| |  | | | | Local Heroes is a way for Stanford Athletics to show its appreciation of our outstanding neighbors who spend tireless hours serving our community. Nearly every organization has a Hero, someone who goes above and beyond the call of duty, never asking for recognition, and always going the extra mile to help others. Stanford Athletics wants to recognize these amazing individuals in our community who are committed to bettering the Bay Area.
Join us in honoring some of the great members of our community by nominating a Hero you have seen in action. Stanford Athletics' Local Heroes program will recognize these individuals throughout the year at marquee sporting events as a thank you for all they do. Heroes will receive tickets to the designated game and exclusive access pre- or post-game.
This past year, Stanford Athletics recognized several Local Heroes. We are proud to proud to recognize the following heroes: | | | Olatunde Sobomehin, Mural Music & Arts Project
Olatunde, as Stanford graduate, now serves as the Deputy Director for the Mural Music & Arts Project. Olatunde not only plays a major role every day in strengthening MMAP's presence in East Palo Alto High School but also helped to successfully launch the Teen Mural Program in San Francisco. When he is not working hard for MMAP, you can find him mentoring the youth, coaching basketball and promoting his clothing company, Esface Inc.
Mural Music & Arts Project: The Mural Music & Arts Project (MMAP) is a youth development organization that utilizes the arts to educate at-risk youth. Throughout the year, MMAP offers a variety of programs targeted for youth in San Francisco and across the Peninsula. Their programs include the Teen Mural Program, Health Education Through Art, History Through Hip Hop, Public Art Consulting and the Graffiti Arts Program. Since its inception in 2001, MMAP has worked with over 2000 youth, produced 98 murals and original music composed and performed by MMAP participants. |  | | | Bob Dehn, St. Anthony's Padua Dining Room
Bob supports the work of the Padua Dining Room by coordinating volunteer schedules and working with groups from schools, service groups and companies to enable them to come out and give back to the community. Several Stanford athletic teams--including Women's Basketball, Field Hockey and Wrestling--have been active with St. Anthony's and donated time at the Dining Room. St. Anthony's Padua Dining Room in Menlo Park: The Padua Dining Room is the largest ‘soup kitchen between San Francisco and San Jose and has been serving the less fortunate in our community for over37 years. The Dining Room serves a complete multicourse meal to all who come - 6 days a week, year-round. Padua Dining Room will provide over one quarter million meals this year to our underprivileged neighbors. |  | | | Marcus Jackson, Menlo Park Boys and Girls Club
Marcus gives back as Athletic Director at the Menlo Park Boys and Girls Club. Not only does he dedicate his time each day to motivating, supporting and interacting with kids ages 6-18, but he also teaches them life-lessons along the way. Marcus Jackson is a living example of the Boys and Girls Club of America's mission statement, "Great futures start here." As an alumnus of the Boys and Girls Club of San Leandro, Marcus was instilled with the values of leadership, sportsmanship, and fair play from an early age. Now a part of the Boys and Girls Club of the Peninsula (BGCP) organization for nine years, Marcus works with the youth and families of the Menlo Park and East Palo Alto communities by directing the Club's athletics programs, with the goal of teaching these same values to new generations of Club kids.
Menlo Park Boys and Girls Club: The Boys & Girls Club of the Peninsula provides places where young people age 6-18 are welcome after school and all day during the summer. Trained and caring staff and a cadre of volunteers work through a broad range of programs to guide and inspire youth to develop attitudes and life skills they need to thrive. The Club is regarded as one of the most comprehensive youth developmental organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area. |  | | | Joy Martin-Spriggs, JobTrain Joy is Lacole Phillips' Medical Office Assistant Instructor at JobTrain. Joy has very high expectations for her students, and because of her effective teaching style, they surprise even themselves with what they can accomplish. Joy has taught at JobTrain for nearly six years, and her class wins the competition for best class attendance more than any other. “Joy encourages each and every one of us,” said Lacole. “She makes us believe in ourselves.” Before joining JobTrain, Joy was a Medical Office Assistant in a doctor's office. JobTrainis a premier accredited non-profit job training and career placement institution that serves 7,000 - 8,000 low income people annually through a spectrum of excellent programs. JobTrain's services include full academic and aptitude assessment; vocational training; GED and Basic Academics for Employment; computer literacy; life skills and employment skills; counseling and career placement. JobTrain is located on the East Palo Alto / Menlo Park border. |  | | | Suzanne Mitchell, the Shelter Network
Suzanne has been a member of the volunteer support committee at Haven House in Menlo Park for over ten years, assisting with special IT and computer projects, like computer donation and installation or creating special websites, as well as helping to organize the annual holiday party and other seasonal events. "Shelter is also great about broadcasting any needs so it's easy to check one's calendar and jump into assist as available," says Mitchell. "I jump as I can--it's that easy. It's fun." Suzanne volunteers on top of working full time as the Director of Technology at Las Lomitas Elementary School District and the volunteer chairman of California's Annual EdTech CUE conference, takes the time out of her busy schedule to volunteer at Haven House Menlo Park.
