Lifetime Community Spirit Award given to MH resident Dennis Kennedy
Published in the Sept. 30 – Oct. 13, 2015 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Staff Report
The Gavilan Community College Board of Trustees confirmed the recipients of the 2015 Community Spirit Awards last month. The awards are presented annually in each of the communities served by Gavilan College to honor the people and institutions that contribute to improving the quality of life in each community. Each of the three sets of awards includes an individual, a business and an organization.
This year, the board will also be presenting a special award for Lifetime Community Spirit to former Morgan Hill Mayor, and current Santa Clara County Water District Board member and Vice Chair Dennis M. Kennedy.
The 2015 awards for Morgan Hill will be presented to Ron Woolf, Leadership Morgan Hill and Chiala Farms at the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce breakfast Oct. 1. Information was provided by nominators:
Lifetime Community Spirit: Dennis M. Kennedy
Dennis Kennedy
Dennis Kennedy currently serves as vice chair for the Santa Clara County Water District. He was elected to the District 1 seat Nov. 4, 2014.
He has lived in Morgan Hill for the past 37 years, serving in a variety of capacities in public service and community organizations as well as in professional and business organizations.
He retired in December 2006 after serving as mayor of the city of Morgan Hill for nearly 12 years.
Kennedy moved to Morgan Hill in 1976. He served three terms on the Planning Commission, two on the General Plan Update Committee, and was elected to the city council in 1990. He is past Chairman of South County Regional Wastewater Authority, has served three terms on the Board of Directors of the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, and is a past President of the Santa Clara County Cities Association. He is active in a variety of nonprofit organizations including the Morgan Hill Downtown Association, Sister Cities Committee, the Aquatics Foundation and the Silicon Valley Land Conservancy.
Kennedy is a member of the Silicon Valley American Leadership Forum, Morgan Hill Rotary, past president of the Morgan Hill Downtown Association, recipient of the Morgan Hill 2007 Leadership Excellence Award and past president of the Morgan Hill Sister Cities Committee.
MH Individual: Ron Woolf
Ron Woolf
Ron Woolf has been a resident of Morgan Hill for more than 40 years. A retired teacher with the Morgan Hill Unified School District, Woolf was Associated Student Body director and math teacher. He was awarded Educator of the Year in 1992. He continues his strong educational ties by serving as director of the board for the Morgan Hill Mushroom Mardi Gras. He spearheads the scholarship committee, where high school seniors who are selected receive $1,000 scholarships toward their college education.
Woolf has been in charge of this for 20 years. Presently, Woolf serves as an elected trustee on the Morgan Hill Unified School District as vice chair of the board of directors. He served as chairman of the school board prior to his re-election. He is often seen out in the community as strong advocate for public education.
MH Business: Chiala Farms
George and Alice Chiala
Chiala Farms, Inc. has been in the communities of Morgan Hill, San Martin and Gilroy for more than 60 years. This farm, headed by George and Alice Chiala, has donated produce to many nonprofit organizations in south Santa Clara County. Chiala Farms provides internships to high school and college students who seek a career in agriculture. George and Alice are strong proponents of building a Catholic High School in Morgan Hill. George has served a chair of Saint Louise Regional Hospital. Chiala Farms are outstanding philanthropists in our region.
Morgan Hill Organization: Leadership Morgan Hill
Leadership Morgan Hill is now celebrating its 20 year anniversary. The organization has educated more than 300 leaders who have gone through its nine-month course. Each class of 20 to 24 adult learners receive monthly curriculum that provides them presentations from prominent individuals in each field. Monthly classes include local, county and state government, media relations, education day, medical and social services day, environmental issues, history of Morgan Hill, a challenge retreat, and leadership classes.
Each class develops its own community project to benefit the residents. LMH has established an endowment for scholarships for future needy potential leaders, called Leadership Excellence Award Dinner (LEAD).
