Oxfordshire Community Foundation is delighted and very proud to see dedicated Chair Anna Moon win the prestigious High Sheriff’s Award for Contributions to Community Life.
The award, which was presented at a special ceremony at the Blue Boar Lecture Theatre, Christ Church, Oxford on Monday, acknowledges Anna for the longstanding and exceptional commitment she has shown to Oxfordshire’s charitable sector.
Anna has been involved as a volunteer with the community foundation since it began in 1995. Throughout those 19 years (and counting!) she has held several terms as trustee, and has been Chair of the Trustee Board since 2009.
OCF Chief Executive Jayne Woodley says: “Anna has brought an enthusiasm and tirelessness to her role as Chair that few could have been able to sustain. She has given both freely and excessively of her time, which has undoubtedly ensured the successful transformation of the community foundation, so that today it is unrecognisable from the organisation it once was.”
Jayne’s words were echoed by OCF President and Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire Tim Stevenson, who commented: “When Anna took over as Chair of the foundation six years ago, the organisation was at a low ebb. With her appointment of Jayne as its CEO, and her determined and effective leadership of the trustee body since then, she has made a major contribution to the long-term health and success of the organisation, which as a result now has a vital part to play in Oxfordshire’s successful voluntary sector. As President I am extremely grateful for her commitment and hard work.”
Under Anna’s excellent stewardship, OCF is now one of the fastest-growing community foundations in the UK, and the value of its community investments under management has increased by 310%, from £1.6m to in excess of £5m. As we now prepare for our 21st anniversary in 2016, OCF has achieved a well-deserved reputation as a key player and thought leader on Oxfordshire-based philanthropy, with a steadfast commitment to the development of the local voluntary sector and its future sustainability.
Commenting on her award, Anna said: “I very much appreciate this award, but I could not have done it without the incredible support of the trustees, Jayne Woodley CEO, and her committed team. It has been a privilege and a pleasure to have been there along the way as OCF has evolved to become the thriving organisation it is today.”
The High Sheriff’s Award for Contributions to Community Life provides a wonderful opportunity to publicly recognise the significant contribution that Anna’s personal efforts and time given have made to this success. As OCF’s Patron Sir Hugo Brunner has commented, “Anna has been a silver thread throughout OCF’s history.”