Morgan Hill Community Foundation Celebrates Outstanding Philanthropists and Volunteers
Published September 27, 2018 on MorganHillLife.com
By Amy Whelan
The Morgan Hill Community Foundation welcomes a distinct and special honoree group at this year’s annual philanthropy celebration, scheduled for Nov. 9, at the Morgan Hill Community & Cultural Center.
This year’s theme is “Celebrating People & Philanthropy in Our Community.” By focusing attention on the people who make such an important difference to the nonprofit organizations that they support, the spirit of philanthropy is continued into the future. Co-hosting with PG&E, the MHCF will showcase local philanthropists and volunteers equally for outstanding contributions, exemplifying generosity, selflessness and, sometimes, sacrifice.
This year’s event features Music as Language performing during the first hour of the event, www.musicaslanguage.com/. Guests will delight in local students who excel in both musicianship and talent. The celebration will also showcase superior catering courtesy of Opa! Signature, the catering division of Opa! Group, which is scheduled to open a four-restaurant complex in Morgan Hill’s downtown. Willard Hicks, willardhicksgrill.com/, is already open, while Tac-oh, Opa! And Mo’s are anticipated to open shortly. As of this writing, complementing the menu will be award-winning and popular wines from Guglielmo Winery, www.guglielmowinery.com/, Russian River Vineyards, https://www.russianrivervineyards.com, Clos LaChance Wines, clos.com, Verde Vineyards, owned by George and Linda Green, www.verdevineyards.com/, and Satori Cellars, Satoricellars.com.
For more information on sponsorships, donations, or reservations, visit www.morganhillcf.org.
The MHCF brings together an impressive list of community leaders who deserve praise for their time, effort, and thoughtful energy. This annual event, celebrating its 13th year, has a special place in the community’s heart, and deservedly so. It brings together some of the MHCF’s oldest partners, like Sister Cities of Morgan Hill, with groups who are joining us for the first time, including All Animals Rescue & Friends, CordeValle Youth Golf Foundation, the Italian Catholic Federation #435, and Lewy Body Dementia Awareness and Research. The wide variety of nonprofits scheduled for this year’s philanthropy celebration is a testament to the diversity of causes that our community volunteers support.
Making the event as special as those who are honored are MHCF’s dedicated sponsors, including MHCF’s Philanthropy Leader Pacific Gas & Electric Company. The foundation also thanks its Premier Sponsors, the City of Morgan Hill and South Bay Piping. Additionally, the MHCF thanks its large group of Spirit of Philanthropy Sponsors: Heritage Bank; The Jachimowicz Law Group, Matt Wendt representing Messner Reeves LLP Law Firm; Neil Berman representing Rucka, O’Boyle, Lombardo & McKenna Law Firm, Opa! Signature Foods LP, Rene Spring and Mark Hoffmann, Rosy’s at the Beach, Santa Teresa Dental, Silicon Valley Clean Energy, and Tapia Construction & Restoration.
This year’s “Outstanding Philanthropists and Volunteers” and featured nonprofits are:
| Air for Paws | Jan Dean |
| All Animal Rescue & Friends | Laura Gonzalez |
| American Association of University Women | Jenny Redfern |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of Silicon Valley | Craig Waterman |
| City of Morgan Hill | Mayor Steve Tate |
| City of Morgan Hill Youth Action Council | Gisselle Rodriguez |
| Community Law Enforcement Foundation | Craig van Keulen |
| CordeValle Youth Golf Foundation | Laurie Barke |
| Edward Boss Prado Foundation | Geri Georgetti |
| Healthier Kids Foundation | Rosy Bergin |
| Italian Catholic Federation #435 | John Sorci |
| Learning and Loving Education Center | Sister Rachela Silvestri, DC RN |
| Magical Bridge Playground in Morgan Hill | Shirlee Locicero |
| Lewy Body Dementia Awareness and Research | Robin Shepherd |
| Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce | Dan Keith |
| Morgan Hill Downtown Association | Cliff Dennet |
| Morgan Hill Historical Society | Leah DeLane |
| Morgan Hill Public Library | Nicholas Borina |
| Morgan Hill Sister Cities | Pier Antoniucci and Amy Whelan |
| Pine Ridge Association | Uniformed Volunteers at Henry Coe State Park |
| Poppy Jasper Film Festival | Mattie Scariott |
| Rotary Club of Morgan Hill | Rachel Hill |
| San Martin Chamber of Commerce | Connie Ludewig |
| South Valley Symphony | Chris Hopwood |
Philanthropy Night honorees come from any nonprofit in Morgan Hill that wishes to honor a person, company or group that has made a significant contribution to the nonprofit in the current calendar year. A participating nonprofit may select its honoree based on many possible reasons, including a person/group 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. It is a fun evening when the community can celebrate together, with the evening all culminating as greater than the sum of the parts that go into hosting the event.
By supporting the honorees, philanthropy, and the MHCF through this event, guests are directly contributing to the Foundation’s grants and philanthropy programs in the coming year, as well as continuing the MHCF’s ability to serve as a fiscal sponsor to so many great nonprofits in town.
