Second Annual Contra Costa Philanthropy Award Honorees Named

Eight individuals and organizations to be recognized at November 8 event

The Contra Costa Council’s Social Responsibility Task Force announces the eight individuals and organizations that will be honored at the Second Annual Contra Costa Philanthropy Awards breakfast on Thursday, November 8. The awards program recognizes individuals, businesses and service organizations that have made significant contributions of time, leadership and financial support to benefit Contra Costa residents.

Honorees will be recognized at the second annual breakfast celebration on November 8, from 7:30 to 10 a.m., at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 45 John Glenn Drive, Concord. Nearly 60 nominations were received and considered by the awards panel.

Award recipients are:

·Outstanding Corporate Philanthropist (501 employees and above) — Wells Fargo

·Outstanding Corporate Philanthropist (100 to 500 employees) — Nieman Marcus of Walnut Creek

·Outstanding Corporate Philanthropist (1 to 99 employees) — InVision Communications

·Outstanding Philanthropist — Mary Garaventa

·Outstanding Foundation or Community Grant Maker — East Bay Community Foundation

·Outstanding Collaborative Project — SparkPoint of Contra Costa County (partners include Bay Area Legal Aid, Brighter Beginnings, Center for Human Development, Contra Costa Employment & Human Services, Contra Costa Health Services, Community Housing Development Corporation, First 5, Opportunity Junction, STAND!, Stride Center and United Way of the Bay Area)

·Volunteer of the Year — Kay Aaker

·Lifetime Achievement — Judy Lazarus, founder of the Xenophon Therapeutic Riding Center of Orinda

The event will feature a keynote address by Elaine Taylor of The Taylor Family Foundation (www.ttff.org). Last year’s inspiring event drew more than 450 people.

Come and help us honor our 2012 award recipients, who are helping make our community a better place in which to live,” said Contra Costa Council President and CEO Linda Best.

One of the key purposes of the Council’s Social Responsibility Task Force is to strengthen the links between the private, social and public sectors of the county,” said Mark Hughes, founder and co-chair of the task force and chair of the Philanthropy Awards event committee. “The Contra Costa Philanthropy Awards help build awareness and inspire many more organizations to learn how to get more involved in this work, which can transform companies and make a true difference in our communities.”

A prestigious panel representing all sectors of the community and government was formed to make the award selections. Judges included Federal Glover, Contra Costa County supervisor; Jim Becker, vice president of community investments, Richmond Community Foundation; Linus Eukel, executive director, John Muir Heritage Land Trust; Angie Coffee, senior managing director, private business banking, First Republic Bank; and Mark Hughes, manager of public affairs, Phillips 66 Rodeo Refinery.

Program sponsors are Wells Fargo (presenting sponsor); Chevron (premier sponsor); AAA of Northern California, Nevada and Utah, Contra Costa Times, InVision Communications, Kaiser Permanente, Phillips 66, San Francisco Business Times, Shell Martinez Refinery (benefactor sponsors); Mt. Diablo Recycling and PG&E (advocate sponsors). (Other sponsorships are available.)

Registration for the breakfast will open soon at www.contracostacouncil.com. For more information, contact the Council office at 925-246-1880, info@contracostacouncil.com, fax (925) 674-1654.

About Elaine Taylor: Elaine Taylor is president of The Taylor Family Foundation (www.ttff.org), which she founded in 1991 with her husband Barry. The foundation’s mission is to preserve the wellness and enhance the quality of life for children in Northern California living with life-threatening and chronic illnesses and developmental disabilities, and youth at risk, through unique therapeutic experiences and support. (Photo available on request.)

About the Contra Costa Council: The Council is a private sector, public policy organization with a membership that includes business, government, education and labor. The mission of the Council is to provide advocacy on public policy issues affecting the economic vitality and quality of life in Contra Costa County and the region. For more information, see www.contracostacouncil.com. Follow the Council on Facebook at www.facebook.com/contracostacouncil.

 


No Comments so far.

Leave a Reply