Anyone at San Juan Oaks Golf Club last Friday afternoon knows
San Benito County has a generous heart.
Over 100 local residents supporting more than 40 nonprofit
organizations in San Benito County showed their gratitude to
volunteers during the fourth annual Philanthropy Day Awards
Luncheon last week. Each of the numerous nonprofit organizations
chose their volunteer of the year for the event and the individuals
were honored by the Community Foundation for San Benito County.
Hollister – Anyone at San Juan Oaks Golf Club last Friday afternoon knows San Benito County has a generous heart.
Over 100 local residents supporting more than 40 nonprofit organizations in San Benito County showed their gratitude to volunteers during the fourth annual Philanthropy Day Awards Luncheon last week. Each of the numerous nonprofit organizations chose their volunteer of the year for the event and the individuals were honored by the Community Foundation for San Benito County.
“Volunteers are the backbone of the community,” said Joan Perricone, chairwoman of the National Philanthropy Day Committee. “We don’t have much money in this county and if we didn’t have these volunteers, we don’t know what we would do.”
Philanthropy Day, an event celebrated nationwide on Monday, was also recognized by a proclamation from the San Benito County Board of Supervisors during the luncheon. Each honoree received a certificate of gratitude as a representative from each organization detailed their contributions to the community.
Executive director of the Community Foundation for San Benito County Gary Byrne said the annual luncheon provides the opportunity for the numerous nonprofit groups operating in the county to thank the many volunteers who help keep their operations running during the year.
“This is not about who is better but about honoring the countless hours that go into these organizations, whether it’s working with children or the elderly,” he said.
The following were acknowledged during the event:
Larry Riley, Adult
Literacy Program of SBC
Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital, American
Cancer Society SBC
Neal Schatmeier,
American Red Cross
SBC Chapter
Kellie Guerra, Community Assistance Network
Richard Guzman,
Community Assistance Program
Velma Tiffany,
Community Foundation for SBC
Lolly De Morales,
Community Pantry
Jose Alvarez, Community Services Dev. Corp.
Don McDonald,
Fishes and Loaves
Joyce Young,
SBC Free Library
Marilyn Ferraro, Girls Scouts of Monterey Bay
Barbara Nicoara,
Hazel Hawkins Hospital Foundation
Larry and Marilyn McDonald,
Hollister Airmen’s Assoc.
Geri Johnson, Hollister Downtown Assoc.
Robert “Mac” and
Sandy Mota,
Hollister Exchange Club
Linda Durie and
Pat Akins,
Hollister Independence Rally Committee
Stephanie Beltran and Tina Cassidy,
Hollister Rainbow
Children’s Theater
San Benito High School Interact Club, Hollister Rotary
Ray Thorpe, Hollister School District
Sonia Rodelo, Carlos Muñoz, and Jo Wahdan, Hollister Youth Alliance
Terry Mayes,
Janet Graham Memorial Fund Safe Kids Coalition
Carmen Navarro,
Jovenes de Antaño
Randy Wolf, Rebecca Medeiros Wolf,
Kinship Center
Jim Hart,
Kiwanis Club of Hollister
David Wright, Private Industry Council Inc.
Irene Agredano, SBC Chamber of Commerce
Janet Brians,
SBC Historical Society
Mike Sanchez, SBC LULAC Council
Debbie Ruiz, San Benito Health Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition
Hamdy Abbass,
San Benito
High School District
Laurie Venturini,
San Benito Oriana Chorale
Ray and Peggy Pierce, San Benito Stage Company
Jim and Gayle Sleznick, San Juan Bautista
Chamber of Commerce
Kim DuPont, San Juan Rotary
Betty Perreira, St. Vincent de Paul Society
Mary Damm, United Way of SBC
Dori Hoyle, VNA and Hospice
Barbara Sabbatini, YMCA of SBC
Kaz Kurasaki, Hollister Sister City Association
Source: Community Foundation for San Benito County
