Volunteer Par Excellence: Claudia Coleman

Editor's Note: The 29th Annual Joint Community Service Volunteer Awards gave public and lavish recognition for nine individuals who were chosen from scores of nominations. The strong ethos of volunteerism in Los Altos and Los Altos Hills is what many credit as the thing that makes the communities so strong.

 isn't adequate for nine people who have quietly made big contributions over years. So, throughout the coming days, we are reprinting the text from the introductions made for each individual at the Dec. 2, 2011 awards event.

Los Altos Community Foundation Executive Director Roy Lave introduced Claudia Coleman in his introductory remarks below.

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When Mary van Tamelen and Jane Reed created this event in 1983 they were not only looking for a vehicle to reinforce the partnership between the Town and City they wanted to honor volunteers who:

• Have the community in their hearts (Jane’s council campaign was “I love Los Altos”)
• Serve with humility without seeking recognition, and perform their volunteer service with an infectious good humor and a positive attitude.

In addition to those attributes, our awardee brings to her volunteer service the skills honed while marketing for a large, high-tech Silicon Valley company.

She has the wisdom that comes from an open and creative mind. In board and committee meetings, she is skilled at helping groups arrive at consensus.

She is in her third year of managing the Los Altos Community Foundation’s Leadership program: Nine evening sessions in which participants meet the leaders of our non-profit and civic organizations.

Former students will attest to her skills at engaging the participants, making speakers she invites feel comfortable, and providing the context for each session.

Being at heart a marketing person, she would not be pleased with me if I did not tell you that the next 2012 program starts in January and you may enroll on the Foundation’s website. (Dennis Young already broke the ice with a commercial.)

In addition to her work for the Foundation, she has served on the local board of the Red Cross and will take the helm of the El Camino Hospital Foundation next month.

In addition to her volunteer activities, she and her husband are significant philanthropists, earning them the title of Philanthropic Volunteers, or "PHILANTEERS."

On the lighter side, she was the non-organizer of a POP-UP dinner: A no-host, bring-your-own-everything—food, tables, chairs, etc.—dinner held in October in the Rotary Plaza at Main and State.

These dinners are not a new idea. The acronym our awardee created, however, is new – it is PEOPLE ORGANIZING PARTIES UPON PLAZAS

It is my pleasure to present the author of that phrase—Claudia Coleman.