David D. Cooke Social Impact Award
Honoring leadership, compassion, and lasting impact on our community.
Michael G. Pappas, M.Div.
Executive Director,
San Francisco Interfaith Council
The David D. Cooke Social Impact Award
The David D. Cooke Social Impact Award recognizes individuals whose leadership, advocacy, and commitment to community have created meaningful and lasting impact across San Francisco and beyond.
Presented annually at the CHEFS Gala, the award honors leaders whose work reflects the values of compassion, dignity, service, and opportunity at the heart of Episcopal Community Services.
Honoring the Legacy of David D. Cooke
David D. Cooke was a devoted father, husband, and distinguished lawyer specializing in environmental law. To ECS, he was a mentor, a friend, and an unwavering advocate of our mission to eradicate homelessness in the Bay Area.
Under his stewardship, ECS achieved countless milestones - from developing our first Permanent Supportive Housing site at Canon Kip to our largest at 1064 Mission Street. He was a driving force behind the $2.4M capital campaign that built the CHEFS program's state-of-the-art commercial kitchen. After retiring from the Board in 2019, he continued service as Secretary of the Housing Board. Twenty-five years of service. A lifetime of dedication, and a legacy that will endure.
"Without David, ECS would not be the bulwark against the inhumanity and indignity of poverty and homelessness that it is today. David was a man of great passion, and believed deeply in a world where nobody must experience the indignity of homelessness."
-Beth Stokes
This award carries forward his name and his unwavering belief in the power of community.
2026 Honoree
Michael Pappas
At the 2026 CHEFS Gala, Episcopal Community Services was proud to honor Michael Pappas with the David D. Cooke Social Impact Award in recognition of his extraordinary leadership, vision, and longstanding commitment to serving the San Francisco community.
Through his work and advocacy, Michael Pappas has helped advance compassionate solutions to homelessness, housing insecurity, and economic hardship while championing dignity and opportunity for individuals and families across the Bay Area.
The evening featured a special tribute recognizing Michael's dedication to service and community impact, with remarks from Nancy Pelosi honoring his contributions to San Francisco and beyond.
For decades, Michael has been a bridge builder, a voice for the voiceless, and a relentless advocate for those experiencing homelessness in San Francisco. As Executive Director of the San Francisco Interfaith Council, he has united diverse faith communities to work together toward a common goal: ensuring every neighbor has a place to call home.
His leadership reminds us that the fight against homelessness is not just about housing - it is about the heart. It is about showing up, again and again, with compassion and conviction.
Michael's work embodies the very qualities this award was created to celebrate: care, dedication, and action. We are honored to celebrate him at this year's CHEFS Gala.
About the CHEFS Gala
The CHEFS Gala is Episcopal Community Services' premier annual fundraising event, bringing together supporters, community leaders, sponsors, and advocates for an evening of generosity, celebration, and impact in support of ECS programs across the Bay Area.