September 21, 2009

National Center for Lesbian Rights, Mary Lou Breslin, Michael Franti, Eugene Rodriguez, and Children’s Book Press Receive $10,000 – $20,000 Awards

The San Francisco Foundation 2009 Community Leadership Awards Celebration
 
(SAN FRANCISCO) – Monday, September 21, 2009 – The San Francisco Foundation announced today its 2009 Community Leadership Award winners: Mary Lou Breslin, Michael Franti, Eugene Rodriguez, Children’s Book Press, and National Center for Lesbian Rights. The awardees will be honored for their outstanding contributions to the Bay Area community at the Awards Celebration on Tuesday, September 22, 2009, at the Herbst Theatre, in the War Memorial Veterans Building in San Francisco. The three individual winners will receive $10,000 each, and the two organizational winners, $20,000 each. During this celebration, the Koshland Young Leader Awards will also be presented, recognizing eight outstanding San Francisco public high school students with an award of $7,000 each.
 
Honorees:
National Center for Lesbian Rights
For its pioneering spirit and unwavering commitment to advancing the civil and human rights of LGBT people. Its precedent-setting case victories have rewritten laws to change the legal landscape for all LGBT people and families across the nation. Through litigation, public policy advocacy, and public education, NCLR advocates on behalf of LGBT people and their families nationwide. For 30 years, NCLR has been at the forefront of pursuing justice, fairness, and legal protections for all LGBT people.
 
Mary Lou Breslin, co-founder of the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund
For making a mark in defining disability rights as a civil rights issue. She is a trailblazer whose grassroots movement has had tremendous impact addressing human rights abuses and neglect worldwide. As co-founder of the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, Mary Lou was at the forefront of creating the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Fair Housing Amendments Act, and the Civil Rights Restoration Act – leading to protected rights and enhanced opportunities for us all, not just those with disabilities.
 
Michael Franti, artist, activist, founder of Spearhead
For embodying a social movement of justice and activism and being a voice for the vulnerable. By founding the music groups Spearhead and the Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, as well as the Power to the Peaceful festival, Michael built an underground movement to spread a message of social justice and advocated for underrepresented people. His recent film, I Know I’m Not Alone, highlights the human cost of war and empowers people to utilize their vote and recognize their collective power to impact American foreign policy.
 
Eugene Rodriguez, founder of Los Cenzontles Mexican Cultural Arts Center
For his passion for connecting with young people through Mexican traditional music. He grew Los Cenzontles from a small music group to the cultural hub it is today in San Pablo by creating transformative experiences for youth, providing focus, training, and purpose that helps them succeed in life. Locally and nationally, he brings visibility to and reverence for Mexican vernacular forms of music and traditional dance.
 
Children’s Book Press
The first independent, nonprofit publisher of bilingual, multicultural books and stories for children. In the past 33 years, it has served as a vehicle for civil rights, human rights, and social justice, with a profound impact on the children, youth, and adults who better understand their own lives and histories as a result of its books. Children’s Book Press builds the connection between literacy and success, preserves traditions, and helps build a stronger future for our children.
 
Koshland Young Leader Awards
Christian Castaing, City Arts and Technology High School
Rashim Khadka, Galileo Academy of Science and Technology
Sandra Liu, Raoul Wallenberg High School
Janette Marquez, City Arts and Technology High School
Sha'Nice Patterson, City Arts and Technology High School
Francesca Sadikin, School of the Arts
Carly Tello, City Arts and Technology High School
David Wu, Phillip and Sala Burton Academic High School
 
Awards Celebration
Please join us for an evening of inspiration, fun, and food at The San Francisco Foundation 2009 Community Leadership Awards Celebration.
 
WHEN:
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Ceremony begins promptly at 6:30 p.m., followed by a reception at 7:30 p.m.
 
WHERE:
Herbst Theatre
San Francisco War Memorial Veterans Building
401 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco
 
RSVP:
Online at www.sff.org or call 415.733.8577
 
About The San Francisco Foundation Community Leadership Awards
We celebrate people who are rolling up their sleeves, taking initiative, and solving problems in their neighborhoods and communities. The San Francisco Foundation Community Leadership Awards recognize individuals and organizations whose leadership has made a significant impact in their particular Bay Area communities. This work may confront societal or civic issues, address health or environmental concerns, or promote arts and humanities.
 
The Community Leadership Awards showcase individual or organizational excellence in leadership as demonstrated by outstanding initiative, impact of work, and inspiration of others. With each award, The San Francisco Foundation publicly affirms present achievements, seeks to encourage further work on the part of the recipients, and hopes to motivate others to follow their lead in service to Bay Area communities.
 
About the Koshland Young Leader Awards
The Koshland Young Leader Awards recognize the next generation of leadership in our community. These impressive high school seniors from San Francisco public schools are strongly motivated to achieve in spite of the added challenge of responsibilities to their families. The San Francisco Foundation applauds the Koshland Young Leader Awardees for their commitment to achieving their goals, succeeding academically, and pursuing their career ambitions. The students are nominated by their teachers and counselors during their junior year for this $7,000 award.
 
About The San Francisco Foundation
The San Francisco Foundation (TSFF) is the community foundation serving the Bay Area since 1948, granting nearly $776 million over the past ten years. Through the generosity and vision of our donors, TSFF awarded grants totaling more than $96 million in fiscal year 2008. Bringing together donors and building on community assets through grantmaking, leveraging, public policy, advocacy, and leadership development, TSFF addresses community needs in the areas of community health, education, arts and culture, community development, and the environment. The San Francisco Foundation is a community foundation serving San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, and San Mateo Counties.