2022 Hannah Humanitarian Award Recipients
Bill Pearce Motors & Denise Yoxsimer
Bill Pearce Motors has been a generous supporter of the Domestic Violence Resource Center for more than 30 years. During this time, Bill Pearce has consistently sponsored events and made direct contributions. We have benefited from their Jeans Friday fundraising campaigns where employees choose a nonprofit each month and then make donations for the privilege of wearing jeans on a Friday, with Bill Pearce Motorsproviding a match to the designated organization.
Through philanthropy and strategic involvement, Bill Pearce builds and strengthens communities. Giving back has always been a part of the company’s culture, but when Sandy Raffealli took over the role of dealer principal in 2014, she expanded this commitment, ultimately helping hundreds of nonprofits in Reno.
Sandy says it best, “We’ve always felt that if the community gives us the opportunity to do business and thrive here, then we need to do what we can to help make it a better place to live for everyone.” Sandy Raffealli is a trailblazer for women – her work ethic has helped her thrive in a male dominated business. She has held on to her humble beginnings and her heart for social work has never wavered. From car giveaways to donations of time and money, Sandy shares her success with dozens of charities and causes.
Denise Yoxsimer served as the Executive Director of the Domestic Violence Resource Center for 10 years, retiring in October, 2021. During her tenure Denise prioritized initiatives that supported the organizational mission to rebuild safe and hopeful lives for individuals and families impacted by domestic violence.
Notably, in 2017 in conjunction with the organization’s 40th anniversary, Denise led a collaborative rebranding effort that resulted in a name change for the organization (formerly known as the Committee to Aid Abused Women) which more appropriately reflects both the current work and services of the organization and is inclusive of all populations it serves.
In 2016, Denise guided a successful campaign to nearly triple the transitional housing capacity for domestic violence survivors. She worked to garner broad community support which resulted in the organization offering the region’s largest and most comprehensive transitional housing program.
The importance of developing innovative and evidence based programs was a high priority for Denise. Top among those programs are the financial literacy program, residential children’s program, and an innovative partnership with Noah’s Animal House to provide the region’s first pet boarding facility for the pets of individuals receiving domestic violence services.
Hannah Humanitarian Award recipients:
1982 |
Sue Wagner |
1983 |
Dr. Noah Smernoff* |
1984 |
Maya Miller* and Phyllis Kaiser* |
1985 |
Jan Evans* and May Sagawa Shelton |
1986 |
Faye I. Andersen |
1987 |
Mary Frazzini* and Tricia Brown |
1988 |
Jo Ann Roberts and Christel Neldner |
1989 |
Patricia Lynch |
1990 |
Virginia E. Wright* and Scott T. Jordan |
1991 |
Mary* and Lou* Aaronson and Jon Sasser |
1992 |
Juleen Marcuerquiaga |
1993 |
Pamela Luhrs Barrett and the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation |
1994 |
Pat Sauer Wilson and Takeshi "Tak" Kubota* |
1995 |
Senator Harry Reid and Laura Vargas |
1996 |
Frank* and Steve Burnham and Barbara Gruenewald |
1997 |
The Nell J. Redfield Foundation, Rick Lund and Rob Donnels |
1998 |
Barbara Drake and Victoria Van Meter |
1999 |
Gayle Kern and Soroptimist International of Truckee Meadows |
2000 |
Jan Gilbert and Northern Nevada Laborers-Associated General Contractor’s Training Fund |
2001 |
Debbie Fontaine and the Mission Committee of South Reno United Methodist Church |
2002 |
Tenley Winn and the Alliance with the Washoe County Medical Society |
2003 |
International Game Technology (IGT) |
2004 |
Nancy and Harvey Fennell and the Nevada Women’s Fund |
2005 |
Heidi Loeb, Adrienne Angelini and Toni Angelini |
2006 |
Joni Kaiser, Stan* and Pat Veltman |
2007 |
Dorothy J. Blakey*, Father George Bratiotis and Gloria Bratiotis |
2008 |
Nevada State Senator Bernice Mathews and the Nevada Law Foundation |
2009 |
Sue Meuschke and The Washoe County Sheriff’s Department with Special |
|
Recognition of Sheriff Mike Haley, Deputies Kerry Saulnier and John Medina |
2010 |
Judge Deborah Schumacher and Mike Willden |
2011 |
Fritsi Ericson |
2012 |
Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto and Claudia and Omer* King |
2013 |
Sheila Leslie and the E.L. Cord Foundation |
2014 |
Frankie Sue Del Papa and D & D Plumbing |
2015 |
Suzanne Ramos and NV Energy |
2016 |
Dennis and Susan Banks and Judge Frances M. Doherty |
2017 |
Sylvia Gonzalez, Domestic Violence Resource Center |
2018 |
Staci Alonso, Noah’s Animal House |
2019 |
Rayleen Cudworth* and Andy’s Lock and Key |
2021 |
Sharon Mooney Gibbons* |