Peninsula Journal

The San Mateo area Chamber of Commerce 14th Annual Business Awards dinner at the Peninsula Country Club Jan. 15 saw the prestigious Mayor’s Award presented to San Mateo’s Police Activities League. PAL serves more than 1,200 youth each year from San Mateo and the surrounding cities with recreational, athletic and educational activities supervised by PAL professionals and volunteer police officers. The programs are designed to build self-esteem and promote positive relationships with police officers.

The Frances Bohannon Nelson Legacy Award was presented to Officer Robert Anderson of the San Mateo Police Department. Anderson’s 28-year career has encompassed work with community policing, the neighborhood watch program and the police cadet program. Anderson, currently a downtown police officer, also works with the Homeless Outreach Team in conjunction with St. Vincent de Paul, Shelter Network and the Samaritan House.

The Daily Journal received the Small Business Award.

Lifemark Center received the Medium Business Award. The new Lifemark Center is a beautiful, multi-use community facility. Nestled into a calming environment with waterfalls and nature preserves, it features highly flexible meeting and conference rooms. The Lifemark Group is a Bay Area company with roots that go back to 1873, providing the most complete end-of-life services of any company operating exclusively in the Bay region.

The Large Business Award went to Genentech, considered the founder of the biotechnology industry. Genentech has been delivering on the promise of biotechnology for more than 30 years, using human genetic information to discover, develop, manufacture and commercialize biotherapeutics that address significant unmet medical needs.

Wells Fargo Bank received the Good Neighbor Award for its support of organizations that work to strengthen Peninsula communities. Through the efforts of enthusiastic team member-volunteers and contributions, Wells Fargo has given back to non-profits and educational institutions that address vital community needs and issues.

Samaritan House Medical Clinic was given the Community Award. Since 1992, the Samaritan House Free Medical Clinic has provided free quality medical and dental care to patients who are low income and uninsured or underinsured. It is a major safety net of healthcare in San Mateo County and the expanded modern clinic handles more than 4,000 medical patients visits a year.

The Green Award went to BarkerBlue Digital Imaging, which has just completed a $1.1 million dollar solar power project, installing 744 photovoltaic solar panels on its roof. This system will supply 75 percent of BarkerBlue’s energy needs at peak times and feed extra power back to the grid on non-peak and weekend days. On an annual basis, this will be the equivalent of planting 37 acres of trees and powering 26 U.S. households.

To send us information on upcoming events, e-mail us at social@smdailyjournal.com.