Ann Danner of Saratoga, executive director of the Nonprofit Development Center in San Jose, has been named "Woman of the Year" for the 24th Assembly District.
Danner was nominated for the honor by Assemblyman Jim Cunneen. The awards are sponsored by the Women's Caucus of the California State Legislature in conjunction with Women's History Month.
Danner earned a bachelor's degree from Stanford University in 1960, majoring in French. Prior to joining the Nonprofit Development Center, Danner served as executive director of the Foundation for HOPE for eight years and helped to raise more than $3 million for HOPE Rehabilitation Services.
During that time, she was honored by the National Society of Fundraising Executives, Silicon Valley Chapter, as professional fundraiser of the year.
She has served on the boards of many organizations, including the United Way, YMCA, San Jose Museum of Art and HOPE Rehabilitation Services. She is a past president of the National Society of Fundraising Executives and the Junior League of San Jose. She was a founding board member of the Volunteer Exchange and of the Nonprofit Development Center.
She is currently a member of the Rotary Club of San Jose and chairwoman of its Charity Auction Committee.
She recently established the Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits, an association of nonprofit agencies whose primary purpose is to advocate for and educate the public about the role of nonprofits in the community. The council's first project will be to define the role of nonprofits in welfare reform.
"Ann stands out as one of the great role models for young women and men in Silicon Valley because she is constantly putting others first," Cunneen said.
This article appeared in the Saratoga News, March 26, 1997.
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