
Chris Porterfield of Vineyard Haven, director of food and nutrition at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, is being awarded the Spirit of the Vineyard Award, according to a press release.
The award, sponsored by Vineyard Village at Home, is given to a person or organization who has served one or more nonprofit organizations on the Island. The criteria include “selflessness, the range and depth of service, and the effect on quality of life of the individuals who received help and for the Island community as a whole.”
According to the release, Porterfield is actively involved in the Sullivan Run/Walk, the Suicide Prevention Walk, and the Vineyard Cancer Support Group tennis tournament.
“What he is best known for is that for more than 13 years, Chris has spent untold hours volunteering for and coaching Island youth sports,” the release states. “He is a board member of Martha’s Vineyard Little League, serves as their safety officer in charge of CORI forms and team first aid, and also coaches. (In some years, he coaches multiple teams.) He was instrumental in helping to build Penn Field, and can often be seen on the field raking and helping to maintain it.”
Porterfield is also credited with reviving a flag football program for more than 100 Island children, as well as coordinating the youth travel basketball program.
The award is being presented on Thursday, Dec. 6, at 6 pm at the Oak Bluffs School gym.