Wavy Gravy © Lisa Law
BERKELEY, CA – August 26, 2013 – The Berkeley Community Fund (BCF) is delighted to announce that Wavy Gravy–activist, visionary, philanthropist and compassionate clown extraordinaire–is the recipient of the 2013 Benjamin Ide Wheeler Award. The medal will be presented to him during the BCF’s annual awards dinner at H’s Lordship’s restaurant, at the Berkeley Marina, on October 10, 2013. [NOTE: THE DATE HAS BEEN CHANGED FROM EARLIER ANNOUNCEMENTS]
“Wavy Gravy has devoted his life to positive social change,” said BCF President, Jessica Pers, “from the founding of Camp Winnarainbow, a summer camp that has benefitted countless disadvantaged Berkeley and Bay Area youth, to the co-founding the SEVA Foundation, a Berkeley-based non-profit that has funded major healthcare projects in developing countries throughout the past 35 years. He truly reflects the uniqueness of Berkeley and the focus shared by so many of us to find positive and creative ways to help others.”
The Wheeler Medal was established in 1929 by the Service Club of Berkeley and bestowed upon Berkeley’s “most useful citizen.” It was named in honor of the University of California president (1899 to 1919) who was best known for transforming Cal into a world-renowned university. Since 1994, BCF has had the responsibility for choosing the Wheeler Medal recipient.
The first recipient was William H. Waste, a California Supreme Court Justice who was also co-founder and first president of the Berkeley Public Library and co-founder and president of the Berkeley YMCA. Later recipients include former UC Berkeley Chancellor and Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution Ira Michael Heyman; Neuroscientist and former Director of the Lawrence Hall of Science Marian Cleeves Diamond; environmentalist David Brower; Save the Bay co-founder Sylvia McLaughlin; UC Berkeley professor emeritus of physics and California energy commissioner Arthur H. Rosenfeld, Ph.D.; acoustic pioneers and philanthropists Helen and John Meyer; chef and Edible Schoolyard founder Alice Waters; radio personality and philanthropist Narsai David; and Berkeley Rep managing director and civic activist Susie Medak.
In addition to the Wheeler Medal, the October dinner will also showcase BCF’s High Hopes Scholarship program which provides financial and mentoring support for Berkeley High School graduates from disadvantaged backgrounds who are attending four year colleges. The festive event brings together a cross section of people from Berkeley and surrounding cities who understand the importance of supporting education. Proceeds from the dinner support BCF’s ongoing programs, including the High Hopes program.
ABOUT THE BCF
The Berkeley Community Fund is a charitable non-profit organization founded in 1991 by a group whose love for Berkeley and for a community of hope and equity inspired them to set up a fund that would reflect their goals. BCF now provides four-year college scholarships and mentoring support for academically talented and resilient Berkeley High School students. Since 2008, it has awarded more than $1.4 million in scholarships to 92 motivated and promising “High Hopes Scholars” attending public and private universities and colleges across the country. Many are the first in their families to attend college. BCF scholarships bridge the gap between financial support provided by government and educational institutions and the cost of attending four-year colleges.
Tickets may be purchased online at http://bit.ly/2013bcfannualawardsdinner or by contacting BCF at 510-542-2126.
Contact:
Joleen Ruffin, Executive Director
(510) 542-2126/info@berkfund.org
