Philanthropy—Giving at all Ages

Thirty-nine local volunteers were honored last night at the 18^th Annual National Philanthropy Day Celebration hosted by the Community Foundation for San Benito County. The event celebrates the charitable work that everyone does to make a difference and to create an impact in our community.

This year, the National Philanthropy Day Committee passed the baton to community youth leaders to facilitate the program for the evening filling a variety of positions, and nominees ranged in age from eleven to a young-at-heart 79 years of age.

Aiden Castañada is the first honoree to receive two nominations from two different organizations in the same year, and he is only eleven years old. With a new running track on the agenda for San Juan School, Aiden thought of a way to raise money from local businesses who sponsored him during races. He had the endurance to run the races as promised and receive those funds, a total of $2,345 thus far.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Emily Renzel is just one of several seniors who were honored. She embodies youthful spirit and energy as Vice President of the San Benito Agricultural Land Trust. Emily has spurred the revitalization of the organization and brought her passion for preservation to bear on our productive agricultural lands.

These are just two of the 39 stories witnessed by nearly 300 attendees at San Juan Oaks last night. The stories are all inspirational and have touched the lives of so many in our community. We will post more stories as pictures become available.