At the 57th Celebrate Sunnyvale Awards Gala on Leap Day, Feb. 29, former Council Member and Mayor (in 2000) Pat Vorreiter was presented with the esteemed 2024 Murphy Award for Lifetime Community Achievement. She and her husband of 61 years, John Vorreiter, have called Sunnyvale—founded by Martin Murphy, Jr., in 1850—home since 1968.
In her acceptance remarks at the Awards Gala, Vorreiter, a retired lawyer, challenged the 153 gala attendees—the most in decades—at Sunnyvale’s Hilton Garden Inn.
“…make a point to do one act of kindness during the coming year that you haven’t done before. Put a smile on someone’s face, open a door of opportunity if you can, ease the pain or loneliness of a neighbor. Lift someone up!” she said.
She got a standing ovation.
The Awards Gala, organized annually by the Sunnyvale Chamber of Commerce—established in 1946, is all about lifting up the community. Other honored awardees: KeyPoint Credit Union, Community Impact Award; Livable Sunnyvale, Non-Profit of the Year; iHealth Labs, Technology & Innovation of the Year; Detati, Small Business of the Year; Dishdash Restaurant Group, Mid-Sized Business of the Year; Applied Materials, Large Business of the Year; and Amal Allan, Professional of the Year.
Each expressed heartfelt gratitude and thanks for their award.
“It acknowledges the tireless work of the KeyPoint Credit Union team and serves as a reminder of the transformative power of unity and collaboration. We are inspired to press forward, to keep making a difference, and to uphold the mission of ‘people helping people,’” said Doron Noyman, VP of Business Development and Community Relations.
iHealth Labs gave a unique swag gift to each Gala guest—a COVID test kit. iHealth Labs has manufactured (in California) and distributed one billion COVID tests, used by more than 50% of American families.
“We are so proud to be honored alongside our fellow Sunnyvale businesses,” said iHealth Labs CEO Jack Fung. “Sunnyvale is a great place to do business. It’s a safe place to live and work.”
Applied Materials has been a part of the Sunnyvale community for over 30 years.
“With our new billion-dollar EPIC Center, we’re committed to keeping silicon in the heart of Silicon Valley for years to come,” said Joe Pon, VP, Communications, Public Affairs and Workplace.
Keynote speaker Otto Lee, Santa Clara County District 3 Supervisor, praised the Chamber, calling it a key partner in making Sunnyvale one of America’s best cities.
“You have helped revitalize our downtown and continue to support small businesses bouncing back from the pandemic,” he said.
Lee addressed “the biggest issue we [the county] face locally—housing and homelessness.”
“While the situation feels desperate, there is also hope,” he said. “Since 2021, we have increased our permanent housing capacity number from more than 5,100 to more than 7,000.”
He pointed out that Santa Clara County has resources. It is one of the richest counties in the country and world. (Its median income is $153,792 according to US News.)
“I do want to express the hope I have for our future—hope that is built upon the spirit and the energy of people in this room that are going to help us get there,” said Lee.
“The Celebrate Sunnyvale Awards is the signature event for the Sunnyvale Chamber of Commerce. It is both a celebration of achievement and a challenge to continue lifting up the community,” said Sunnyvale Chamber of Commerce Board Treasurer Marie Bernard, CEO of Sunnyvale Community Services. “The Board is dedicated to growing the chamber’s positive impact and support for local businesses and our community.”