PHOTO: Daniel Lurie, Mark Leno

On November 1st nearly 400 guests joined the celebration of the 2011 USF California Prize for Service and the Common Good. The sold-out event, now in its fourth year,  honored Daniel Lurie, Founder and CEO of Tipping Point, this year’s recipient of the prestigious award given annually by the University of San Francisco.

KPIX’s Liam Mayclem served as the evening’s Master of Ceremonies, keeping the program timely and humorous. With moving speeches by USF President Stephen A. Privett, S.J. and Daniel Lurie, guests noted feeling inspired by the examples of service to others.

Tipping Point works to eliminate poverty in the Bay Area by finding, funding and partnering with the best nonprofit organizations that serve low-income families and individuals. Beyond dollars, Tipping Point also provides its nonprofit partners with the technology, strategic planning, executive coaching, and communications tools needed to grow and increase their effectiveness.

Guests included Mimi Haas and Rabbi Brian Lurie, Daniel’s mother and father, his wife Becca Prowda, Danielle and Jed York, Pam and Larry Baer, Barbro and Bernard Osher, Nan and Charles Geschke, Yvonne and Angelo Sangiacomo, Rev. John Lo Schiavo, S.J., SF Police Chief Greg Suhr, SF Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White, Zachary Bogue and Marissa Mayer, and many others.

The University of San Francisco California Prize is awarded for significant service to the poor or marginalized, and for groundbreaking achievements in pursuit of the common good. It comes with a $10,000 purse and a handcrafted medal. Previous California Prize recipients are Mr. Lynn Fritz, a social entrepreneur and founder of the Fritz Institute, Ms. Alice Waters, renowned chef and champion of food grown locally, and One PacificCoast Bank and Foundation (formerly OneCalifornia).

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