The annual presentation of the Piñon Awards, a signature Santa Fe event honoring the humanitarian efforts of our community's nonprofit organizations, is a real boost to the people whose day-in, day-out work accomplishes so much for so many.

What began as a living-room get-together for a moment of well-deserved praise soon outgrew the capacity of most volunteers' homes — so with the advent of the Lensic Performing Arts Center, the Santa Fe Community Foundation found the ideal venue.

While the crowds of well-wishers have grown, the foundation has had the good sense not to turn the awards ceremony into the kind of long, drawn-out yawn-inducing ordeals common to some gatherings. Instead, as Billie Blair prepares her last Piñon Awards of a distinguished term as foundation president, she's hewing to her notion of a single hour's presentation — beginning at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15.

What an hour it promises to be: Video tributes, statuettes and cash awards to five outstanding nonprofits, moderated by The New Mexican's well-known wit, Robert Nott. And the program includes the circus-style entertainment of Wise Fool, that talented bunch whose members came in for Piñon honors last year.

This year's recipients, chosen from 50 nominees:

u Santa Fe International Folk Art Market, for arts. This has become the largest international folk art market in the world. From its beginning in 2004, the market has formed creative partnerships with the community, which enhance the experiences of visiting international folk artists, market visitors, and residents and youth of Santa Fe and surrounding communities.

u Rivers & Birds, for environment. This Taos-based nonprofit provides experiential education, celebrating the interconnection of life and inspiring individuals as leaders in Earth stewardship. This award specifically recognizes the group's innovative Watershed Learning Project for students in Northern New Mexico, which shows how children can make a difference through their actions.

u Cooking With Kids, for education. It motivates children to make healthy food choices through hands-on learning with fresh, affordable foods from diverse cultures. Since 1995, Cooking With Kids has been working with low-income Santa Fe Public Schools students, creating excitement about eating and preparing healthy food while learning about world geography. More than 11,000 students have benefited from the program.

u St. Elizabeth Shelter, for health and human services. The shelter provides people with the full range of assistance and services they need to find permanent housing and begin new and more fulfilling lives.

u Santa Fe Business Incubator, for civic affairs — for its work in helping residents of Santa Fe to realize their dreams of self-sufficiency by offering them the opportunity to grow their business in an entrepreneurial environment.

In all, Northern New Mexicans you know — and love for what they do on behalf of a better community.

The Piñon Awards program is just more evidence of the Santa Fe Community Foundations' versatility beyond its grant-making function.

Tuesday evening's event is well worth your time; try to make it to the Lensic for an inspiring, eminently entertaining, hour.