HONORING LINDA JACOBS

On 2026-06-29, Representative Jared Huffman (D-CA-2) delivered a floor speech titled "HONORING LINDA JACOBS" in the House.

HONORING LINDA JACOBS

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 108 (Monday, June 29, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 108 (Monday, June 29, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages E629-E630] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING LINDA JACOBS ______ HON. JARED HUFFMAN of california in the house of representatives Monday, June 29, 2026 Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Linda Jacobs for her more than four decades of extraordinary public service as a nonprofit leader. From an early age in Coral Gables, Florida, Linda's parents demonstrated the importance of community service, serving as volunteers for their Jewish congregation and youth sports. As a young adult, Linda herself was an outspoken advocate for the green party, the women's movement, and civil rights. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of South Florida and soon after moving to San Francisco in 1978, joined the Breakthrough Foundation, a nonprofit that won national acclaim for helping change the trajectory of at-risk youth. During her seven-year tenure at the organization, Linda established funding for scholarships to cover all participating youth. This was the start of a long career building and strengthening nonprofits in the Bay Area. Linda's work in Marin County began in the early 1990s and includes a breadth and depth of professional roles, including as the development director for Marin Child Care Council; the development and public affairs director for Planned Parenthood of Marin, Sonoma, and Mendocino; and executive director of the Mill Valley Chamber of Commerce. In 2002, she joined the Volunteer Center of Marin as their chief executive officer. She went on to transform the organization first into the Center for [[Page E630]] Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership (CVNL) and later extended its reach into Sonoma County, Napa County, and Solano County. For decades, Linda led CVNL with an unwavering belief in the power of the nonprofit system, expanding key programs such as the Heart of Marin Awards, strengthening volunteer engagement, and developing partnerships that elevated local nonprofits across the region. She supported communities during turbulent and uncertain times, from the pandemic and wildfires to funding cuts, and developed critical scholarships to allow nonprofits of all sizes and budgets to take advantage of the opportunities offered by CVNL. A mentor to hundreds of nonprofit leaders, Linda is known as a fierce advocate, steady in the face of uncertainty and strategic in her long- term vision. She has served on the Board of Directors for the School to Career Partnership, Marin Economic Forum, and the Points of Light Assembly. She is also the former Board Chair of the California Association of Nonprofits, a former appointee to the Marin County Women's Commission, and past President of the Marin National Organization for Women. In recognition of her tireless work supporting nonprofits, Linda was inducted into the Marin Women's Hall of Fame in 2010, among other honors and awards acquired over the years. Mr. Speaker, it was my privilege and honor to work with Linda over the course of her notable career. She is a smart, generous and impactful person and leaves an indelible positive impact on Northern California and all those nonprofits and volunteers she supported and inspired throughout her career. I respectfully ask that you join me in expressing heartfelt gratitude to Linda for her generosity of spirit, innumerable good deeds, and in sending her best wishes on her next endeavors. ____________________