National Philanthropy Day
A Special Day of Community Spirit
Last event date: Thursday, November 6, 2025
Each year, the Community Foundation for San Benito County proudly celebrates National Philanthropy Day. Approximately 45 local community volunteers are honored at this event, complete with introductions of the honorees and Proclamations by representatives from San Benito County and the City of Hollister.
We’d like your organization to join this celebration of community spirit - a chance to step briefly into the spotlight and remind our communities, our society, and the world that the spirit of giving is alive and well.
Event Details
National Philanthropy Day 2025
When
Thursday, November 6th, 2025, from 5:30PM to 8:00PM
Where
Hollister Veterans Memorial Building - 649 San Benito St, Hollister, CA 95023
Cost
Dinner is $50 per person. To pay by cash or check, contact the Foundation or send by mail to Community Foundation Epicenter @ 440 San Benito Street, Hollister, CA 95023.
Deadlines
Completed registration forms with full payment must be sent by October 1, 2025.
Submit Nominations
Recognizing Local Heroes
Submission Deadline: Closed. See you in 2026!
All nominations should be made following the instructions in the Guidelines.
Nomination Guidelines
Only one honoree per organization. A husband and wife team is also permitted. You may also nominate a group or organization, but only one (1) person may stand and be recognized during the presentation.
You will need to submit a script that will be read introducing the honoree. Due to time constraints and recognizing the need to acknowledge all organizations during the event, there is a 100-word limit to the script.
Script Example
"We are grateful to honor John Smith for being instrumental to the success of YMCA’s Annual Campaign Drive. The YMCA has been in this community for six years, helping to build strong kids, families and communities. John’s energy and passion for children in general sets him apart as a major champion of our organization’s efforts to be financially stable to focus on our mission and purpose. We thank John for carving time in your life to give us endless hours of hard work making it possible to continue to serve the families and children of San Benito County."
The Community Foundation will create a slideshow to be shown at the event. You must send an electronic photograph of your nominee to be included. (4 MB maximum, JPG or GIF format only)
2025 Philanthropy Day Honorees
Since we began hosting a National Philanthropy Day event in 2001, we’ve honored hundreds of citizens for their leadership role within the community. Each year the list of honorees grows longer as more of our neighbors and friends step up and make change happen.
The Foundation would like to congratulate those individuals who were awarded in 2025:
Alzheimer's Association – Mariah Giunta & Alexis Winder
American Legion Post 69 – John Maderis
Aromas Community Grange – Jesse Martinez
Aromas Hills Artisans – Andrea McCann
Aromas-Watsonville Eagles Aerie – Nate Arroyo
BenitoLink – Lois Locci
CASA of San Benito County – Gene Hopp
City of San Juan Bautista – Michael Ponce
Community FoodBank of San Benito County – Karen Countryman
Community Foundation for San Benito County – Fernando Gonzalez
E-Cubed Foundation – Janet Mayou
Emmaus House – Abundant Life Church
Fishes & Loaves Ministry – Mary Larson
Hazel Hawkins Hospital Foundation – Seth & Katie Muenzer
Hollister Downtown Association – Jen Dias
JMM Dance Co. – Maria C. Vasquez
Jovenes de Antaño – Tami Erickson
Kinship Seneca – Savage Designs (Shannon & Matt Imbrohone)
Latino Coalition of San Benito County – Judy Solis
Latino Generations – Jose Zepeda
Martha's Kitchen – Trish Garcia
Mary Velasco Sellen Senior Center - Connie Bishop Camuso, Frances Camuso, & Valen Kreck
Pinnacle Quilters of SBC – Whittney Williams
R.E.A.C.H. San Benito Parks Foundation – Kim Johnson
Rotary Hollister – David Baumgartner & Timothy Slater
Rotary San Juan Bautista – Michael Reid
Salvation Army – Cristina Navarro
San Benito Arts Council – Jonell Casada
San Benito County Business Council – Bill Lee
San Benito County Chamber Foundation – Manny Bhandal
San Benito County Chamber of Commerce – Maria Ruiz
San Benito County Historical Society – Ed Franks & Will Schneider
San Benito Health Foundation – Arthur Testani & Dr. Laura Stampleman
San Benito Leadership Institute – Mishel Thomas
San Benito Stage Company – Toni Smith
Spirit of San Juan Bautista – Sarah Morris Griss
Sun Street Centers – Lydia Saunders
United for San Benito – Samantha Rodriguez
YMCA of San Benito County – Teresa Garcia
Youth Alliance – Lizett Rodriguez Peña
Youth Recovery Connections - Youth Recovery Connections Staff