On August 14, 2023, Greenbelt Alliance hosted our annual benefit, Hidden Heroes of the Greenbelt, on the Ohana Floor of Salesforce Tower. If you haven’t been, the space is breathtaking. With floor-to-ceiling windows offering an unobstructed perspective of the cityscape below, our guests enjoyed sweeping views of the Bay Area while vibing to tunes by DJ Streak and sampling a selection of delicious appetizers from Burke & Black catering. We even had a live screen printer giving out limited edition t-shirts illustrated by Elijah Silverman.
Best of all, we came together to support a more climate resilient Bay Area—which has always been the heart of our Hidden Heroes event. Thanks to our amazing community of supporters, we raised over $100,000 in support of our work to advocate for our most vulnerable communities, protect our precious ecosystems, and envision a better Bay Area for generations to come.
Our 2023 Hidden Heroes are bold leaders in local government who are working to ensure greater climate resilience for the Bay Area through local, equitable solutions. Their stories were inspiring and their contributions will leave a legacy of positive impact throughout the region. We’re thrilled to have had another fantastic group of heroes this year:
John Steere | Watershed Planner, Contra Costa County Watershed Program Hidden Hero of the Greenbelt recognized for fostering nature-based climate adaptation
Emily Corwin | Senior Environmental Engineer at Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District and Solano Stormwater Alliance Manager Hidden Hero of the Greenbelt recognized for planning for climate change resilience
Amy Chen | Director, East Palo Alto Community and Economic Development Department Hidden Hero of the Greenbelt recognized for promoting climate-SMART housing
During the celebration, we premiered three short films that highlighted our Hidden Heroes, which you can watch here:
65 Years of Greenbelt Alliance
Not only did we celebrate our incredible Hidden Heroes, we also celebrated Greenbelt Alliance’s 65th anniversary! Over the past 65 years, Greenbelt Alliance has been at the forefront of the intersection of people and nature across the San Francisco Bay Area. Throughout our journey, we have sought to highlight and honor the value of both our communities and the landscapes that cradle them. Learn more here about our legacy and all of the incredible folks who helped us get here. This is an incredible landmark for our organization, and it also happens to coincide with the launch of our Bay Area Resilience Hotspots initiative. The event guests were able to experience a gallery-style walkthrough of 5 places we have identified as critical for Bay Area resilience.
We’re so glad that we were able to gather our supporters together in such a special place to toast to the next 65 years of Greenbelt Alliance’s work. Check out some of the photos from the event below, and click here for all of the photos.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
None of this would have been possible without our generous sponsors. We’re grateful to have a wide base of supporters who continue to champion our mission.
Resilient Communities Sponsors
Conservation Education Sponsors
Looking Forward
We are so honored each year to be able to bring recognition to the Bay Area’s climate resilience heroes. We can’t wait to find our 2024 Hidden Heroes of the Greenbelt!
Thank you to all who attended and supported this year’s event. We hope to see you again next year!
Photos by Shira Bezalel
