By Eliza Ridgeway
 JOE HU/TOWN CRIER Katherine Frey, chairwoman of SILVAR’s Community Service Award Committee, congratulates Mike Abrams on his honor. |
The Mountain View-Los Altos District Silicon Valley Association of Realtors (SILVAR) presented its 2006 Community Service Award, which recognizes the work of an “unsung community volunteer,” to Mike Abrams Sept. 12 at Michaels at Shoreline.
Abrams used his speech to recognize other schools volunteers by name and defer as much credit as possible.
The audience knew better. Los Altos School District Board Trustee Margot Harrigan said that when the board heard of the award, “We just nodded and said, ‘Yeah, of course Mike would be selected.’”
Harrigan outlined Abrams’ contributions during nearly two decades of volunteering in the schools community.
“Mike broke new ground, breaking the glass ceiling of the PTSA as the first male president,” she said.
Abrams served on the parent teacher associations at Santa Rita, Egan Junior and Los Altos High schools as well as on the Los Altos Education Foundation and the Mountain View-Los Altos Foundation.
In addition to his work in the schools, Abrams contributed to fundraising for the El Camino YMCA and, as an avid gardener, is an active member of the Westbay Iris Society.
“His enthusiasm is contagious, his level of commitment admirable. … He makes himself available for every worthy cause,” Harrigan said. “Volunteerism is an act; it is heroism on a grand scale. It matters profoundly and raises the odds. His positive, can-do, hands-on attitude is admirable, as he considers no task too great to accomplish.”
In the midst of fundraising and program development for the schools, Abrams picked up a knack for baking chocolate chip cookies, he told the audience.
“(Volunteering) is just something I’ve done for years and years,” Abrams said. “I never really gave it any thought.”
Retired Santa Rita Principal Stephen Peck reminisced about working with Abrams and said, “He’s the most humble person ever.”
The Omaha, Neb., native began volunteering at Santa Rita in 1992. He retired from a successful career in retail in 1995, allowing time to pursue community involvement.
Los Altos City Councilmembers Val Carpenter, David Casas and Curtis Cole attended the event, as did Los Altos Police Chief Bob Lacey and past award recipients Lee Lynch, Rosemary Panec, Judy Van Dyck, Vinnie Biberdorf, Wyatt Allen and Joan MacDonald.
He also received proclamations from U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo and California State Assemblywoman Sally Lieber in his honor.
The Los Altos Cultural Association nominated Abrams for the 43rd CSA award.
For more information, call SILVAR at (408) 200-0100.
