Non-profit director honored as Business Person of Year

Jay Peeples
Friday, June 13, 2003 -

Milpitas Chamber of Commerce announced this week the 2003 Business Person of the Year is Family Giving Tree Executive Director Jennifer Cullenbine.

Cullenbine is the 17th person and fifth woman to win the award, and first director of a non-profit organization. She will be honored at the chamber's 46th annual Installation and Awards Banquet, which will be held June 27 at Crowne Plaza, 777 Bellew Drive.

Cullenbine, who started Family Giving Tree 14 years ago, was shocked at the honor.

"I was so excited when they called, I started screaming like a little kid," Cullenbine said. "I've never considered myself a businesswoman."

Family Giving Tree, located at 505 Valley Way, started as a master's in business administration class project Cullenbine undertook at San Jose State University. She decided to design a program where underprivileged children at Christmas time would not go without gifts. After 14 years of soliciting private donations and working with area businesses and corporations to raise funds and gifts, Family Giving Tree provided gifts to more than 50,000 children in the Bay Area during the holiday season last year.

Cullenbine said it's amazing to do something she loves for a living.

"I wake up Christmas morning and I'm the happiest person on the planet because I worked all year to make sure 50,000 children wake up to a present from Santa," she said.

Milpitas Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Gaye Morando said she is amazed with what Cullenbine does.

"I think what she does is certainly commendable," Morando said. "I think it is really special to award somebody in a non-profit. Quite often, they are overlooked.

"I think it's nice to turn around and recognize someone who gives so much of themselves."

Cullenbine was honored to be the first non-profit business person to be given the Business Person of the Year award. She said the non-profit industry has been making strides in becoming more visible in the business field.

"When I think of business people, I don't think of people in non-profits and we should," Cullenbine said.

Besides working on Family Giving Tree's holiday toy drive and its back to school drive, Cullenbine is active in many other public service organizations. She serves on the Milpitas Rotary Club Board of Directors and works with Milpitas High School's Interact Club. According to Morando, "Jennifer has given to the community more than most individuals do in a lifetime."

Through it all, Cullenbine said she wakes up happy to go to work every morning.

"The best part of my job is that I get to make a difference in children's lives," she said. "I help more than anyone thought humanly possible at least once a year."

The nominees for the award, along with Cullenbine, were Johnie Quincy Jones, minister for Greater Love Church of God in Christ; Diane McDonough, general manager of Inns of America in Milpitas; and Realtor Dem Nitafan.

For reservations or more information about the 2003 Business Person of the Year recognition and Installation Banquet, call the chamber office at 262-2613. Tickets are $35 and are available at the chamber office at 138 N. Milpitas Blvd. in Milpitas Town Center.

) 1999-2003 MediaNews Group, Inc.