MORGAN HILL, CA – Leadership Morgan Hill (LMH) is proud to announce that Morgan Hill super volunteer and non-profit leader Terry Moriyama will be honored with the 2024 Leadership Excellence Award at an evening outdoor celebration/fundraiser at beautiful Guglielmo Winery on July 20, 2024. The Leadership Excellence Award recognizes the vision and leadership that advance the spirit of community and charity; reflect courage and insight; and inspire others to lead in a like manner.
Steve Tate, LMH Board President remarked: “Terry’s track record as a super volunteer and an innovative leader has made Morgan Hill an even better community, closely aligning with LMH’s mission and values. Our Board was thrilled with Terry’s selection, she loves Morgan Hill and it is universally reciprocated.
Terry grew up in Walnut Creek as an only child. Her mom was a zoologist, so her early pets were snakes and lizards! She later bonded with her biological father and gained three sisters and a brother that became close family. She has a daughter, son-in-law, and two granddaughters that live in Scotts Valley.
In 1988, Terry met husband Tom (who has worked at the same civil engineering firm for 36 years!) at the Harvest Time Restaurant where she worked in the hospitality industry. They married in 1990 and moved to their current house in 1996 and soon added a guest house (now the “Speakeasy”) for Terry’s mom. Terry worked for Hope Rehabilitation Services, then at Rebekah Children’s Services where she founded and chaired the successful Festival of Trees annual event. To care for her mom, Terry needed a more flexible schedule, so she began her real estate career and has been a star performer ever since.
Terry and Tom have been in the same bowling league for 29 years. They have a well-travelled RV and take frequent camping trips to nearby destinations like Avila Beach and Lake Siskiyou.
Terry’s love affair for domestic animals started when she was finally able to convince her dad to let her have a dog. After she left her family home in the late 80’s, she started Jester’s Cattery and showed silver Persian cats across the nation, one becoming the “best international cat of the year” in 1984. She incorporates her dog in her real estate ads. Readers knew her dogs – previously Gizmo and currently Mochi, very well. She currently has three cats and Tigger frequently rides in a stroller with Mochi.
Terry’s history of volunteer service is so impressive. She is a natural leader, always taking charge in a mellow, understated way that has people eager to follow her lead. So many organizations have benefited from her leadership. Highlights include the Chamber (Board member), Rotary (past president 2001-2002), our Leadership MH Board (she was class of 2004), the Community Law Enforcement Foundation (CLEF) (Board member, Cops and Robbers Ball Chair), Mushroom Mardi Gras, Taste of MH – and the list goes on! She’s been recognized as Volunteer or Philanthropist of the year by several organizations. She just seems to be everywhere all the time and always so very willing to help – she truly does make MH better!
Perhaps the crowning achievement of Terry’s philanthropy is the founding and ongoing operation of Air for Paws (AFP). Terry started AFP in 2004 after reading an article by fire chief Derek Witner wanting to put oxygen masks on fire engines for saving lives of animals. Terry took charge and immediately decided to form a non-profit organization (AFP) to do that for all first responders. Together she and Chief Witmer figured out what should be in the resuscitation kits and started producing them. Now used in almost all states and in many countries around the world, the program is a smashing success, saving the lives of many species of domestic animals. Terry still leads the organization and uses her considerable event planning skills to conduct regular fundraisers to support the program.
Terry will receive her medal at the gala summer tribute dinner at beautiful Guglielmo Winery on Saturday July 20. Community leaders, supporters of LMH, family and friends of the honoree will attend this community celebration to honor Terry and to benefit the local nonprofit LMH educational organization. Dinner and the award program will be followed by music and dancing. In keeping with the setting, dress for the event is upscale casual, summer fun. Please save the date, reservation information will be announced later this spring.
The Honorary Committee for the event is being chaired by Chris Foster and LMH Board members Harpreet Vital and Cinda Meister lead the Event Committee. Awardees are selected by a blue-ribbon panel of community leaders featuring former Leadership Excellence Award recipients. Funds raised will benefit the non-profit LMH educational organization, now in its 28th year of building community leadership. The annual LMH program provides insight, tools and training that enables and inspires leaders in all walks of life to give back to the community through service. LMH graduates are found in leadership positions throughout the community in government, education, business and nonprofit organizations.