The Morgan Hill Community Foundation celebrated the hardest-working volunteers and most generous donors for a variety of local nonprofit organizations at its annual Philanthropy Night banquet and dinner Friday night.
The guests of honor—25 in all—along with their families, friends and biggest supporters, dressed to the nines for the MHCF’s biggest event of the year. Attendees enjoyed appetizers and cocktails while music students from Music As Language (one of the night’s featured philanthropists) serenaded the crowd at the Community and Cultural Center.
Sitting down for dinner, the crowd of about 200 guests and philanthropists watched a celebratory video of representatives of each of the participating nonprofits touting the value of the volunteer each chose as their Philanthropist of the Year. Jona Denz-Hamilton of KBAY 94.5 FM, who is active with the local South Valley Wine Auction, was the emcee of the Nov. 17 MHCF ceremony and dinner.
“Showcasing each honoree was absolutely the goal at the outset of planning because each one is important,” said MHCF board secretary Amy Whelan. “The Foundation is very pleased that everything worked out without a hitch (during the Nov. 18 event), from the catering with A Catered Affair, to the Morgan Hill Photography Club’s photographs, to the entertainment with Music As Language, and the video presentation, assembled by the Philanthropy Night Committee. All of it came together perfectly, and we are glad to be the organization that highlights the work of so many.”
Participating nonprofits selected their honorees based on numerous reasons, including a person/group who has volunteered for many hours or provided financial support.
In addition to hosting the annual philanthropy celebration, the MHCF also offers an annual grant program every spring. Updated applications are generally available in February; qualifying local nonprofits are encouraged to apply, following the guidelines and within the application deadline. Through its direct efforts, including an annual grant program, and those of its community partners, the foundation has awarded approximately $600,000 since its inception in 2002.
For more information about MHCF, visit morganhillcf.org.
Photos of 21 of the 25 nominees, taken at the Nov. 17 ceremony, are included with this story. Not pictured are Majid Bahriny (honored by the Community Law Enforcement Foundation), John Osborne (honored by the Mizuho MH Student Exchange), Hannah Selby (honored by Morgan Hill Public Library) and George Chiala (honored, in memoriam, by the Saint Louise Regional Hospital Foundation).
The honorees celebrated at MHCF Philanthropy Night and the organizations that selected them are:
American Association of University Women: Mary Cox
Bella Vista League: Lynne Meyer
Boys & Girls Club of SV: Armando Garcia
Centennial Recreation Senior Center MH: Heidimarie Lee
Child Advocates of Silicon Valley: Adam Escoto
City of Morgan Hill: Rotary Club of Morgan Hill
City of Morgan Hill YAC: Lim Deng
Community Law Enforcement Foundation: Majid Bahriny
Edward Boss Prado Foundation: Gary Ponzini
Healthier Kids Foundation: Dana Ditmore
Knights of Columbus: William Scheid
Leadership MH: Heritage Bank
Learning & Loving Education Center: Carl Reinhardt
Magical Bridge Playground MH: Ron Locicero
Mizuho MH Student Exchange Program: John Osborne
MH Chamber of Commerce: Frank Orlando
MH Art School: Anthony Stenberg
MH Community Foundation: Music As Language
MH Downtown Association: John McKay
MH Historical Society: Margo Hinnenkamp
MH Public Library: Hannah Selby
Rotary Club of MH: Jewel Box MH
South Valley Athletic Foundation Wine Auction: Ava Serna Musgrove
St. Louise Regional Hospital Foundation: George Chiala
Valle del Sur Art Guild: Lorna Saiki
