The annual Lifehouse Awards Banquet took place on Oct. 18 at the Embassy Suites in San Rafael, with more than 350 guests celebrating the contributions of Lifehouse’s partners, staff and most importantly, the people it supports. The yearly traditional event is an outward recognition of the community’s support and a favorite among Lifehouse supporters, offering a valuable opportunity for them to engage with the people whom Lifehouse serves.
One of the evening’s favorite activities, especially for the people supported by Lifehouse, was the lively ‘dance party’ powered by DJ Juice which brought everyone out to the dance floor.
Recognizing the ‘village’ surrounding Lifehouse
The evening’s Master of Ceremonies was Mary Jane Burke, Marin County Superintendent of Schools Emerita, who helped lead recognition of Lifehouse’s many honorees, including the following:
Restaurant of the Year: Buckeye Roadhouse, led by Peter Schumacher and Robert Price;
Winery of the Year: Grgich Hills Estate, led by Violet Grgich;
Philanthropist of the Year: Bruce Gribens;
Extraordinary Community Service: Paul Lofholm of Golden Gate Pharmacy;
Volunteer of the Year: Marc Press;
Spirit of Lifehouse Award: Archie and Janet Held;
Employer of the Year: Sonoma Stompers Baseball led by Eduardo Mora-Loera;
Charles L. Martin Award: Sid Sall;
Individual Service Award: Jeff Burkhart;
Open Arms Award: Red Whale Coffee led by Sean Boyd;
Individual Achievement Awards: Jonathan Stuppin and Cynthia Johnson.
Lifehouse also recognized several of its staff members for their outstanding contributions to the organization, including Annie Aguilar, Melissa Alexander, Angeles Cruz Arango, Malcolm Daniels, Christine Leider Mato, Jessica Perez and Alma Ramos.
70 years and counting
In 2024, Lifehouse commemorated 70 years of helping adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live full lives in Marin. The agency started with humble beginnings in 1954, when it was formed by a group of families seeking educational support and a higher quality of life for its children. Lifehouse has grown into what it is today — a thriving, well-respected agency offering a specialized approach to the needs of each individual it supports, ranging from 24-hour full-care assistance to more modest aid centered on maintaining jobs, finances and self-care.
“Lifehouse provides a lifeline to not only the people we support but their families and the community too,” said Nancy Dow Moody, Lifehouse President and CEO. “The positive ripple effect that this organization creates is something that we are truly proud of. We could not do it without the support of our community partners, amazing staff and our Board of Directors. Thank you for joining us as we celebrate, with our remarkable community, 70 years of excellence in support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.”
Lifehouse thanks its sponsors
Many sponsors came together to make the incredible evening happen, including Inspiration Sponsors Doug Clough and Erin Uesugi along with Janice and Thomas Berthold. Community sponsors included Bank of Marin and Marin Sanitary Service. More than two dozen individual and family sponsors also contributed to the success of the evening.
To find out more about Lifehouse and how to support it, visit lifehouseagency.org.
Photos: Peter Merts and Janet Franklin
A freelance writer in Marin who writes about family, kids and parenting, Glass is the mother to one son, one dog and a hamster named Miss Geri. When she’s not writing, trekking up steep hills in Marin or driving her kid to sports practice, she and her family spend time in their tiny cabin in Lake Tahoe. She avidly supports the California Academy of Sciences, a world class science museum and research institution, and the Institute on Aging which provides much needed services to Bay Area seniors and disabled adults. Glass is obsessed with baking the perfect loaf of banana bread, something she makes so often she no longer needs to look at a recipe card.
