Judy Chirco of San Jose, Dan and Charmaine Warmenhoven recognized by PACT with Leadership Action awards By CAROL ROSEN | Bay Area News Group November 4, 2011 at 9:43 am The Wyndham Hotel’s banquet room was not just crowded with tables and people. It was a veritable who’s who of San Jose and Santa Clara County politics, business and philanthropists at the Nov. 3 People Acting in Community Together luncheon. It honored this year’s top community builders, Judy Chirco of San Jose and Dan and Charmaine Warmenhoven of Saratoga, with Leadership in Action awards. The three are well known for their community work and leadership activities in a variety of venues. For example, both Warmenhovens have given money for social services, education and the arts, in addition to creating a family foundation so that their children can follow in their footsteps. After leaving Hewlett-Packard, Dan Warmenhoven grew NetApp from 45 employees to 12,000 while encouraging employees to perform community service. The company has donated its trucks to deliver 4 million meals annually for Second Harvest Food Bank. In addition to serving as the company’s executive chair, Warmenhoven also is on the board of the Tech Museum of Innovation, Bellarmine College Preparatory, Aruba Networks, Bechtel and Stoke. Charmaine Warmenhoven has devoted her life to education and supporting various charitable causes, especially those helping special needs children. She spent 30 years as a special education teacher and administrator and most recently has worked with the Catholic Diocese of San Jose developing and supporting parish-based programs to include people with disabilities. As a philanthropist, she is the principal supporter of the Inclusion Collaborative, which supports special needs children’s participation in childcare, preschool programs and in community activities. She also serves on a number of boards and supports organizations including Santa Clara University, the Catholic Foundation of Santa Clara County, Montalvo, Catholic Charities, the Bishop’s Circle of Excellence, Caritas, the American Cancer Society, the Tech Museum and PACT. Chirco has worked throughout her adult life for the community to better the lives of children through education and health and keep the environment green. Most recently serving as San Jose’s vice mayor, she worked to improve conditions for the city and her Council District 9. But she started out as a housewife looking to make sure her sons got the best education possible and winning an election to the Cambrian School District’s board. Once there, she helped move it from one of the lowest-performing districts to one of the highest performing in Santa Clara County. Her work actually began as a volunteer leader for PACT and later as an officer on its board. During her tenure on San Jose’s city council, she worked for growth in homework centers and after-school programs and was instrumental in establishing the Children’s Health Initiative. Chirco also worked to make the city greener by advocating LEED construction, recycling and reusable shopping bags. She remained on the city council despite a bout with cancer and continues to support volunteer and community groups as president of the Cambrian Park Kiwanis Club, the Cambrian Center board and the Anti-Bullying Council for the Santa Clara County Office of Education. The Warmenhovens and Chirco follow in the footsteps of more than 30 Leadership in Action honorees, including Mary Ellen and Michael Fox Sr., Mike Hackworth, former San Jose mayor Susan Hammer, the Rev. Paul Locatelli and former Assemblyman John Vasconcellos.
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