2022 Community Impact Award Winner: Rose Rezai
We are excited to announce that Rose Rezai, our Director of Community Impact for the past three and a half years, is the 2022 Sarah Cohen-Doherty Community Impact Award recipient! As you may remember, this award recognizes someone within the SVP Portland community who epitomizes the characteristics that enabled Sarah to have such a positive impact at SVP. Rose exemplifies a genuine care for others, a focus on developing meaningful relationships, a personal commitment to equity, and is a changemaker in the community to ensure that all children thrive. “Sarah loved the SVP community, and embodied all of the best things about it: relationship building, a commitment to supporting young children, and a belief in the power of collective action,” says Rose. “I'm honored to receive this award in her name, and although I am transitioning from SVP into my next chapter, I hope to continue to always demonstrate these qualities.”
“A natural community connector and bridge builder, Rose has been accessible, responsive, and empathetic,” says SVP Partner and Board member Bala Cadambi. “Her consistent and balanced SVP leadership has grown our community trust and goodwill.” He goes on to express that, “her passion for the mission and compassion for those that we serve is genuine and apparent to anyone who has been fortunate to work with her.”
The selection process began with nominations from the SVP community, and then Sarah’s parents, SVP Partners Ruth and Jerry Cohen, chose three finalists. The exceptional finalists were reviewed by a team of staff and Partners, who chose this year’s winner. At the award presentation during our Summer Social, Jerry said of Rose, “I can think of no one more fitting this year than someone who served as a mentor, coach, friend, and colleague to Sarah.”
“Rose consistently works for the community, connecting and supporting Partners with patience, new ideas, and compassion,” says SVP Partner Nicole Thibodeau. “She is always available and a great listener, with deep experience, and she will be missed.”
Thank you to all who attended the 2022 Summer Social, where we celebrated togetherness and honored Sarah’s memory and Rose’s achievement. Please consider a contribution to the The Sarah Cohen-Doherty Memorial Fund, dedicated to SVP Portland’s goal that all children have access to high-quality, culturally-relevant early learning experiences. We cannot think of a better way to celebrate Sarah’s life than continuing the work to which she was so committed.