The Juniper Awards
Jeff's Why
"For fun, I painted, sketched, and carved all my life, but I did not choose art as a career. My sister did. My appreciation for the working artist is rooted in her career. I watched my sister turn a skillset and passion into work, enhancing our community with talent, ideas, and beauty. I want to give artists like her some financial breathing room to spend more time on their art."
Jeff's Why
"For fun, I painted, sketched, and carved all my life, but I did not choose art as a career. My sister did. My appreciation for the working artist is rooted in her career. I watched my sister turn a skillset and passion into work, enhancing our community with talent, ideas, and beauty. I want to give artists like her some financial breathing room to spend more time on their art."
Jeff's Why
"For fun, I painted, sketched, and carved all my life, but I did not choose art as a career. My sister did. My appreciation for the working artist is rooted in her career. I watched my sister turn a skillset and passion into work, enhancing our community with talent, ideas, and beauty. I want to give artists like her some financial breathing room to spend more time on their art."
ART
The Juniper Award for Art recognizes a local artist’s commitment to their bold path, alleviating financial constraints and cultivating their imagination and fearlessness.
Jeff's Why
"For fun, I painted, sketched, and carved all my life, but I did not choose art as a career. My sister did. My appreciation for the working artist is rooted in her career. I watched my sister turn a skillset and passion into work, enhancing our community with talent, ideas, and beauty. I want to give artists like her some financial breathing room to spend more time on their art."
Jeff's Why
"My appreciation for writing and music strengthened as I watched my two daughters grow up writing and playing music. I witnessed them define and express themselves, dare to try, learn commitment and find joy. I also watched gratefully as their mentors supported and illuminated my girls’ chosen paths. I understand how essential these forms of expression are to oneself and one’s community, and I want to help local musicians and writers concentrate on their passion by offering financial support."
Jeff's Why
"For fun, I painted, sketched, and carved all my life, but I did not choose art as a career. My sister did. My appreciation for the working artist is rooted in her career. I watched my sister turn a skillset and passion into work, enhancing our community with talent, ideas, and beauty. I want to give artists like her some financial breathing room to spend more time on their art."
MUSIC & WRITING
The Juniper Award for Music/Writing recognizes a local musician or writer's dedication to creativity and imagination, empowering them to continue on their bold path with fewer financial barriers.
Jeff's Why
"For fun, I painted, sketched, and carved all my life, but I did not choose art as a career. My sister did. My appreciation for the working artist is rooted in her career. I watched my sister turn a skillset and passion into work, enhancing our community with talent, ideas, and beauty. I want to give artists like her some financial breathing room to spend more time on their art."
Jeff's Why
"In 1992, I was named to the US Olympic team in the demonstration sport of Speed Skiing. The Olympic Committee and the US Ski Team paid for my direct expenses. But during the year I won my bronze, I still needed multiple other jobs. I know firsthand that Olympic Athletes face serious shortfalls in funding for training and travel. I would like to help one Winter Olympic athlete every four years spend more time training and less time working side jobs to support their athletic careers."
Jeff's Why
"For fun, I painted, sketched, and carved all my life, but I did not choose art as a career. My sister did. My appreciation for the working artist is rooted in her career. I watched my sister turn a skillset and passion into work, enhancing our community with talent, ideas, and beauty. I want to give artists like her some financial breathing room to spend more time on their art."
WINTER OLYMPICS
The Juniper Award for Winter Olympics recognizes a local Team USA athlete who demonstrates the commitment, imagination, and fearlessness necessary to pursue excellence in high-level yet under-funded sports.
Jeff's Why
"For fun, I painted, sketched, and carved all my life, but I did not choose art as a career. My sister did. My appreciation for the working artist is rooted in her career. I watched my sister turn a skillset and passion into work, enhancing our community with talent, ideas, and beauty. I want to give artists like her some financial breathing room to spend more time on their art."
Jeff's Why
"I am impressed and humbled by the medical care I have received during my time as a cancer patient. I am grateful for the many tiers of caregivers it takes to deliver good medicine. I feel the sincerity of those who transfer me from the ER to my hospital room, take my blood pressure, administer my chemotherapy, and design my treatments. It makes me happy to imagine helping one medical caregiver per year extend their education in the field of medicine."
Jeff's Why
"For fun, I painted, sketched, and carved all my life, but I did not choose art as a career. My sister did. My appreciation for the working artist is rooted in her career. I watched my sister turn a skillset and passion into work, enhancing our community with talent, ideas, and beauty. I want to give artists like her some financial breathing room to spend more time on their art."
MEDICAL CARE
The Juniper Award for Medical Caregivers recognizes the commitment of techs, support staff, and nurses at every tier, and rewards with financial assistance those who want to further their medical education.
Jeff's Why
"For fun, I painted, sketched, and carved all my life, but I did not choose art as a career. My sister did. My appreciation for the working artist is rooted in her career. I watched my sister turn a skillset and passion into work, enhancing our community with talent, ideas, and beauty. I want to give artists like her some financial breathing room to spend more time on their art."
Jeff's Why
"I feel lucky to have studied literature at a small liberal arts college but I feel equally lucky to have worked in various trades my whole life, making friends with and learning from others who did the same. As a kid, I earned nickels for digging, pruning, and planting in the garden; later, I cut and arranged flowers, and waxed and edged skis. In the summer, I stained facia from rooftops, and cooked, cleaned, and hauled supplies in Yosemite’s High Sierra camps. As an adult I built my own homes, leaning on the expertise of tradespeople who knew more than me. I have immense respect for people who work in the trades and would like to help more people find their way to meaningful work in these areas."
Jeff's Why
"For fun, I painted, sketched, and carved all my life, but I did not choose art as a career. My sister did. My appreciation for the working artist is rooted in her career. I watched my sister turn a skillset and passion into work, enhancing our community with talent, ideas, and beauty. I want to give artists like her some financial breathing room to spend more time on their art."
TRADE SCHOOL
The Juniper Award for a Trade School-bound student recognizes the financial costs that accompany the decision to learn a trade. Monetary assistance for tuition and materials allows space for students to imagine, be fearless, and commit to their trade.
Jeff's Why
"For fun, I painted, sketched, and carved all my life, but I did not choose art as a career. My sister did. My appreciation for the working artist is rooted in her career. I watched my sister turn a skillset and passion into work, enhancing our community with talent, ideas, and beauty. I want to give artists like her some financial breathing room to spend more time on their art."
Jeff's Why
"After living, working, and serving on nonprofit boards in the Truckee-Tahoe community for more than twenty years, I witnessed the positive change that can result from just one inspired and driven individual. Oftentimes, these people work for entities that receive various forms of funding; sometimes, they are simply individuals, passionately working for an underserved segment of our community. Either way, they don’t do it for financial gain, but to make an impact. I would like to reward that good work."
Jeff's Why
"For fun, I painted, sketched, and carved all my life, but I did not choose art as a career. My sister did. My appreciation for the working artist is rooted in her career. I watched my sister turn a skillset and passion into work, enhancing our community with talent, ideas, and beauty. I want to give artists like her some financial breathing room to spend more time on their art."
COMMUNITY IMPACT
The Juniper Award for Community Impact recognizes an individual’s bold commitment to community, empowering recipients to continue growing community-wide strength, fearlessness, imagination, and limitlessness.