State Capitol event set for June 28
Posted: Thursday, June 22, 2017 in The Independent
View photos from the ceremony and event here.
Sunflower Hill will be honored as Nonprofit of the Year for the 16th Assembly District at a special celebration at the State Capitol in Sacramento on Wednesday June 28. The selection was made by Assemblywoman Catharine Baker (R-16). The organization will join nearly one hundred other nonprofits from across the state as part of the second annual California Nonprofits Day, an event formally recognized by Assembly Concurrent Resolution 54, and authored by the chair of the new Assembly Select Committee on the Nonprofit Sector Assemblywoman Monique Limon (D-Santa Barbara).
“I am pleased to recognize Sunflower Hill as our Non-Profit of the Year,” said Assemblywoman Catharine Baker. “This local organization not only creates an environment of hope and purpose for special needs adults, but it also enhances their life ahead. Our community is better and enriched by Sunflower Hill, their garden and their planned residential communities.”
As part of the honor, Assemblywoman Baker plans to hold an in-district reception for Sunflower Hill, families and local residents on Thursday June 29th from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. The event will be held at Sunflower Hill Gardens at Hagemann Ranch, 455 Olivina Drive. Livermore. To attend please RSVP to Assemblywoman Baker’s office at (925) 328-1515.
In addition, all state award recipients will be honored at a luncheon at Sacramento’s Convention Center, with welcomes from Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, Assemblymember Limon, and Jan Masaoka, CEO of the California Association of Nonprofits (CalNonprofits). California Attorney General Xavier Becerra has also been invited to speak to the gathered honorees and their legislators. “Nonprofit organizations are vitally important to the economy and well-being of California. But too often nonprofits are ‘hidden in plain sight.’ We congratulate all of the award recipients for the great work they do every day to make California a better place,” said Jan Masaoka, CEO of California Association of Nonprofits (CalNonprofits), a statewide alliance of over 10,000 organizations, representing and promoting California’s growing nonprofit sector and working to bring the full power of nonprofits to strengthening communities.
Sunflower Hill, a Tri-Valley based nonprofit, is working to create sustainable residential living for individuals with special needs. Two communities are now in development – one in Livermore and one in Pleasanton. In addition, Sunflower Hill operates Sunflower Hill Gardens – a one-acre garden at Hagemann Ranch in Livermore that produced more than 9600 pounds of food in 2016. More than 70 percent of the Garden produce is donated to local food shelters like Open Heart Kitchen and Tri Valley Haven. Sunflower Hill is also creating vocational opportunities in horticulture for individuals with special needs and is currently working with Las Positas College on a non-credit certificate program.
“We are honored and so very grateful for this award,” said Susan Houghton, President, Board of Directors for Sunflower Hill. “Creating long-term, sustainable communities and ways for individuals with developmental delays to create meaningful lives is paramount. Our sincere thanks to Assemblywoman Baker for her tremendous support.”
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