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Allen Wilcox - 2012 Winner
President, VillageReach
Globally, more than 4 billion people have little or no access to healthcare and the great majority of global health initiatives struggle to achieve sustainability and scale. Allen is credited with taking an organization with a strong vision and implementing a strategic plan that has elevated VillageReach into a model to emulate. From Nelson Mandela (an honorary Board Member) to strategic partners such as PATH and World Bank, to supporters that include the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Allen has concentrated on forging partnerships and relationships that strengthen the “last mile” of the health system. His programs include improving capacity and support for the frontline health workers, improving the efficiency of medical supply chains in rural areas, creating information and communication systems that collect and process critical data about health needs, and building infrastructure services that support healthcare delivery.
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David Habib - FINALIST
Partner, Social Venture Partners
David has spent more than 12,000 hours volunteering his time and expertise with more than 25 nonprofits at SVP. He has revolutionized mission-critical database apps for the nonprofit sector allowing them to connect with donors, advocate for their causes, and expand their impact. Working in the trenches to define the information that each nonprofit needs to track, the business processes for intake, matching, granting and administration and the various reporting requirements for city, county, state and federal governments, David is integrally involved through training the staff on the system and providing ongoing support. From making it easier for families to apply for assistance at Child Care Resources to developing a sophisticated Auction Management application at Groundwire that has been installed by more than 150 organizations, David exemplifies the impact that one volunteer can have working quietly behind the scenes. advocate for their causes, and expand their impact.
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Gisli Olafsson - FINALIST
Global Program Director for Emergency Response, NetHope
Recognized as one of the premier disaster response coordinators in the world and the key contact for the U.S. Department of State in their emergency response operations, Gisli has lead NetHope’s efforts in Southeast Asia (tsunami), Haiti (earthquake), Pakistan (floods), and Japan (earthquake, tsunami and nuclear incident). Leading the NetHope Emergency Response Working Group is no small task and requires coordinating the efforts of 34 humanitarian NGOs, the United Nations, local governments, and other responders. Gisli’s work begins with Rescue (immediate) and continues through Response (days and weeks) to Recovery or Redevelopment (months and sometimes years).
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Jabe Blumenthal - 2012 Winner
Co-chair, Board of Directors, Climate Solutions
In the face of an issue mired in partisan politics, scientific confusion, and a scope too large to easily grasp, Jabe is a true visionary. His strategic leadership, laser focus, and practical approach to advocacy have transformed a regional organization into a national thought leader with vibrant partnerships and alliances in the business, farm, government, and civic sectors. Climate Solutions has had significant wins from defending the financing for clean energy in Oregon, to facilitating grants for clean energy projects in rural Idaho and Montana, to negotiating an agreement and legislation to phase out the last coal-burning power plant in Washington State that included a transition plan for the community and workers at the plant.
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Mahnaz Javid - 2012 Winner
Co-founder and Board President, Mona Foundation
How do you grow an organization supporting just 300 children to one serving more than 40,000 women and children in 12 countries around the world? Mahnaz has done that by creating long-lasting partnerships to develop support programs in education from schools in Haiti, to business institutes for rural women in India and Mongolia, to the Sunflower Mission in Vietnam. The result of this “grass roots” approach has been dramatic, and over time projects are able to manage initiatives of greater scope and complexity. In fact, three education programs have attained university status with centers in the Amazon, rural Cambodia, and Panama.
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Paul Bannick
Development Director, Conservation Northwest
An articulate advocate for protecting old-growth forests and natural habitats from the rugged Washington coast to the Rockies in British Columbia, Paul combines his passion for wildlife and nature photography with his analytical and communication skills. He has been instrumental in raising more than $20 million in private funds and grants and has spearheaded successful coalitions and partnerships to purchase private lands to preserve critical habitats. His book "The Owl and the Woodpecker" is used by Conservation Northwest to promote ecosystem fragmentation, the fragile balance between predator and prey, and the interdependence of species.
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Ivette de Rubens
Member Relations Manager, Catalyst Kitchens
Ivette is responsible for developing membership value and overseeing sustainability and scalability of the network. She has helped establish Catalyst Kitchens as a national network recognized for its high standards, value to members and tangible impact. She serves as a mentor to the team, and is depended upon for leadership on key decision making.
Catalyst Kitchens is a national collaborative network of organizations with a shared vision to empower lives through job training, self-generate revenue through social enterprise, and nourish bodies and minds through quality food service.
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Brian Donaldson
Interim President and CEO, Boys and Girls Club of King County
The Boys & Girls Clubs of King County faced challenging times when Brian stepped in as Interim President and CEO. He quickly determined a strategy for financial stability, rallied the staff, expanded the Board of Directors, and held people accountable for positive change. Brian did more than refinance $7 million in accumulated debt with zero interest loans to keep the doors open at 40 facilities; he understood the importance of a safe and positive environment and the role of Club staff members in making a difference in a kid’s life.
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Paul Gross
Chair, Hydrocephalus Association
Paul’s son William had 5 brain surgeries before he was 5 years old due to hydrocephalus, a congenital condition that affects more than a 1 million people in the U.S. There is no cure, very little research, and the National Institute of health spends just 60-cents per person per year compared to $300 per person per year for Juvenile Diabetes—even though the prevalence of the disease is the same. At HRG, founded by Paul and his wife Lori Poliski, he is a passionate, tireless visionary who is working to revolutionize the treatment of this heartbreaking disease. As a volunteer, Paul has personally raised all the major gifts and donations for the organization ($1 million annually). He is the co-founder of the 7-center Hydrocephalus Clinical Research Network and remains the driving force of the research initiative including recruiting 45 pro-bono scientific advisors, and has helped to create a national program of local support groups for parents and volunteers.
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Bill Henningsgaard
Executive Director and Chair of the Board, Eastside Pathways
Most residents and businesses in Bellevue, Washington are unaware that 84 languages are spoken in Bellevue public schools, English is not the first language for 35% of its students, and more than 25% of students receive free or reduced lunches for low-income families. Bill and his wife Susan founded the organization based on the Collective Impact Framework. He has been instrumental in getting the city, school district, and leaders from 30 organizations to unite around common goals and to leverage their shared resources to support every child from “cradle to career.”
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