Community Leadership Awards
The San Francisco Foundation Community Leadership Awards celebrate visionary leaders doing extraordinary work to strengthen Bay Area communities. This work may confront societal or civic issues, address health or environmental concerns, or promote arts and humanities.
We honor people who are rolling up their sleeves, taking initiative, and solving problems in their neighborhoods and communities.
With the Community Leadership Awards, we showcase individual or organizational excellence in leadership as demonstrated by outstanding initiative, impact of work, and inspiration to others. We publicly affirm present achievements, seek to encourage further work on the part of the recipients, and hope to motivate others to follow their lead in service to Bay Area communities. Watch videos about the incredible lives and impact that our Community Leadership Awardees are having throughout our region.
Up to four Community Leadership Awards are given out each year. $10,000 awards are given to individual leaders and $20,000 awards to organizations. Individuals and nonprofit organizations in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, and San Mateo Counties are eligible.
This year we honored Aim High, Chinese for Affirmative Action, Brenda Way and Rita Semel.
2012 Community Leadership Awardees
Aim High
Aim High for closing the achievement gap through programs that inspire a love of learning and a strong sense of community. Through its innovative, free summer school program, it supports the educational and developmental needs of middle-school-aged children, providing the tools for learning, a commitment to their community, and the hope for their future. In the spirit of the John R. May Award, made for organizational initiatives in response to a significant contemporary problem.
Chinese for Affirmative Action
Chinese for Affirmative Action for being a champion against discrimination and for advancing systemic change for a racially just society. With its foundation firmly in the Asian and Pacific American community, its grassroots and policy efforts cross cultures to ensure equal opportunities for communities of color, reduce language barriers, and promote immigrant rights across the Bay Area. In the spirit of the Robert C. Kirkwood Award, made to an individual in recognition of outstanding community service, commitment, and inspired leadership.
Brenda Way
Brenda Way, founder and artistic director of ODC, for creating a community hub through dance. She built the largest, most comprehensive contemporary dance center in the nation, and through it she inspires dancers and audiences, cultivates artists, and engages the community. Brenda is a choreographer, writer, and community activist who strengthens our region’s cultural connections. In the spirit of the Helen Crocker Russell Award, made to an under-recognized, mature artist who has made a significant and ongoing contribution in the Bay Area.
Rita Semel
Rita Semel, interfaith pioneer and Jewish activist, for her life-long successes in creating healthy, just, and inclusive communities in the Bay Area and worldwide. She builds bridges of understanding between diverse religious and ethnic communities, and brings together the interfaith community to help alleviate poverty and end discrimination. Her catalytic leadership is felt far and wide, from the San Francisco Interfaith Council to the Global Council for the United Religions Initiative. Her legacy will be a more peaceful and compassionate world. In the spirit of The San Francisco Foundation Award, made to an individual demonstrating exemplary commitment to improving human relations in the Bay Area.
Questions?
Contact cla@sff.org or 415.733.8555.
Past Community Leadership Award Winners
The 2011 Community Leadership Awardees
The 2010 Community Leadership Awardees
The 2007 Community Leadership Awardees
The 2006 Community Leadership Awardees
The 2005 Community Leadership Awardees
The 2004 Community Leadership Awardees
The 2003 Community Leadership Awardees
The 2002 Community Leadership Awardees