Be Our Guest

Each year, elected officials and other local luminaries get together to honor the nonprofit community and compete for the best pumpkin designer awards.

Stay tuned for Be Our Guest 2025!

Event Photos
Nonprofit Impact AwardsCelebrity Table Captains
Pumpkin AuctionBecome a Sponsor

Be Our Guest 2024

Join us for the 17th annual Be Our Guest -- Silicon Valley's most unique nonprofit luncheon and pumpkin auction! SVCN’s Be Our Guest is our fun twist on rubber chicken luncheons where local “celebrities” share lunch with hundreds of CBO staff and community leaders. Each year, SVCN honors nonprofits and nonprofit leaders who make a positive impact in our community and we auction off elaborately designed pumpkins.

Guests will enjoy a lively BBQ lunch, festive pumpkin contest, and the Nonprofit Impact Awards presentation.

Demone Carter,
Be Our Guest Emcee

Nonprofit Impact Awards

Every year, Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits recognizes leaders and organizations in the nonprofit community who make a positive impact on the community, as well as the efforts of those who support local nonprofits.

The award recipients will be honored at Be Our Guest on Thursday, October 24.

Support for the 2024 Nonprofit Impact Awards comes from San Jose Water.

    Patricia A. Gardner Changemaker Award

    Named after SVCN's long-time CEO, Patricia A. Gardner, this award honors Patricia's vision of nonprofit power in unity strengthened many community-based nonprofits and their work throughout the County.

    2024 Awardee

    Darcie Green

    Lifetime Achievement Award

    This award recognizes visionary leaders for their lifelong positive impact on nonprofits in Santa Clara County

    2024 Awardee

    Supervisor Cindy Chavez
    Gregory R. Kepferle

    Nonprofit of the Year

    This award honors a nonprofit organization that has gone above and beyond to serve the community over the last year.

    2024 Awardee

    Grail Family Services

    Collaborative Impact Award

    This award reflects SVCN’s value of collaboration. The awardees will have worked across boundaries to develop a common vision and shared values; the awardees will have generated outcomes improved by their collaboration.

    2024 Awardee

    Rescue our Medical Care Campaign:
    Latinas Contra Cancer
    Latina Coalition of Silicon Valley
    Latinos United for a New America
    ¡Sí Se Puede! Collective
    Working Partnerships USA

    Emerging Nonprofit
    Leader Award

    The future of the nonprofit community is in the hands of emerging leaders who are shaping the future of our sector through their energy, creativity, and exceptional leadership. This award recognizes up-and-coming individuals in the nonprofit sector.

    2024 Awardee

    Isela Reyes

    Nonprofit Ally Award

    This award will be given to a government, private partner, Board member, philanthropy partner, or volunteer who has demonstrated an extraordinary level of commitment to the goals and work priorities of Santa Clara County nonprofits over the last year.

    2024 Awardee

    Nonprofit REDI Hub Allies:
    Applied Materials Foundation
    The David & Lucile Packard Foundation
    Irma Zoepf
    Read about the 2024 Recipients!

    Pumpkin Contest + Auction

    Every year, local celebs (or their loyal staff) create and donate pumpkins to compete in the annual pumpkin contest and fundraising auction.

    Ever wanted to put your pumpkin decoration to the test? Community members can join in on the fun, too!

    Stay Tuned for Next Year's Contest!

    Celebrity Table Captains

    Celebrity Table Captains mingle with nonprofit staff and design pumpkins for
    the annual pumpkin contest and fundraising auction.

    Sylvia Arenas
    Supervisor D1, County of Santa Clara
    Marc Berman
    CA Assemblymember D23
    Dora Beyer
    Director, Excite Credit Union
    Domingo Candelas
    Councilmember D8, City of San José
    Amy Chan
    Interim CEO, The Health Trust
    David Cohen
    Councilmember D4, City of San José
    Jean Cohen
    Executive Officer, South Bay Labor Council
    Dr. Mary Ann Dewan
    Superintendent, SCC Office of Education
    Bien Doan
    Councilmember D7, City of San José
    Michael Elliott
    President & ED, Valley Health Foundation
    Neysa Fligor
    Councilmember, City of Los Altos
    Megan S. Fogarty
    Senior AVP, Stanford University
    Pam Foley
    Councilmember D9, City of San José
    Greta Hansen
    COO, County of Santa Clara
    Anne Im
    Director, Silicon Valley Community Foundation
    Sergio Jimenez
    Councilmember D2, City of San José
    Bianca Juarros
    Associate Initiative Officer, San Francisco Foundation
    Jennifer K. Cloyd
    CEO, FIRST 5 Santa Clara County
    Larry Klein
    Mayor, City of Sunnyvale
    Janikke Klem
    Senior VP, Heritage Bank
    Kelly Kline
    Associate VP, Stanford University
    Otto Lee
    VP Supervisor D3, County of Santa Clara
    Alex Lee
    CA Assemblymember D24
    Camille Llanes-Fontanilla
    VP, Sobrato Family Foundation
    Sergio Lopez
    Vice Mayor, City of Campbell
    Mara W. Low
    CEO, Shortino Foundation
    Meri Maben
    Chair, San Jose Public Library Foundation
    Amelia Macias
    Initiative Associate, San Francisco Foundation
    Jack Mahoney
    Sr. Director, Silicon Valley Community Foundation
    Maribel Martinez
    Director, SCC Office of LGBTQ Affairs
    Gail Pellerin
    CA Assemblymember D28
    Sal Pizarro
    Columnist, The Mercury News
    Steve Preminger
    Director, Civic and Community Engagement, SCC
    Leslie Rodriguez
    Partner, California Strategies
    Timothy Seay-Morrison
    Senior VP, Stanford Healthcare
    Cha See
    Director, Santa Clara Family Health Plan
    Pat Showalter
    Mayor, City of Mountain View
    Rowena Tomaneng
    President, San José City College
    Aisha Wahab
    CA State Senator D10
    Lee Wilcox
    Assistant City Manager, City of San José

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    1400 Parkmoor Ave, Suite 130
    San José CA, 95126

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    Office: (408) 260-3915
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