Many people might agree that what makes San Benito County a great place to live is the people, and that was personified at a recent gathering to honor the community’s abundance of volunteers.
On Nov. 15, nearly 300 people gathered at the 11th annual National Philanthropy Day Awards Dinner at San Juan Oaks Golf Club to celebrate the efforts of the many San Benito County nonprofit organizations and individuals that give their time to make this a better place to live.
Hosted by Community Foundation for San Benito County, the evening spotlighted education in San Benito County. Every year, the county’s nonprofit organizations nominate one person who stands out for their individual contribution. This year, 47 individuals were honored as “Philanthropist of the Year.”
“Education is what we all have in common … and serves as the cornerstone of who we are today,” San Benito County Superintendent Mike Sanchez said in his opening statement.
The dinner was a success due to the “good hearts and good intentions (of individuals) to volunteer for the sake of their fellow community members that are disadvantaged,” said David Huboi of Huboi Architecture, who was honored during the event as a Philanthropist of the Year for the San Benito County Chamber of Commerce. “When my wife and I left, we were filled with warm thoughts and feelings about the whole thing.”
Huboi was honored for his contributions to the chamber’s “Going Green” program, a monthly taping hosted by Community Media Access Partnership in Gilroy. Though he stressed that it’s the collaborative effort of everyone on the chamber’s green committee that makes the program successful.
Stephanie Hicks at Community Foundation for San Benito County said the need for community support has increased significantly compared with previous years. Organizations that provide basic human services, such as food and shelter, are in need the most, she underscored. The Community Food Bank of San Benito County, the Homeless Coalition of San Benito County and the Emmaus House for battered women and children are just a few of such organizations. However, anyone can contribute to an area of their interest in such areas as health and well being and art and culture.
Hicks pointed out that philanthropy is not just about monetary donations. Often, the donation of time is the greatest gift a person can bestow, she said.
Â
The honorees included the following:
Â
Advocacy, Inc.
Mabie Center Skilled Nursing Facility Family Council
American Cancer Society
Chuck Obeso-Bradley
American Red Cross San Benito County
Howard Evans
Aromas Eagles Aerie #72
Jan Saxton
Aromas Grange #361
Clyde Gailey
Aromas Hills Artisans
Linda Bjornson
Aromas-San Juan Unified School District
Bruce Woolpert
CASA
Donna Hill
Chamberlain’s Children Center
Nancy Kops
Community Food Bank of SBC
Dennis Reeves
Community Foundation for San Benito County
Nenette Corotto
Community Services Development Corporation
Alan Clark
Community Solutions
Emma Lucas
Community Vision San Benito County
Charlie Scott
E-Cubed Foundation
Helen Swanson
Emmaus House
Claudia Hamm
Fishes & Loaves
Carmen and Joe Miguel
Friends of the San Benito County Free Library
Carol Willette
Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast
Shari Schmidt
Hazel Hawkins Hospital Foundation
Ted Davis
Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital
Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital Employees
Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of SBC
Lisa Robinson
Hollister Airmen’s Association
Sally Bettencourt
Hollister Downtown Association
Joanne Barker
Hollister Exchange Club
Ken Overfelt
Hollister Lions Club
Gilbert Perez
Hollister Rotary Club
Rochelle Callis
Hollister School District
Anthony Ortega
Homeless Coalition of San Benito County
Doug Emerson
Janet Graham Memorial Fund
Freda Wilson
Kinship Center-Gabilan Chapter
Kay Filice
Leadership San Benito County
Mary Damm
Pinnacles Partnership
Phil Stoffer
Pinnacle Quilters of San Benito County
Shannon Wilkinson
Sacred Heart Parish School
Maria Donati
Saint Francis Retreat Center
Stella Herrera
San Benito County Arts Council
Jane Rekedal
San Benito County Chamber of Commerce
David Huboi
San Benito County Free Library
Melinda Rowe
San Benito County Historical Society
Don and Deana Pidd
San Benito Oriana Chorale
Folene Henn
San Benito Stage Company
Greg Santos
San Juan Bautista Library Auxiliary
Carmen Rodriguez
San Juan Bautista Rotary Club
Donna Holmes
United Way Serving San Benito County
David and Lucile Packard Foundation
YMCA of San Benito County
Wells Fargo
Youth Alliance
Enrique and Olga Arreola
Other Nonprofits/Organizations in attendance:
Baler Education Foundation
CMAP TV
David and Lucile Packard Foundation
El Teatro Campesino
Jovenes de Antano
Pet Friends
