Jessica Zuniga, the board chair of Bridges to Housing Stability, has been named the winner of the 2022 Community Foundation of Howard County Leadership Council Award. Zuniga received the award and a $1,000 grant in her name at the foundation’s Annual Dinner & Celebration of Philanthropy on December 1.
This $1,000 unrestricted award recognizes a next generation person (25-45 year old) who serves as a member of a nonprofit board in Howard County and has exemplified leadership and commitment to the organization and to the community.
The Leadership Council was created in 2008 to extend the foundation’s outreach to the community, to enhance the foundation’s asset development capacity and to draw upon the knowledge, abilities and experience of key friends of the foundation. Its membership consists of 15-20 persons with a demonstrated commitment to the foundation’s mission and a willingness to use their time and talents to further that mission. The founding members are the former chairs of the Board of Directors and invited stakeholders.
Zuniga joined the Bridges to Housing Stability Board of Directors in 2015. She then stepped up to chair the property committee in 2017, helping with the growth and direction of Bridges’ growing affordable housing program, Bridges Alliance.
In June 2018, Zuniga was elected to a two year term as chair of Bridges Board of Directors. She was then re-elected to a second two year term in June 2020, at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. During her terms as chair of the board she sponsored many events, and introduced many of her corporate business partners to Bridges. She continued to advise on the growth, development, and risk management of the Bridges Alliance program.
Zuniga has been a strong voice in the state for expanding affordable housing opportunities and funding for Maryland low-income households.
Jessica Zuniga is the principal of Foundation Development Group, an affordable housing development group, and Chief Operating Officer of Humphrey Management. She is past president of the Maryland Affordable Housing Coalition and recently received their Housing Person of the Year award in October 2022.
PAST WINNERS
2022: Jessica Zuniga, Bridges to Housing Stability
2021: Matthew Plantz, Howard County Autism Society
2020: Erika Strauss-Chavarria, Columbia Community Care
2019: no award
2018: no award
2017: Yashica Maclin, Community Action Council
2016: Laura Yoo, HoCoPoLitSo
2015: Steve Poynot, Howard County Arts Council
2014: Alice Giles, League of Women Voters (pictured above)
2013: no award
2012: Lara Weathersbee, Domestic Violence Center
2011: Tom Coale, Voices for Children