COMMUNITY SPIRIT AWARD
The Community Spirit Award will be given to one volunteer each year who exemplifies the commitment to community service and "can-do" spirit of former Giants Community Fund Board Member, Isabelle Lemon. The Fund wishes to encourage and reward others for stepping up to create positive change in the communities in which they live and work. The award winner will be honored and presented with a $2500 grant for the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization to which they are committed as a volunteer.
The applications for the 2022 Community Spirit Award are closed. Please check back in the Summer of 2023 to apply next year.
Congratulations to Sam Khamseh from Black Diamond Ballet as our 2022 Community Spirit Award recipient.
Black Diamond Ballet is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting classical ballet through dance classes, demonstrations, and public performances. Its primary purpose is to provide encouragement of the performing art of dance through its outreach programs with local elementary schools, public appearances, fundraising events, and local retirement/senior communities. Sam really stepped up to the plate at the start of the pandemic when all of entertainment and theaters closed. He wrote 12 days of digital shows and helped to create content and materials for "Crafting the Nutcracker." A crafting box includes 12 do-it-yourself projects, 12 days of live shows broadcasted into households over the span of 3 weeks with behind the scenes looks, instructional tutorials of choreography for kids to participate in, Q and A and so much more. Because of his help, Black Diamond Ballet was able to continue their production throughout the pandemic with 4 shows and has continued to expand this year with 7 shows.
Past Community Spirit Award Winners
2022 – Sam Khamseh, Black Diamond Ballet
2021 - Sarup Singh Jhajj, Sahaita
2020 – Elaine Bostwick Smith, Fresh Lifelines for Youth
2019 - Marimo Berk, The Creekside School
2018 - Shafia Zaloom, Aim High
2017 - Michele Huntzinger, StandUp For Kids - Silicon Valley
2016 - Marty Devitt, Community Action of Napa Valley
2015 - Doniece Sandoval, Lava Mae
2014 - Patricia Conte, Family Giving Tree
2013 - Judy Heyboer, Friends for Youth, Inc.
2012 - Daniel Andrist, San Francisco Education Fund
2011 - Judy Grossman, ASAP at Mission High School
2010 - Elyce Melmon, Kara
2009 - Gina Fromer, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church
2008 - Jennifer Dizon, Youth and Family Enrichment Services
2007 - Martha Ryan, Homeless Prenatal Program
