Donna and John Shoemaker received the Outstanding Volunteer Fundraisers award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Silicon Valley Chapter at the 28th annual Philanthropy Day luncheon on November 20, 2015. Only one volunteer community fundraiser receives this honor each year. “The Shoemakers were recognized for their visionary leadership of the Foundation’s Fulfilling the Promise fundraising initiative for mental health and addiction services at El Camino Hospital – their willingness to step forward, their passion for the cause, their attention to every aspect of the fundraising effort, their personal generosity, and their fundraising success,” says Foundation President Jodi Barnard.
In their acceptance speech, Donna and John said, “We may be busy but we have the time and make the time to step forward for this important cause, and because El Camino Hospital is stepping forward with their message, like they have been since 1962, while others are stepping back. And because it is the right thing to do. We have come to realize that people with mental illness must not remain lost and stigmatized. And we also know that if this community works together, in strength and generosity, we can find ways for these precious lives to be healthy, productive and found. We need help to reach our goal, but we won’t give up.”
