Sunflower Bakery and Cafe Sunflower will be CLOSED April 22-30 for Passover.

About our Honorees

Daphna Raskas

Daphna Raskas

Daphna’s 13 years of service with Sunflower Bakery began as a lay leader, joining as a director and subsequently serving as Board Chair for 3 years. During this time, Daphna worked with the Sunflower team and Board to architect a new strategic plan. Excited to help implement that plan, Daphna then assumed a full time Sunflower role, serving as the Executive Director for 3 years and later as Development Director for 2 years. Under Daphna’s leadership as Executive Director, Sunflower raised a $1.4 million Capital Campaign, built out Sunflower’s state of the art Employment Training Center in Rockville, MD and transitioned into the new location in January 2020. Daphna has over 25 years of experience researching, working with and consulting to nonprofits and family firms. Daphna holds a PhD in Organizational Behavior from Columbia Business School and a Family Business Advising Certificate from the Family Firm Institute. Most recently, Daphna launched Engaging Legacy, a consulting business to assist individuals, families and small businesses in reflecting upon, shaping and communicating their legacy aspirations and values through legacy letter writing and related workshops. Daphna has also served as President of Berman Hebrew Academy, Director of the Federation of Greater Washington, and Director of Kemp Mill Synagogue. She is currently a director on the Sulam Board.

Chuck Short

Chuck Short

Charles “Chuck” Short has over fifty years of experience leading and administering local government, private non-profit and faith-based programs including: thirteen years as senior advisor to two Montgomery County Executives, Isaiah (Ike) Leggett and Marc Elrich; twenty years as adjunct professor at University of Maryland School of Public Policy; and twenty-five years as director of large direct service agencies.

Chuck has volunteered and continues to be of service working with organizations including The Little Sisters of the Poor Elderly Residences, Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind, Justice and Advocacy Council and Maryland Inclusive Housing Committee, among many others. In his recent past service, Chuck was Founding Chairman of the Montgomery County Collaboration Council for Children, Youth and Families and served as Chair of both of the Boards of Directors of St Ann’s Infant and Maternity Center and the Archdiocese of Washington Pastoral Council. Chuck has served on many boards of directors such as The Ivymount School, United Way of the National Capital Area, Leadership Montgomery and The Non-Profit Village, Inc.

Throughout his career, Chuck has received numerous recognitions and awards for his service and was recently inducted into the Montgomery County Human Relations Hall of Fame. For his public service and expertise behind-the-scenes, he has received well-deserved recognition and many awards. Some highlights among those include Community Advocate of the Year from Passion for Learning, Inc. and the S. Robert Cohen Award from the Jewish Foundation for Group Homes (now Makom). Other Outstanding Community Service Awards include from the Jewish Council for the Aging, Montgomery County Regional United Way Council, the Leadership in Diversity Award from the African American Employees Association, and the Lehrman-Pikser Award from the Jewish Social Service Agency. For his service to the disability community, Chuck was named the Distinguished Citizen of the Year Award by The Maryland Association of Non-Public Special Education Facilities and given the Outstanding Service Award from the Montgomery County Commission for Persons with Disabilities. He also was instrumental in supporting the creation of Sunflower Bakery.

Currently, Chuck serves as Senior Advisor to Dr Monifa McKnight, Superintendent of Montgomery County Public Schools and Gabe Albornoz, Montgomery County Councilmember. He is also the Principal of Effective Kindness, LLC, an organization providing pro-bono technical and management advice to individuals and non-profit organizations.

Circular logo of The Pretzel Bakery at Cabin John Village. Established in 2011.

The Prezel Bakery

The Pretzel Bakery is passionate about awesome food and accessible workplaces for everyone, whether they are salty or sweet. Sean Haney established the bakery on Capitol Hill in 2011 with his take on a Philly soft pretzel. Last year, along with Chad Anthony, The Pretzel Bakery added a second location in Cabin John Village in Montgomery County. They value inclusive hiring practices, hiring people with disabilities, formerly incarcerated individuals, immigrants and refugees. Sean and Chad believe that small businesses have the power to unlock employment opportunities and that a sense of belonging builds a happier workplace. Our secret ingredient is our employees.