SVP Partners Recognized for Extraordinary Leadership in Philanthropy
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Each year, the Microsoft Alumni Foundation recognizes alumni who dedicate their time, talent, and resources to help address local, national, or global challenges. Their Integral Fellows award highlights an individual’s impact on a wide range of issues, from conservation to hydrocephalus.
“The 2012 Integral Fellows nominees epitomize the Microsoft tradition of giving back to our communities,” explains Jeff Raikes, chairmen of the Foundation board. Each nominee represents a nonprofit organization either started by Microsoft alumni, or where Microsoft alumni are making valuable contributions.
This year, three of the nominees are SVP Partners! They include: David Habib, Bill Hennigsgaard, and Paul Gross. Plus, Jabe Blumenthal and Allen Wilcox are part of our extended community. Each was involved with SVP for more than a decade before they moved on to pursue other passions.
Finalists selected from the list of 15 nominees will be recognized during the Microsoft Alumni Foundation Celebration event in October, 2012. Winners will receive a $25,000, one-year unrestricted grant for their nonprofit organization, with further support from fellow alumni to help increase their resources and effectiveness. Learn more >>
Meet the Nominees from Our SVP Community
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David Habib 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. 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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Bill Henningsgaard 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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Paul Gross 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, and very little research. Determined to change this, Paul joined the board of the largest national patient advocacy -- the Hydrocephalus Association (HA) -- and expanded its agenda from support to research and federal advocacy. He also co-founded 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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Jabe Blumenthal 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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Allen Wilcox 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. |
