For 40 years, the Martha’s Vineyard Community Foundation has presented the Creative Living Award to an Islander whose unique creativity and craftsmanship fosters community growth and togetherness.

This year, the foundation honored Wampanoag tribal leader, Aquinnah selectperson and Orange Peel Bakery founder Juli Vanderhoop, whose family and friends expressed their gratitude for her Thursday night at the Creative Living ceremony at the Grange Hall in West Tisbury.

“I don’t think that we could have found a better representation of the [Creative Living Award] qualities than Juli Vanderhoop,” said the foundation’s board president, Alec Walsh, to open the evening.

Juli Vanderhoop, her mother Anne Vanderhoop, and son Emerson Mahoney at the ceremony. — Riis Williams

“There’s some really powerful expressions and reflections on [Ms. Vanderhoop] that are going to happen here today.”

One by one, Ms. Vanderhoop’s fellow chefs and bakers, colleagues and family members — blood-related and self-proclaimed — stepped up to the podium to reminisce about her accomplishments and celebrate her role in their lives.

For Canieka Fleming, a chef who recently opened Loud Kitchen in Oak Bluffs, meeting Ms. Vanderhoop was a symbol of good fortune after years of tribulations.

“Many of you have probably been to the [Gay Head] cliffs and have seen the clay... and the first thing I did when I went there was take some of the clay — the one thing that you’re not supposed to do,” she said. “When I left, for years after that, my life was affected in such a negative way. I saw no prosperity. Then I came back to the Vineyard and the first thing I did was throw the clay back. I apologized and I prayed.”

Canieka Fleming, chef who recently opened Loud Kitchen in Oak Bluffs. — Riis Williams

Then, Ms. Fleming said tearfully, she met Ms. Vanderhoop only hours later.

“From that moment, I wanted to be a part of what she was and who she was every single day,” Ms. Fleming. “She has given me more than you can imagine... and has been with me all the way up to Tivoli Day when I finally opened my first restaurant.”

Ms. Vanderhoop’s son Emerson Mahoney said that he has grown used to having people all over the Vineyard rave to him about his mother. The best part of the evening, he said, is that she can finally hear their admirations — and his — with her own ears.

“It’s not often that my mom gets to hear these words directly from me,” he said. “It’s usually the people that I meet in my life that tend to see the smile on my face when I talk about how lucky I am and grateful I am to have grown up at Orange Peel Bakery.”

Community celebrates Ms. Vanderhoop at the Grange Hall on Thursday. — Riis Williams

As Mr. Mahoney did for his mother, Ms. Vanderhoop used her time at the podium to praise her mother, Anne Vanderhoop, who sat beside her grandson in the audience. It was her mother, Juli Vanderhoop said, who taught her to value community, self-sufficiency and the natural beauty of Aquinnah.

"[My mom] has been a provider for this community as long as she has been here,” she said. “My elders, some of whom are in this room, all of you matter to me. When I was a little girl, I was able to follow you home... and this is one of the best communities I could ever hope to be born into.”

The audience rose to its feet, applauding and cheering loudly, as Ms. Vanderhoop returned to her seat, clutching a large bouquet of flowers and grinning widely.

Music by Johnny Hoy and the Bluefish continued throughout the evening as Islanders feasted on a sumptuous meal prepared by Black Joy Catering, and took turns embracing the Creative Living Award recipient.