Active San Gabriel Valley (ActiveSGV) is proud to announce that Assemblymember Mike Fong, District 49, has selected it as the 2024 California Nonprofit of the Year. ActiveSGV is one of more than one hundred nonprofits that will be honored by their state senators and assembly members for their outstanding contributions to the communities they serve.
Started as a grassroots advocacy group for safer streets in 2010, ActiveSGV has grown to become a fully staffed, nonprofit organization committed to improving the quality of life in the San Gabriel Valley, focusing on creating equitable, sustainable, and livable communities through initiatives centered on public health, environmental justice, safe streets, active transportation, and housing security. The organization leads several initiatives like the SGV Greenway Network, aiming to build bike and pedestrian paths; the E-asy Access Program, which offers free electric bike access to explore the Emerald Necklace; and Active Streets, the open streets program that turns roads into car-free spaces for community activities. They also manage GoSGV, the country’s largest e-bike share program, and partner with CalFresh to offer nutrition education and fresh produce. ActiveSGV's work is supported through collaborations with local governments, community organizations, and volunteers.
“As the Executive Director of ActiveSGV, I am deeply honored to receive this prestigious recognition as Nonprofit of the Year. This award is a testament to the unwavering dedication and tireless efforts of our passionate team, volunteers, and supporters, who tirelessly work towards our mission every day. This acknowledgment fuels our commitment to creating a more sustainable, equitable, and livable future,” said David Diaz, Executive Director of ActiveSGV.
“Nonprofit organizations touch the lives of millions of Californians in ways that can often go unrecognized. From the childcare program to the soccer team, from the art class to the health clinic, and from the community organizer to the animal shelter – nonprofits improve the lives of all Californians and make our communities stronger,” said Geoff Green, CEO of the California Association of Nonprofits (CalNonprofits), a partner for this initiative. “Nonprofits are also a key economic driver in our state, accounting for 1 in 14 jobs. It’s important to recognize all they do.”
According to “Causes Count,” a 2019 report commissioned by CalNonprofits, the nonprofit sector is the fourth-largest industry in the state, employing more than 1.2 million people. Each year, California nonprofits generate more than $273 billion in revenue and bring in $40 billion in revenue from outside California. The labor volunteers contribute at nonprofits is equivalent to 330,000 full-time jobs.
The Californian Nonprofit of the Year initiative allows each California state legislator to recognize a nonprofit organization making significant contributions in their district. ActiveSGV will be joining the celebration at the Capitol on June 5, which marks California Nonprofits Day. This event, sponsored by CalNonprofits in collaboration with the state Senate and Assembly Select Committees on the Nonprofit Sector, highlights the important role of nonprofits in advocacy, education, and research to strengthen California’s nonprofit network.
