Nonprofit Champions Summit: Unite & Uplift!
Thanks to all who joined us for our inaugural
Nonprofit Champions Summit on February 1 at the Depot Cafe
We were inspired by this gathering of over 30 passionate individuals from various nonprofit organizations in a casual and friendly atmosphere. The opportunity to connect, share experiences, and discuss ways to uplift our communities and causes was enjoyed by all.
Our engaging panel discussion featured Lucy Hernandez of Bay Area Community Health, Lance Nishihira of Daily Bowl, and Muirgheal Forro of HERS Breast Cancer Foundation speaking on community engagement, technology, and social media, respectively.
We plan to hold a summit each new year to energize and inspire us for the upcoming year.
Special thanks to our event sponsors, the Depot Cafe and Tri-City Veterinary Hospital, and our event photographer, Scott Capen!
Our Panel
Lance Nishihira, President and Co-founder, Daily Bowl
Lance Nishihira has lived in the Tri-Cities area his entire life. Currently, he lives in Union City with his wife Tina and three daughters. Growing up, he served this community as an Eagle Scout and our country as a US Marine. Today, he leads as an elected member of the New Haven Unified School District Board of Trustees, a New Haven Schools Foundation member, and co-founder and president of Daily Bowl. Using his background in technology and design for Fortune 500 Silicon Valley companies, he helps organizations operate and scale to fulfill their missions that support people.
Lucy Hernandez, Development Director, Community Relations at Bay Area Community Health (BACH)
Lucy Hernandez was born and raised in the Mission District of San Francisco before calling the East Bay home. With more than 22 years of administrative expertise in the healthcare sector, Ms. Hernandez is an advocate for healthy living, higher education, and equality.
Currently serving as the Development Director, Community Relations at Bay Area Community Health (BACH), Ms. Hernandez spearheads BACH’s community engagement initiatives and communication efforts. Her prior role involved serving as the Community Outreach Manager at Washington Hospital.
An alumna of Ohlone College, Ms. Hernandez holds two Associate’s degrees in Administration of Justice and Social Science. She furthered her education at Cal State Hayward, earning a bachelor’s degree in History with a focus on the History of California and the American Southwest. In 2014, she achieved a Master’s in Public Administration from Golden Gate University. Notably, Ms. Hernandez was inducted into the Pi Alpha Alpha (PAA), the National Honor Society for Public Affairs and Administration in 2015 and graduated from Leadership Fremont in 2016. In 2019, she became a member of the American College Healthcare Executives.
Dedicated to community service, Ms. Hernandez actively serves on the board of directors for Avanzando, Inc., Kids Breakfast Club (TKBC), and Tri-City Volunteer Food Bank and Mobile Pantry. Her past community roles include Ohlone College Puente Mentor, Past chair of Alameda County Commission on the Status of Women, and Past Board of Director for Hispanic Community Affairs Council and Safe Alternatives of Violent Environment (SAVE).
Muirgheal Forro, Operations and Outreach Manager, HERS Breast Cancer Foundation
Muirgheal Forro, a Tri-City resident of 17 years, brings a wealth of diverse experiences to her professional journey. Originally from the Philippines, Muirgheal emigrated at 16, seamlessly embracing her second home and community.
Fluent in Filipino and two provisional languages—Hiligaynon, and Karay-a, Muirgheal effortlessly bridges cultural gaps, fostering connections in personal and professional spheres. With 10 years in customer service, 6 of those in the nonprofit sector, she has carved a niche with administrative skills and a passion for community service.
Muirgheal’s background at a caregiving agency, chiropractic office, and in social services solidified her expertise in networking, recruiting, staffing, scheduling, social media management, and language interpretation.
Currently, Muirgheal is the Operations and Outreach Manager at HERS Breast Cancer Foundation, playing a crucial role in managing the authorizations team. Beyond this, she handles HERS’ social media presence, contributing to content creation, graphic design, copywriting, and photography. Muirgheal leverages social media analytics strategically to enhance audience reach and growth.
Enrolled in the Fremont Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Fremont program (class of 2024), Muirgheal and her cohort actively participate in day-long monthly sessions, contributing to collaborative learning and community expansion. She serves as the lead of the marketing team.
As a creative force, Muirgheal extends her photography and social media engagement skills to various organizations, causes, and brands. Actively involved in the Bay Area Filipino creative community as a freelance portrait and product photographer, with her work featured in numerous local publications. Muirgheal Forro is a dedicated advocate, a skilled manager, and a creative visionary contributing to the community she calls home.