The Weekly Meeting Summary of the Rotary Club of Livermore Valley
May 12, 2026
Jeannette Albiez, Editor
OPENING THE MEETING
President Sarah Palmer called the meeting to order at 8:15 AM.
Pledge of Allegiance - Led by Bob Tucknot
Four Way Test - Led by Dennis Gambs
Song of the Day - Gerry Hawkins led us in "When you're Smiling".
VISITING ROTARIANS & GUESTS
Visiting Rotarians:
Bob Tucknot from the Dublin Club in the classification of electrical contractor was introduced by Roy Porfido.
Guests:
Emily Wilson form Tri-Valley Alliance introduced by Mony Nop.
MariaMancini from CHEF introduced by Mony Nop.
MAY STUDENT OF THE MONTH
Principal Clark Conover introduced this month's student of the month.
We are proud to recognize Peter Sheines as our Student of the Month!
Peter has achieved an outstanding 4.81 GPA while also making a remarkable impact both inside and outside the classroom. His passion for science and learning is evident in everything he does — from conducting science experiments in a high-rise lab in San Francisco and at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, to inspiring fellow students through academic leadership.
Peter revitalized the school’s Physics Club, growing participation from just 5 students to well over 100 members. Through his enthusiasm and leadership, he has helped create a vibrant community of students excited about science and discovery.
Known affectionately by some classmates as “Mayor Pete,” Peter has become an integral part of the school’s culture of academic engagement. He actively supports student study groups, checks in with classmates, and encourages curiosity and collaboration wherever he goes. His kindness, positivity, and genuine interest in others are truly infectious.
Peter plans to attend University of California, Berkeley, where he hopes to double major in physics and mathematics. His long-term goal is to become a physics professor and continue inspiring future generations of scientists.
Congratulations, Peter, on this well-deserved recognition!
TODAY'S PROGRAM: Maria Mancini from CHEF
This week we were honored to hear from Maria Mancini, cofounder and Executive Director of Community Health and Education Foundation (CHEF), a Livermore-based nonprofit focused on strengthening other nonprofits through matching funds and community support.
CHEF has been an incredible partner for our community BBQ fundraiser, generously matching 50 cents for every dollar raised. Maria explained that CHEF’s mission is not to compete with nonprofits, but to amplify and strengthen the amazing work already being done throughout the Tri-Valley area.
Maria shared that CHEF began after she noticed a common challenge while volunteering at her children’s school: the same parents were repeatedly being asked to volunteer and fundraise. She initially started charitable bingo fundraising events, but realized the proceeds were not staying within the Tri-Valley community. That inspired her to create CHEF, ensuring that funds raised locally would directly benefit local nonprofits.
Today, CHEF partners with more than 50 nonprofit organizations and has contributed over $7 million in giving along with more than 20,000 volunteer hours. Some of their nonprofit partners include Agape Villages Foster Family Agency, Culinary Angels, Fertile GroundWorks, and Goodness Village, among many others.
CHEF operates community bingo games four days a week at Bingo Ranch, creating not only a successful fundraiser, but also a true community gathering place. Participants come from all over the region, paying $40 for four hours of games, fellowship, and fun. Maria shared that many attendees now know one another well, and the events have become a vibrant social community. A recent Mother’s Day bingo event drew 234 participants, including many mothers attending with their children.
During the pandemic, CHEF quickly partnered with the Tri-Valley Nonprofit Alliance and, within less than two weeks, helped raise $188,000 for organizations including Tri-Valley Haven, Open Heart Kitchen, and CityServe. Maria recalled how the community rallied together with at-home concerts, creative fundraising, and even “drive-in bingo” games broadcast through Zoom and FM radio so the games could safely continue.
CHEF is currently running eight active fundraising campaigns and continues to grow its impact across the region.
Maria also shared that CHEF will need to relocate from Bingo Ranch during the first or second quarter of 2027 and is currently seeking a new commercial space of approximately 10,000–15,000 square feet with substantial parking capacity. Since most activities occur evenings and weekends, daytime business use is not required. CHEF is also looking for a volunteer project manager to help coordinate the move.
