PITTSBURG — James (Jim) Noe, a St. Vincent de Paul of Contra Costa County (SVdP) volunteer for over 30 years, will be honored for his lasting impact as an advocate for the underprivileged, at the East Bay Leadership Council’s 6th Annual Philanthropy Awards at the Blackhawk Museums in Danville, on Nov. 3

Noe was nominated by St. Vincent de Paul of Contra Costa County and chosen to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his faithful and decades-long effort to serve people in need throughout Contra Costa County.

More about Jim:
Rooted in his deep-held spiritual belief in the dignity of every human being, Noe began helping the poverty-stricken and underprivileged members of his local community. For over 30 years, Noe has been generous with his time, creative with his ideas, and open to the needs of people struggling to improve their lives.

Noe is a firm believer in developing and strengthening partnerships between organizations in order to leverage impact, thus, ensuring that all areas of need within the community can be reached. His lasting impact in the community has resulted in significantly improving lives of struggling families and reducing the stigma that the poor encounter when they seek assistance.

Noe served as a board member at SVdP and was elected Board President in 2008, serving 6 years. As Board President, he used his own time and resources—both financial and skills-based—to improve the lives of countless Contra Costa County residents.

SVdP is unique in its ability to reach the less fortunate throughout the county. It has 27 local branches (called “conferences”) in 18 cities across the county where volunteers are ready to help when neighbors are in need. SVdP’s outreach is work of approximately 700 volunteers in those Catholic church-based conferences, plus a small professional staff based in Pittsburg for larger efforts.

In 2015, a typical year, SVdP provided help more than160,000 times to Contra Costa residents who had few other options for food, clothing, medical & dental care, shelter or job training.

Representative of Noe’s achievements and collaborative approach to problem-solving is the St. Vincent de Paul Free Dining Room. It was built in partnership with Loaves & Fishes of Contra Costa County. It now serves more than 31,000 meals each year.

Noe’s years of assistance are marked by his alertness to the changing needs of the less fortunate and his readiness to work to find real help for them. In 2010, identifying that low-income and uninsured individuals lacked access to medical care, Noe led SVdP to establish the RotaCare Pittsburg Free Medical Clinic at SVdP in partnership with RotaCare Bay Area and 10 area Rotary Clubs. The four-exam room clinic opened in 2010 at SVdP’s Pittsburg Facility.

Last year Noe spearheaded an effort that expanded the SVdP Family Resource Center to accommodate growing patient needs. In the five years since the clinic opened it has provided over 6,000 patient visits for people who had no other option for medical problems.

Over the years, Noe identified barriers that kept many people from returning successfully to the workforce and thus becoming confident, independent members of the community. Noe took the lead in helping to connect mentors from the Contra Costa business community with people needing work skills through the SVdP Workforce Development Program. Today it helps individuals who have barriers to employment find work and develop both soft and technical skills for survival in our changing economy.

Noe’s volunteer commitment to people in need began at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church (San Ramon) over 30 years ago. As a SVdP volunteer he joined an informal group of interested members of the community concerned with helping the area’s homeless. That effort grew into his founding the San Ramon Ecumenical Homeless Ministry. As a member of St. Joan’s SVdP conference Noe meets monthly with individuals and families that seek help from the branch in San Ramon.

Noe also is an active volunteer at Loaves & Fishes of Contra Costa. He also has served as a board member at Shelter, Inc. in Richmond for 15 years. Noe served as Shelter Inc.’s Board President for two years, and he started the Swing for Shelter Golf Tournament while on the Board.

More about the event:
The Philanthropy Awards are an opportunity to honor exemplary community-minded leaders, businesses, and service organizations that make our community more vibrant. – East Bay Leadership Council

The event is open to the community, the cost is $50 for members and $75 for non-members.
DATE: Thursday, Nov. 3, 2016
LOCATION: Blackhawk Museums, 3700 Blackhawk Circle, Danville, CA
COST: East Bay Leadership Council Members’ admission fees are $50 and non-members’ admission fees are $75.
REGISTER: www.eastbayleadershipcouncil.memberzone.com