Awards and Recognition
2006 Council on Foundations Awards
In May 2006, the Council on Foundations recognized the Kirsch Foundation with a Wilmer Shields Rich Bronze Award for Excellence in Communications for our report, “Clearing the Air in the San Joaquin Valley." The report, published in early 2005, was a partnership between the Foundation and the Union of Concerned Scientists, particularly Louise Wells Bedsworth who authored it. Both organizations recognized the enormous pollution issues facing the San Joaquin Valley and wanted to provide a roadmap for legislators and regulators to address the problem. The report has proven to be a useful guide for public policy on air pollution in the Valley. Further, we were pleased with the recognition from the Council on Foundations’ Wilmer Shields Rich Awards Program, which recognizes organizations for their commitment to public accountability and effective communications.
2005 Council on Foundations Awards
On April 11, 2005, the Foundation received a Silver and a Bronze Award for the website and the 2003-2004 annual report, respectively, from the Council on Foundations' Wilmer Shields Rich Awards Program.
2003 Council on Foundations Awards
In March of 2003, the Foundation received two Silver awards from the Council on Foundations' Wilmer Shields Rich Awards Program for Excellence in Communications. This awards program "showcases the ways foundations and corporate giving programs use communications strategies and techniques to advance the goals of their grantmaking." (Source: Council on Foundations) The Foundation received the first award for the Public Policy Campaign for passage of California Assembly Bill 1493 which calls for reducing greenhouse gases in automobiles. The second award recognizes the Foundation's website.
California Association of Nonprofits Award
On April 2, 2002, the Foundation was presented with the California Association of Nonprofits Public Policy Excellence Award at a reception in Sacramento. This award recognizes individual or group efforts to develop and/or implement public policy initiatives and practices that significantly improve California communities. The Foundation received this honor specifically for its role in the ZEV (zero-emission vehicle) Alliance and its work to pursue clean air legislation and regulations in California.
Clean Air ENVY Award
The American Lung Association of the Bay Area honored Steve Kirsch and the Kirsch Foundation in May of 2000 with a Clean Air ENVY Award for Outstanding Leadership in promoting the use of ZEVs through advocacy for ZEV production requirements, incentives, and other benefits for ZEV owners.
