The 3rd Annual Women of Courage Awards
Philanthropic Ventures Foundation has announced the winners of the third annual Women of Courage Award. 

The community initiative honors the grit and impact of young women aged 18-30 who live, work or volunteer in San Mateo County. These young women have demonstrated courage in their life choices and circumstances and have contributed significantly to helping others. They exemplify the characteristics of compassion, resilience and integrity in their professional and personal lives. 
The 2022 Women of Courage Awardees are:
Lena Potts, 29, is the Unit Director of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula’s (BGCP) Moldaw-Zaffaroni Clubhouse in East Palo Alto, where she manages a staff of 22 serving roughly 190 students daily. She has been with the BGCP for 7 years, starting as the High School Director at the same site in 2015. She grew up in Vallejo, California, where she learned firsthand that high quality education is not equally accessible, and became committed to providing equitable opportunities to kids who need it most. After graduating in 3 years she went to Stanford and majored in Anthropology. Before joining BGCP she worked at HIP Housing, a nonprofit affordable housing agency serving San Mateo County. Her greatest joy is seeing her students grow up. 10 of her alumni currently work for BGCP, where they’re helping to raise the next generation of empowered, educated young people.
Armelle Coutant and Candice Delamarre, 24, are the Co-Founders of Kit Switch, a Public Benefit Company creating ready-to-install interiors to make better use of vacant commercial real estate and facilitate its conversion into infill housing. Armelle, originally a Biology major at Stanford, started studying Architecture halfway through her junior year, spurred by the desire to interconnect biodiversity and human wellness with our built environment. She completed a double major in Biology & Architectural Design as well as a master's in Sustainable Design and Construction in 5 years. Growing up in France and in the Middle East, Candice pursued an engineering Masters to dedicate her analytical skills and empathy to impacting the world and the people she had met. Her curiosity and determination led her to move to California and get a second Masters in Sustainable Design & Construction at Stanford, where she was surprised and shocked to find basic human needs unmet for so many. When the COVID-19 pandemic started, Candice and Armelle were brought together around their shared values for developing more sustainable alternatives instead of demolishing the buildings we no longer need, as well as their foundational beliefs towards housing as a human right. They have completed development on their first line of plug-and-play kitchens, which they will be piloting in partnership with Habitat for Humanity.
Faatimah A, 30, moved to the Bay Area from Canada at age 6 where she planted roots, and was introduced to basketball for the first time. Since then, basketball has been a driving force in her mission to create space and opportunity for athletes whose ultimate goal is to play professionally. During the off season, she dedicates her time to mentoring and coaching youth through clinics and skill development camps. Faatimah continues to build a legacy in the Bay Area Sports scene as her commitment to community is evident in all of her successes.
This community initiative was inspired by the lifetime work of Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D - 14, Burlingame), to highlight and support outstanding young women in San Mateo County.

Award sponsor Cynthia Schuman (1935 - 2021) was an accomplished artist whose work is featured in numerous museum and private collections. A longtime Peninsula native, Schuman was also a women’s fashion designer for her family’s San Francisco brand Lilli Ann, as well as a philanthropist and community leader. She said, “I imagined this award to honor my friend Jackie Speier, who in her roles as a mother, elected official, attorney, and congressional staffer has shown incredible resilience in overcoming tragedy and life threatening situations. Jackie is unafraid -- she takes on powerful political issues with passion and integrity. As a role model for young women, Jackie offers a shining example of what is possible, even in the face of enormous challenges. This award is a way to encourage promising young women in San Mateo County to be motivated and inspired by our own local hero, Jackie.” 
Judy Macias Young Leaders Scholarship Fund
Anyone who talked to Judy Macias knew what a powerhouse she was on the Coastside to get things done! And, although she died last year, her friends have rallied to carry on her work by creating the Judy Macias Young Leaders Scholarship Fund.

Five young women - high school seniors at Half Moon Bay High School - were selected to receive college financial assistance for each year of college, as well as experienced mentors to assist them throughout their college experience.
About the Editors
James Higa
James Higa, Executive Director, brings 28 years of executive experience from Silicon Valley, working with Steve Jobs to change the face of technology. He was at the birth of the personal computer revolution as a member of the original Macintosh team and was deeply involved in the creation of many products and services at Apple over 3 decades. He has a long history of public service as a board member of Stanford's Haas Center and in grassroots relief efforts.
Bill Somerville, Founder, has been in non-profit and philanthropic work for over 50 years. He was the director of a community foundation for 17 years, and in 1991, he founded Philanthropic Ventures Foundation. Bill has consulted at over 400 community foundations, on creative grantmaking and foundation operations. Bill is the author of Grassroots Philanthropy: Field Notes of a Maverick Grantmaker. 
About PVF
PVF is a demonstration foundation practicing unique forms of grantmaking
and innovative philanthropy. Our primary interest is in the creative
and significant use of the philanthropic dollar.
Philanthropic Ventures Foundation | 1222 Preservation Park Way, Oakland, CA 94612 info@venturesfoundation.org | (510) 645-1890