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PAHC Press Corner

And the Tall Tree goes to...

by Rachel Metz

Locals Sandra Pearson and Julie Jerome and businesses the Garden Court Hotel and Palo Alto Housing Corporation have been honored with Tall Tree Awards.

The annual awards are presented by the Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce and the Palo Alto Weekly. They honor people and organizations for going above and beyond in contributions and service to the Palo Alto community. This year's winners will be honored with a ceremony in April.

Jerome received the award for "Outstanding Citizen/Volunteer." The former school board member said she was amazed and surprised by the announcement.

"It's very special and people who've done a lot in the community over the years have gotten it and I've done a lot of different things. I guess the thing that's most amazing is ... that it adds up to the award," she said.

Jerome has been involved in a host of local organizations. Adolescent Counseling Services, the Palo Alto Women's Club and the Palo Alto Community Fund are just a few of the groups she's helped out. Jerome was also elected twice as the district's school board president.

Pearson, who was recognized as an outstanding professional, is similarly excited about receiving the honor.

"I am thrilled and stunned. I was literally speechless when (Weekly Publisher Bill Johnson) told me the news," Pearson said.

Pearson is in the twilight of her second term as principal at Palo Alto High School. She first served from 1988 to 1994, but came back from retirement in 2002 to help the school out when former principal Fred Dreier left suddenly. During her first stint at Paly, Pearson was the first female high school principal in the city.

Since her return to Paly, Pearson has dealt with the suicides of two students. Another student was charged with a hit-and-run accident that occurred last January and resulted in the death of a Palo Alto 6-year-old.

Pearson has also worked to put student stress under the microscope at Paly, working with the school community to formulate stress-reduction measures like homework holidays.

The Palo Alto Housing Corporation received the "Outstanding Non-Profit" award.

Marlene Prendergast, executive director for the group, said she had an idea the corporation was up for the award but was still surprised by the announcement.

"I think it's terrific," she said.

Since 1970 the group has been developing and managing affordable housing in Palo Alto. Currently, they have about 18 properties in the city for low-income households. They also advocate for affordable housing in the community, Prendergast said.

This isn't the first time the corporation has felt the fronds of the Tall Tree Award. Two members of the group - Lou Goldsmith and Sylvia Seman - were honored as individuals in the past.

Still, the win "feels very rewarding," Prendergast said.

The Garden Court Hotel also feels rewarded -- the hotel was named "Outstanding Business" this year.

The hotel often helps out nonprofit groups with event space. They've worked with groups like the Palo Alto Foundation for Education, the Stanford Health Library and Theatreworks. This past year the hotel gave about $200,000 in support to different organizations, Garden Court Manager Barbara Gross said.

Although hospitality to out-of-towners is the hotel's primary business, they've made efforts to aid nonprofits because they want the community to think of the hotel as a resource, Gross said.

Earning a Tall Tree Award means "we are accomplishing what we set out to do," Gross said.

"It's a big deal," she said.

Rachel Metz can be e-mailed at rmetz@paweekly.com

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