Bill Keller, Ruth Ortega, Glo Sawtell, Al Wadle and Larry Wheeler are honored for their early vision for the foundation. Photo by Kate Russell

Save the Date : September 15, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. to attend the 2009 Pinon Awards at the Lensic.

In 2008 five outstanding nonprofits were honored with a video tribute, a statue and cash award in a community celebration at the Lensic Performing Arts Center. Often called “the Academy Awards for the nonprofits,” the Piñon Awards is the only honor reserved exclusively for nonprofit organizations.

The 2008 Piñon Award recipients are:

Court Appointed Special Advocates, First Judicial District (CASA), John Gaw Meem Award for Civic Affairs

Girls, Inc. of Santa Fe, Manuel Luján Sr. Award for Education

Santa Fe Rape Crisis and Trauma Treatment Center, Dr. Brian Moynahan Award for Health and Human Services

WildEarth Guardians, John J. Kenney Award for Environment

Wise Fool New Mexico, Gerónima Cruz Montoya Award for Arts and Humanities