Sold Out Philanthropy Day Crowd Celebrates Awardees
November 10, 2022, Hyannis, MA – Philanthropy Partners of the Cape & Islands (PPCI) recognized five outstanding individuals and organizations with Distinguished Service to Philanthropy Awards at the 25th Annual Philanthropy Day on Cape Cod, November 9th. A sold-out crowd was present at the Resort & Conference Center in Hyannis when the five awardees were announced:
Outstanding Business/Organization Award – The Cape Cod Foundation. In 2020, the Cape Cod Foundation created a Strategic Emergency Response Fund that raised nearly $3.6 million and deployed awarded more than $3 million so far to more than 60 local organizations, bringing critical resources to our community that we would not have had otherwise. Since their inception, the Foundation has distributed nearly $95 million in grants and scholarships. For the second consecutive year, The Cape Cod Foundation and their partner, the Cape Cod Association, awarded more than $1 million in scholarships to local students navigating their educational goals during very difficult times.
Outstanding Philanthropist – Richard Costello. Co-owner of the Chatham Squire, Richard and his business partner George Payne, were amongst the first sponsors of Chatham’s First Night, the Chatham Harbor Run, and the 4th of July parade. Upon Richard’s passing, many organizations received transformational bequests including WE CAN, Pals for Life, Spaulding Rehabilitation Center, Cape Wellness Collaborative, The Friends of Eldredge Public Library, Rocking Unicorn Nursery School, and the Visiting Nurse Association of Cape Cod.
Outstanding Volunteer – Sheila House. For 30 years, Sheila has been the Counselor for the Town of Harwich. In addition, she is founder of Harwich Youth Services, serves on the Board of WOMR radio station, and is President of the Board of Behavioral Health Innovators, Inc., a nonprofit innovating solutions to address substance use disorder and related mental health conditions in the 24 and under population, and she offers her time and expertise to many other efforts on the Cape.
Outstanding Volunteer (Posthumous)- Peter Muise. As the president and CEO of First Citizens’ Federal Credit Union, he was dedicated to helping his community, especially on housing issues. Peter was an executive committee member of the Homeless Service Providers Network in New Bedford and one of the founders of Rise Up for Homes, a fundraising and advocacy organization to support ending homelessness. He also served as the co-chair of the South Coast Regional Network to End Homelessness. Muise joined the Housing Assistance board in 2017 and led the board until his passing earlier this year.
Outstanding Youth/Youth Organization – Kennedy-Donovan Center. The Kennedy Donovan Center Family Support Program has been tirelessly supporting families of children and youth with special needs on Cape Cod and the islands for many years. KDC staff have shown an outstanding commitment to the wellbeing of families they serve – they bring a positive, compassionate and culturally competent approach to their work with children and youth and support each individual and family they serve with unconditional dedication and celebration of their uniqueness. Their Parent Advisory Council shares ideas with staff and together they organize meaningful activities such as the Festival of Lights at Heritage Gardens, whale watching, Cape Cod Inflatable Park, mini golf, apple picking, therapeutic horseback riding, arts and crafts, surf camp w/Gnome Surf, and many others to give children and youth with special needs an opportunity to be active participants in their community’s life.
More than 350 people registered to attend the first in-person Philanthropy Day event since the Covid shutdowns. This year’s theme celebrated that reconnection of our community with a theme of Reunite to Ignite: Bringing the Cape Back Together to Share our Spark! Two keynote speakers, Kristy Senatori, Executive Director of the Cape Cod Commission and Kristin O’Malley, President and CEO of The Cape Cod Foundation shared their insights regarding the unique challenges and opportunities for nonprofits in our region. For photos and session summaries, visit the www.capecodgiving.org.
PPCI is grateful to our premier sponsor Cape Cod 5 for its support of our programs year-round including Philanthropy Day. Our sponsors make this event possible and receive great visibility in front of hundreds of dedicated nonprofit professionals, volunteers, business leaders and philanthropists. If you’d like to become a sponsor, contact [email protected].
About Philanthropy Partners of the Cape and Islands
The Philanthropy Partners of the Cape and Islands (PPCI) supports the philanthropic community through education, networking, and celebrating the impact of charitable giving.Governed and operated by an-all-volunteer, community-based board of directors,Philanthropy Partners of the Cape and Islandsis a local chapter of the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners. PPCI annually presents Philanthropy Day on Cape Cod, slated for November 9, 2022. Learn more at www.capecodgiving.org
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Thank you Sponsors! Brought to you in part by Cape Cod 5, Kelley Foundation, Inc., and the Cape Cod Healthcare Foundation.
