Community of Character Awards Announced – Recipients Honored at MAY 13, 2026 Awards Luncheon

This year’s Juanita Haugen Awards recipients exhibit the values of the Community of Character through their great examples of service, while living the values of Responsibility, Compassion, Self-Discipline, Honesty, Respect, and Integrity.Their examples inspire each of us to remember these important values in our own lives and do what we can to make a difference in Pleasanton.

This year’s Awards go to Greg Thome, JoAnn Weser, Bill Rudolph and the Alan Hu Foundation.

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The recipients will be honored at the Annual Awards Luncheon on Wednesday, May 13, 2026 at 11:30 am at the Pleasanton Veterans Building.

The ANNUAL AWARDS LUNCHEON is open to the community, and friends and family of the recipients are encouraged to attend. Tickets are $45, available at: www.CommunityOfCharacter (Events Page).

Fourteen Scholarships are also being awarded to Pleasanton Unified School District seniors.

They are:Aashvi Geddam, Advaith Anand, Andy Morales, Anna Star Kim, Bruce Wallace, Chloe Grijalva, Diego Laredo, Emilio Bernard, Kyle Farren-Bowen, Lucie Apard, Marian McConologue, Marielle Bernard, Philippa Haney and Smriti Mehta.

Greg Thome has made a lasting impact through his consistent and behind-the-scenes contributions. His service spans more than 40 years and includes significant involvement with youth athletics and community programs. He has been a driving force within the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO), serving as both a coach and administrator, and was instrumental in launching the girls’ basketball division.His commitment to youth development has helped create opportunities for countless young athletes to grow, compete, and build character through sports.

In addition, Thome has served as the Referee Coordinator for the Special Olympics basketball tournament for nearly 20 years, overseeing a large-scale operation involving dozens of volunteers across multiple courts. Even while recovering from a serious injury, he continued to fulfill this demanding role, demonstrating exceptional dedication and perseverance. His involvement also includes work with the Amador Valley Athletic Boosters and service on Pleasanton Unified School District committees, further reflecting his deep commitment to the community. He also has been a teacher of Faith Formation for Middle School and High School students for the Catholic Community of Pleasanton.

Greg Thome’s quiet leadership, unwavering reliability, and lifelong service embody the values of responsibility, compassion, and integrity celebrated by the Community of Character Award. His contributions have strengthened the Pleasanton community and continue to inspire those who serve alongside him.

JoAnn Weser is honored for her extraordinary commitment to volunteerism and compassionate service spanning more than three decades. Weser’s dedication to helping others was inspired by a deeply personal experience, and she has since devoted her life to giving back to the community she calls home.

Weser has made a lasting impact through her extensive volunteer work at Stanford ValleyCare Hospital, where she has served in numerous roles for over 30 years, including the emergency department, patient care areas, and front desk support. Known for her reliability and self-discipline, she consistently goes above and beyond—whether comforting patients in distress, assisting hospital staff, or supporting therapy dog visits to bring joy to those in need. Her compassion extends beyond people to animals, reflected in her 15 years of service with the Valley Humane Society.

In addition to her healthcare-related service, Weser has been a cornerstone of the Pleasanton Military Families organization for more than two decades. As a dedicated volunteer and longtime treasurer, she has played a vital role in supporting deployed service members and their families, managing finances with integrity, and helping guide the organization through periods of growth and transition. Her steady leadership and commitment have made her an invaluable contributor to the group’s mission.

JoAnn Weser’s lifelong dedication to service, her unwavering integrity, and her genuine compassion for others embody the very essence of the Community of Character Award. Her contributions have touched countless lives and continue to strengthen the Pleasanton community in meaningful and lasting ways.

Bill Rudolph, a Pleasanton resident for more than 50 years, has contributed extensively to the community through volunteer service in education, mentorship, and local history.

His service includes his work with the Museum on Main, where he volunteers as a historian and reenactor. In this role, he researches and portrays historical figures such as General Alfred Pleasonton and John Kottinger, helping bring Pleasanton’s history to life at community events, parades, and educational programs. He has also volunteered at the Alviso Adobe, supporting hands-on history education for local third-grade students and helping them better understand the region’s early heritage.

In addition to his historical work, he has spent more than two decades mentoring college students as the Perishable Foods Council Internship Director, working with students from UC Davis and San José State University. He organizes industry tours, supports career development, and maintains long-term mentoring relationships with many participants. He also volunteers as a counselor at Cornerstone Fellowship in Livermore, where he provides guidance and support to individuals facing personal challenges.

Through his involvement with these organizations and programs, Rudolph has contributed his time and expertise in ways that support education, mentorship, and community connection throughout Pleasanton.

The Alan Hu Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing mental health awareness, reducing stigma surrounding psychiatric disorders, and supporting research for effective treatments and cures. Founded by Xiaofang Chen and Chih-Ching Hu in memory of their son, Alan, who died in 2018 at the age of 15 following struggles with mental illness, the foundation seeks to transform personal tragedy into meaningful impact for others facing similar challenges.

Through educational initiatives such as webinars, lectures, and community events, the foundation provides accessible, research-based information on youth mental health, early intervention, and prevention. It brings together leading experts in psychiatry and psychology to share insights with families, educators, and the broader community. In addition, the organization actively supports outreach efforts, public awareness campaigns, and scholarships for students pursuing careers in mental health fields.

Driven by a mission to foster understanding and compassion, the Alan Hu Foundation is committed to creating a future where individuals experiencing mental health challenges are met with support, resources, and hope.