Local band Bluer Than Blue will entertain guests during the cocktail reception.
Co-hosting the evening will be PG&E. Other sponsors include South Bay Piping, Industry Air Systems, Inc., the city of Morgan Hill, Santa Clara Valley Contractors Association, TMCF, Inc., Heritage Bank, Monterey Bay Area Sheet Metal Contractors Association, Pamala Meador Intero Real Estate and Woodson Family.
“The MHCF is pleased to bring together so many nonprofits and people to enjoy the results of their hard work,” Whelan said “Personally, I am particularly excited that our own board members are also a part of the event as honorees, such as Peggy Martin, and nominating nonprofits such as Pamala Meador with the Intero Foundation and Rob Christopher with South Valley Civic Theater. It is a testament to how deeply supportive and widely connected the MHCF is to the community and committed to making it the great place it is.”
This year’s theme is “Hometown Heroes.” The 2015 group of honorees brings the total number of philanthropists/volunteers honored in the past 10 years to just more than 250.
Philanthropy Night honorees come from any nonprofit in Morgan Hill that wishes to honor a person/company/group that has made a significant contribution to the nonprofit in the current calendar year, Whelan said. It could be that a person has volunteered for many hours or provided financial support. The nonprofits determine the criteria appropriate for its group, thereby making it a fair consideration no matter how small or large the nonprofit is.
The foundation will be doing a pre-recorded video this year (instead of honorees on stage) where each honoree is featured equally.
“There are no winners or losers, all honorees are featured equally,” Whelan said. “I usually try to stress this point because some of our newer groups always ask if they go to the event and find out in front of 200 people that they lost some sort of competition.”
Past MHCF President Dave Reisenauer said he has seen the Philanthropy Celebration grow steadily over its 10-year history to become a keystone event for Morgan Hill.
“It truly represents the best within our town,” he said. “I have no doubt that the next 10 years will be as impressive as the last. We all owe a special thanks to Kerry Tobias, one of our early board members, who had the vision and drive to make it a reality and highlight for so many people.”
By supporting the honorees, philanthropy, and the MHCF through this event, guests are directly contributing to the foundation’s grants and scholarships programs in 2016, as well as continuing its ability to serve as a fiscal sponsor to so many great nonprofits in town, he said.
2015 Morgan Hill Community Foundation Outstanding Philanthropists
Anita Woodson: Morgan Hill Community Foundation
Carol Murray: One Step Closer Therapeutic Riding
Guild Mortgage: Community Solutions
Recology South Valley: Leadership Morgan Hill
Renae Quon: Child Advocates of Silicon Valley, Inc.
CommonWealth Central Credit Union: Live Oak Athletic Boosters
Bonnie Cherry: Morgan Hill Library
Greta Salmi, Connie Murray: Edward Boss Prado Foundation
Jan Dean: Morgan Hill Rotary Club
Peggy Martin : American Association of University Women:
Ron Woolf: : Teachers Aid Coalition
Kathy Sullivan: Mizuho Exchange Program:
Ambrose Douglas Zuercher: City of Morgan Hill Youth Action Council:
Yvonne Duckett: Friends of the MH Library
Doug Greer: Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center
Ava Geddes: Friends of the San Martin Animal Shelter (FOSMAS)
Edward Boss Prado Foundation: Morgan Hill Kiwanis
College Futures Foundation: South County Cal-SOAP
Leonette Stafford: Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce
Carol Harris: South Valley Civic Theater
Cathy Jackson: Intero Foundation
Sharon Stoner, Elizabeth Mandel: South Valley Athletic Foundation
