First presented in 2017, the Rainmaker Award has honored a distinguished list of community leaders and organizations whose contributions have made lasting impacts for Sunflower Hill. The award recognizes those whose belief in our mission has truly “made it rain”—nurturing the growth of our programs, communities, and, most importantly, the people we serve.
We’re proud to announce the recipients of our 2025 Sunflower Hill Rainmaker Awards – two incredible women who have helped make big dreams a reality!
Melissa Hernandez – 2025 Rainmaker Award RecipientMelissa Hernandez is being honored for her pivotal role in helping Sunflower Hill secure the property for our future residential community in Dublin. Her dedication to inclusive housing and unwavering support for our mission will pave the way for more adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) to live with greater independence, dignity, and connection within the community.
Melissa is Vice President of the BART Board of Directors, representing District 5 in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. Appointed in May 2024 and elected in November 2024, she is the first Latina to serve on the BART Board. Her district includes stations in Castro Valley, Dublin/Pleasanton, Hayward, and West Dublin, and spans the cities of Dublin, Pleasanton, Livermore, parts of Hayward and San Ramon, and rural East Alameda County.
Previously, Hernandez served on the Dublin City Council for eight years, including four as Mayor (2020–2024). As Mayor, she led the Downtown Dublin revitalization project and secured funding for mental health initiatives, including the Axis Behavioral Health urgent care facility and a Behavioral Health Unit within Dublin Police Services.
A strong advocate for public health, environmental sustainability, and transportation equity, she currently serves as a legislative aide specializing in health and social services for Alameda County Supervisor David Haubert. She holds a degree in Political Science and Public Affairs from CSU East Bay and brings nearly 30 years of small business experience in the dental and health sectors.
Hernandez has chaired several major transit agencies, including LAVTA, Valley Link, and the Finance Committee of the Alameda County Transportation Commission. Her board service includes StopWaste, LAFCO, East Bay Community Energy, and multiple liaison and advisory roles across the Tri-Valley.
Committed to community, she’s held leadership roles with Dublin’s Human Services Commission, Dublin Rotary, and school and civic committees. Above all, she is a proud mother to Jared and Lauren and cherishes time with her children.
“Receiving the Rainmaker Award is a profound honor. My vision for Dublin has always been to build a city that supports people at every stage of life—from education and employment to housing and community connection. Sunflower Hill at Grace Pointe will embody that vision by creating spaces where individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities can thrive, contribute, and feel a true sense of belonging. When we design communities with inclusion at their core, we cultivate a more compassionate and resilient future for everyone.”
– Melissa Hernandez
Lynn Monica – 2025 Rainmaker Award RecipientLynn Monica is being honored for her decade-long leadership and vision in cultivating an inclusive, nurturing space for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities at Sunflower Hill’s Garden at Hagemann Ranch. Her passion planted the seeds that continue to grow and flourish today. Over the years, Lynn has also led a number of special projects for Sunflower Hill– including a new, much-needed garden shade structure and an accessible pathway rebuild now underway.
Lynn is a seasoned executive and community leader who serves as an advisor to Sunflower Hill and co-founder of the Sunflower Hill Garden. With more than 35 years of experience in mobile technology operations, product development, and international market strategy, she held senior roles at Motorola in Chicago and London, and later led product innovation at several smaller wireless companies.
After transitioning from corporate leadership to community service, Monica applied her strategic expertise to nonprofit initiatives across the Tri-Valley and Bay Area. She has served on the boards of several nonprofit organizations, including Sunflower Hill, Culinary Angels, the San Francisco Museum of Craft & Folk Art, and the Las Positas College Horticulture Advisory Board.
In 2015, inspired by her participation in Alice Waters’ Edible Schoolyard Academy, Monica launched the Sunflower Hill Garden and played a key role in creating an Adaptive Horticulture Certificate Program at Las Positas College. She also served as director of the Sunflower Hill Fun Run and founded the Livermore Valley Film Festival in 2016. A longtime volunteer with the Sundance Film Festival, Monica has also helped produce several of Sunflower Hill’s videos and multimedia projects.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of New Hampshire and an Executive MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. She is the holder of three U.S. patents.
Monica resides in Livermore with her husband, Jon. She is stepmother to Jess, a therapist in Portland, Oregon, and Jacob, a resident at Sunflower Hill at Irby Ranch.
“The Sunflower Hill Garden has always been my happy place. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to help bring it to life—it truly took a village. Seeing how it has grown and evolved over the past decade fills me with pride. Today, it plays a vital role not only in our community’s food ecosystem but also in enriching the lives of our program participants.”
– Lynn Monica
