The Community Foundation for San Benito County hosted National Philanthropy Day Dinner at San Juan Oaks Nov. 15, in order to honor some 45 local volunteers. There are about 140 nonprofit organizations and nearly 1,900 volunteers in San Benito County. Over the past 15 years, approximately 120 companies and organizations have nominated more than 400 individuals, companies and organizations for the honor.
According to the program for the event, approximately 45 organizations honored local community volunteers.
Jim Ostdick, who recently completed a cross-country trek to promote hiking trails in San Benito County, was the keynote speaker for the event. He told the audience they need not worry about the state of America because during his journey he was treated with respect and honored everywhere he went. He said he was helped along the way by numerous “trail angels,” who would walk with him or give him food and water. He said, at first, he was uncomfortable accepting gifts from strangers, but quickly realized they “needed” to give him something to feel they were taking part in his journey.
As masters of ceremonies, Cheri Schmidt and Larry Barr announced each name, Shawna Miranda and Ted Davis, founder of Teknova Inc., went table to table to hand over the certificates and pose for photos.
This year, the nominating organizations and honorees were:
Aromas Eagles Aerie #72 – Paul Lapidus
Aromas Hills Artisans – Kay Walters
Aromas-SJB Community Schools Foundation – Larry and Viola Willis
Aromas-San Juan Unified School District – Nancy Offermann
Baler Education Foundation – Ernie Pascaul
BenitoLink – Susan Schwabacher Modic
CASA of San Benito County – Jean Murray
Chamberlain’s Children Center – Shon Morrison
City of San Juan Bautista – Shawna Freels
Community Food Bank of San Benito County – San Benito County Nonprofits
Community Solutions – Frank Chavez
Economic Development Corporation SBC – Aaron Jonston
Emmaus House – Vania Alvarez
Fishes and Loaves – Lorry Whitacre
Gavilan College – Tom Breen
Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast – Heidi Arreola
Hazel Hawkins Hospital Foundation – Ismael and Jeri Hernandez
Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital – Joan Moore
Hollister Airmen’s Association – Members of Hollister Airmen’s Association
Hollister Downtown Association – The City of Hollister
Hollister Relay for Life – Bailey and Mario Correa
Kinship Centers-Gabilan Chapter – Sallie Calhoun and Matt Christiano
Pinnacles Quilters of San Benito County – Dianna Smith
Pinnacles Partnership – Richard Neidhardt
REACH San Benito Foundation – Valerie Egland
Rotary Club of Hollister – Amalia Ellis
Rotary Club of San Juan Bautista – Annette Cain-Rhines
The Salvation Army Hollister Corps – Teresa Amaya
San Benito County Arts Council – Louise Roy
San Benito County Business Council – Scott Fuller
San Benito County Chamber of Commerce – Brent Redmond Transportation
San Benito County Free Library – Nina Jorgensen
San Benito County Historical Society – Tom and Lana Maudlin
San Benito Stage Company – Postal Graphics
San Juan Bautista Library Auxilliary – Bernadine Belaski-McGee
San Juan Committee – Sandra Arretche
Sun Street Centers – Valerie Smith
The 33rd District Agriculture Association – Jaynie Little
12 Days of Giving – Bob Tiffany
Women’s Club of Hollister – Glenda Goldstone
YMCA San Benito County – Kevin Jeffery
The Community Foundation for San Benito County was created in 1992 to encourage and enable philanthropy. Since its inception, it has donated more than $6,000,000 in grants to organizations that have benefited people in the county. The foundation serves as a hub for charitable collaboration, for the nonprofit community. For more information, visit the foundation’s website.