A special thank you was given by Christine, who recognized Maria’s tremendous dedication and the countless evenings and weekends she has devoted to helping nonprofits thrive. Christine noted that CHEF’s support made it possible to continue moving forward with the Tri-Valley rebuild efforts.
To learn more about CHEF or reserve seats for bingo nights, visit:
Reservations can be made online, with jackpots starting at a $1,000 minimum and games continuing until someone wins.
New Member Spotlight: Hem Korubilli
We were delighted to welcome new member Hem Korubilli and learn more about his fascinating journey. Hem shared that he is here thanks to his neighbor, Mony, who introduced him to the club.
Hem grew up in Hyderabad, a historic city in southern India known for its Persian influence and famous chai tea culture. Today, Hyderabad is recognized as one of India’s leading technology hubs, often considered second only to Bangalore in the country’s high-tech industry. Hem fondly described growing up surrounded by many cousins and maintaining close family ties that continue to this day.
As a young man, Hem was inspired by Hollywood movies and dreamed of coming to the United States. That dream eventually became reality when he moved to Chicago to work for Lucent Technologies. From there, his career led him to positions with Motorola and later Nokia.
Hem spoke warmly about his years in Chicago, describing it as a fascinating city with rich Italian, Greek, and many other cultural communities. One memorable perk from his early career was receiving six weeks of vacation time — something he especially appreciated while balancing work and family life.
After relocating to California, Hem attended the Haas School of Business, where he completed a part-time MBA program over three years while working full time and raising two young children. He credited much of that success to the support of his wife, Nikki.
Nikki’s experience with their children attending Montessori schools sparked a new entrepreneurial journey for the family. Inspired by the Montessori system’s hands-on, tactile teaching approach, they opened a Montessori preschool in Milpitas, later expanding to two additional locations, with Livermore planned as the next site.
In recent years, Hem has also ventured into house flipping, inspired in part by Mony. He shared stories about raising ceilings and renovating homes, and has successfully completed five home flips so far.
Family remains central to Hem’s life. His daughter is currently pursuing pre-med studies, while his son is preparing to head to Arizona State University for college. The family also includes their dog, Cocoa.
We are excited to have Hem as part of the club and look forward to getting to know him even better in the years ahead!
TODAY'S 10-SPOT
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Check out the "Upcoming Events" listed below for complete details and sign-up information for upcoming club happenings!
Beth McCormick is proposing Las Positas College as a new corporate member of our club. In tandem with that proposal is accepting Nan Ho, Vice President of Academic Services, as the Las Positas representative to our club.
All paperwork has been submitted, and through an email meeting, our club’s board voted unanimously to approve the proposal. Per our Bylaws, this information was published last week in The Grapevine, and is being published again this week. If any club member has a question about the proposal, please contact Membership Chair Bennie Le Bourvellec. If no objections are received by May 19, we will move forward with installing Las Positas College as a new corporate member, and welcoming Nan to our club!
Mony Nop is proposing Brook Witherspoon as a new member of our club, in the Classification of Restaurant Owner.
All paperwork has been submitted, and through an email meeting, our club’s board voted unanimously to approve the proposal. Per our Bylaws, this information was published last week in The Grapevine, and is being published again this week. If any club member has a question about the proposal, please contact Membership Chair Bennie Le Bourvellec. If no objections are received by May 19, we will move forward with installing Brook as our newest member!
50/50 RAFFLE
We will catch up next time.
MEETING MOMENTS
Thank you, Roy, for capturing these moments!
Richard gifted Sarah some coffee from his trip to Cancun
NEXT WEEK'S SPEAKER
Next week we will meet at the Livermore Police Station for a tour!
This week we were honored to hear from Maria Mancini, cofounder and Executive Director of Community Health and Education Foundation (CHEF), a Livermore-based nonprofit focused on strengthening other nonprofits through matching funds and community support.
We were delighted to welcome new member Hem Korubilli and learn more about his fascinating journey. Hem shared that he is here thanks to his neighbor, Mony, who introduced him to the club.
