Community Corner

Philanthropy Group Honors Bob Grimm, Recognizes John Radford

'Patron saint' of the Tech Museum given 'Silicon Valley Community Foundation Outstanding Philanthropist' award, 25 recognized as 'Distinguished Volunteer Fundraisers.'

Bob Grimm, longtime Los Altan and often seen as the gray eminence behind all things philanthropic in town, received top honors from the Silicon Valley philanthropy community Friday.

Grimm received the award of "Outstanding Philanthropist" from the local chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, which honored seven individuals and organizations for “outstanding contributions to the community" at the Silicon Valley Philanthropy Day 2011 Awards at the Hyatt Regency Santa Clara.

Twenty-five individuals and organizations were singled out for the distinction of Distinguished Volunteer Fundraisers. , a member of the Town Council of Los Altos Hills, was honored in this category, nominated by Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence.

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The Tech Museum of Innovation and Downtown College Preparatory nominated Grimm.  "At the Tech, Bob is known as the “patron saint” of the museum," the nomination said. "It can confidently be said that The Tech would not exist as it is today if it had not been for Bob’s involvement at every level."

And Downtown College Prep, whose mission is to prepare underachieving students as the first members of their families to graduate from college, Grimm served as President of its board of directors for six years. "He worked with the founders to launch not only a school, but also a local movement committed to the success of all students."

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The , which wrote a supporting letter, used the term, "philanteer," to describe the degree that Grimm gets involved, beyond dollars. The Tech credits Grimm's involvement to leading Bill Hewlett to donate $5.7 million to the creation of the museum.

The Purdue-trained electrical engineer was a career employee at Hewlett Packard, retiring after his last post, creating and directing HP's Manufacturing Research Center. He served on the Los Altos City Council and was appointed mayor of the city in 1979.

In Los Altos Grimm has made his presence felt throughout his life here, but after his retirement in 1986, he turned on the jets. He was on the 1996 Vision 21 fund-raising campaign for Los Altos Library, the and the Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose. He led the drafting of the $68 million rebuilding project at Los Altos and Mountain View high schools.

The Silicon Valley Chapter of Association of Fundraising Professionals has more than 300 members. It advocates for philanthropy, conducts research, and runs  education and certification programs.

List of "Outstanding" Category of Honorees 

Silicon Valley Community Foundation Outstanding Philanthropist: Robert Grimm

Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser: Leah Toeniskoetter

Outstanding Corporate Grant Maker with More Than 300 Employees: El Camino Hospital 

Outstanding Corporate Grant Maker with Fewer Than 300 Employees: Sequoia Healthcare District 

Silicon Valley Community Foundation Outstanding Foundation Grant Maker: John S. and James L. Knight Foundation

Outstanding Philanthropic Youth Organization: Pacific Autism Center for Education's Youth Leadership Committee

Outstanding Philanthropic Organization: Friends of Long Marine Lab


The full list of honorees including the 25 Distinguished Volunteer Fundraisers, is on the attached pdf above. The text of the nomination letter from The Tech and Downtown College Prep is attached above.


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