Since 1980, just after the founding of the Palo Alto Community Fund, the Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce’s Tall Tree Awards have recognized outstanding service to our community. The awardees this year include those for 2020 and 2022 (the 2021 Tall Tree awards were canceled due to the pandemic.) We are proud to share that three longtime Palo Alto Community Fund leaders are among the six individual honorees:

• Outstanding professional award for 2022: Pastor Paul Bains, founder and CEO of WeHope, and founder and President of United Hope Builders, and PACF Advisory Board member
• Outstanding citizen volunteer for 2022: Roger Smith, founder of two nonprofits – Mothers Against Murder and Friends of the Palo Alto Parks, active community volunteer, and PACF Emeritus Board member
• Outstanding professional award for 2020: Cammie Vail, former PACF Executive Director, and current PACF Advisory Board member

Also recognized for outstanding citizen volunteer is Hal Mickelson (2020.) In addition, a Global Impact Award recognizes Dr. Sara Cody and Dr. Yvonne “Bonnie” Maldonado for their frontline work during the pandemic. The Global Impact Award recognizes a community member whose work has a long, significant influence beyond Palo Alto. Organizational awardees include Premier Properties, Homewood Suites, Palo Alto Players and Peninsula Open Space Trust.

Join us in congratulating our own Pastor Bains, Roger Smith and Cammie Vail on their well-deserved recognition and thanking them for their outstanding contributions to our community. The awards ceremony will be on Thursday, April 21, 2022 at the Oshman Family JCC.

More information about the Tall Tree Awards and honorees is available through the Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce and Palo Alto Online.