Shelter Network: The Shelter Network is committed to providing housing and support services that create opportunities for homeless families and individuals to re-establish self-sufficiency and to return to permanent homes of their own. With the support of the private individuals, corporations, foundations, public partners, and nonprofit collaborators, Shelter Network provides comprehensive services to effectively break the cycle of homelessness for thousands of families and individuals. |  | | | Lacole Phillips, JobTrain Lacole is February's Trainee of the Month at JobTrain. Lacole enrolled at to help herself and her mother manage debt from medical bills accumulated while unemployed and uninsured. Lacole is challenged by a language disorder, but she overcomes her barrier through hard work, dedication to her studies, and focusing on her expectations and goals. She has perfect attendance and punctuality and works hard to succeed. Lacole is scheduled to complete her training on May 4. Her teacher is certain that she will succeed in her new career. JobTrainis a premier accredited non-profit job training and career placement institution that serves 7,000 - 8,000 low income people annually through a spectrum of excellent programs. JobTrain's services include full academic and aptitude assessment; vocational training; GED and Basic Academics for Employment; computer literacy; life skills and employment skills; counseling and career placement. JobTrain is located on the East Palo Alto / Menlo Park border. |  | | | Max Torres, St. Anthony's Padua Dining Room Max had dedicated more than 30 years of his life to ensuring hundreds of hungry members of the Silicon Valley community have the comfort of warm meals to carry them through each day. Max serves as the Operations Manager and works daily to be sure the Dining Room runs smoothly. St. Anthony's Padua Dining Room in Menlo Park: The Padua Dining Room is the largest ‘soup kitchen between San Francisco and San Jose and has been serving the less fortunate in our community for over37 years. The Dining Room serves a complete multicourse meal to all who come - 6 days a week, year-round. Padua Dining Room will provide over one quarter million meals this year to our underprivileged neighbors. |  | | | Anne Kerwin Payne,Bay Area Women's Sports Initiative Anne serves the community as a dedicated volunteer and as the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Bay Area Women's Sports Initiative (BAWSI). As a former collegiate tennis player at Cal-Berkeley and a current USTA National competitor, Anne is the walking example of BAWSI's efforts to empower female athletes to use their platform to make a difference in their communities. Anne first became involved with BAWSI in 2007 as a volunteer in the BAWSI Girls fitness and life-skills program, serving as an afterschool coach on local elementary school playgrounds alongside Stanford athletes. She has mobilized countless friends and colleagues to volunteer with BAWSI, has been a key leader in organizing BAWSI's annual Sportsapalooza, and has hosted numerous events in support of BAWSI's work. As the CEO of her own company and a lifelong athlete, leader, and community supporter, Anne truly represents what it means to be BAWSI.
BAWSI: The Bay Area Women's Sports Initiative (BAWSI) is a public benefit, nonprofit corporation with a mission to create programs and partnerships through which women athletes bring health, hope and wholeness to our community. Founded in 2005 by Olympic and World Cup soccer stars Brandi Chastain and Julie Foudy and Marlene Bjornsrud, former general manager of the San Jose CyberRays women's professional soccer team, BAWSI provides a meaningful path for women athletes to become a more visible and valued part of the Bay Area sports culture |  |
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