Hope in Action: Highlights from the 2025 Threads of Hope Awards
Recap of the 2025 Threads of hope Awards honoring volunteers & philanthropists whose compassion and generosity make our region stronger.
Honorees deliver their acceptance speeches (Top line from left to right: Kelly Perkins, Ted Owyang and Karen Douglas. Bottom Line from left to right: James Bell and Mark Mahaney).
At a moment when nonprofits face incredibly high stakes —from growing community needs to shrinking resources — the 2025 Threads of Hope Awards gathered leaders, partners, and neighbors to recognize the people whose compassion and commitment are sustaining the organizations our region relies on most. The evening balanced celebration with reflection, guided by NBC Bay Area’s Garvin Thomas, who emceed with a mix of humor and heart, keeping the audience engaged while emphasizing the critical role nonprofits play in the community.
As the lights dimmed and honoree videos rolled, the room came alive with their stories. Lighter moments sparked smiles and laughter, from Karen Douglas’s staunch advocacy and support of the seniors at Choice in Aging to Mark Mahaney’s playful dance moves that bring joy to adults with developmental disabilities at Las Trampas. These gave way to more stories that drew tears, including Kelly Perkins’s transformation of personal loss into the founding of Carson’s Wings of Hope, and Ted Owyang’s steady, behind-the-scenes commitment to expanding access to housing through Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley.
On stage, each honoree delivered a compelling acceptance speech, blending gratitude with a call for collaboration, sustained support, and strong community partnerships. Philanthropist James Bell’s remarks were especially memorable, as he invoked the story of Peter Rabbit, prop in hand, to encourage the audience to challenge convention and embrace bold, unconventional thinking.
EBLC President & CEO, Mark Orcutt, delivers closing remarks
The evening concluded with a call to action from EBLC President and CEO Mark Orcutt, who reminded guests that generosity is not a “nice to have,” but an essential act of leadership. Urging attendees to turn inspiration into action, he challenged each person to show up for nonprofits in their community and left them with a simple question: “What thread can I contribute right now?”
Special thanks to Diablo Magazine for partnering on this event, and to our presenting sponsors, Kaiser Permanente and Contra Costa Oncology, for their generous support and unwavering dedication to strengthening our communities. Ticket sales for this event were donated back to the nonprofits represented by the honorees.
Read more about the 2025 Threads of Hope honorees in Diablo magazine’s latest issue.
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