Empower & Excel Selected as Senate District 15’s Nonprofit of the Year

Senator Dave Cortese (D-San Jose) honors local nonprofit, Empower & Excel, as the 2021 California Nonprofit of the Year for Senate District 15.

“I have selected Empower and Excel as the Senate District 15 Nonprofit of the Year for the great work they are doing in our local community driven by a worthy mission to empower youth to give back to their community through local volunteer initiatives,” said Senator Cortese.

“Our youth deserve access to local opportunities that allow them to serve the greater good. Since 2015, Empower & Excel has given back to our community through over 70,000 hours of volunteer service conducted here in Santa Clara County and by providing an avenue for our next generation of leaders to reach their full potential in every sector of our society,” he added.

“To be recognized amongst the numerous stellar organizations that serve this district is truly a humbling moment for Empower and Excel!” said Ayesha Charagulla, Empower and Excel’s President and CEO. “It seems like yesterday when Empower and Excel was conceived with a mere six youth volunteers and a vision to train the youth volunteers as future leaders of tomorrow! And six years later, more than 1500 youth volunteers from our organization have served the community. We dedicate this award to our youth volunteers, their families, and our donors. This award rightfully belongs to all of you!”

This is the sixth year of the California Nonprofit of the Year initiative, and with nonprofits doing more than ever to help their communities weather this COVID-19 crisis, their work should rightfully be celebrated.

“Nonprofits are often hidden in plain sight,” explains Jan Masaoka, CEO of the California Association of Nonprofits (CalNonprofits). “With one in every 14 California jobs being at a nonprofit, honoring a California Nonprofit of the Year shows that elected officials recognize and celebrate the good work they see nonprofits doing in their districts. We urge everyone to appreciate the collective impact of nonprofits in our communities.”