On December 16, 2011, SoSA Executive Director Mike Waldmann was presented an Opportunity Hall of Fame award by Virginia First Lady Maureen McDonnell. Society of St. Andrew was one of five organizations in the Commonwealth of Virginia to be recognized as one that works to create "a commonwealth of opportunity ... doing great works of charity and sacrifice every day."

The presentation was made at an awards luncheon in Richmond. The main speaker at the luncheon was Carly Fiorinia, former CEO of Hewlett-Packard, and former Republican candidate for governor of California. Mike Waldmann also spoke to the gathering after he received the award from the First Lady.

Mrs. McDonnell cited SoSA for providing "healthy, nutritious produce to Virginia's hungry" as well as for "salvaging nutritious food, redirecting it to food banks, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, senior feeding centers, hospice homes, and many other essential feeding programs."

The other organizations receiving the award were the Field of Dreams Farm (sustainable food), Heartwood (arts and music), ForKids Inc. (family homelessness), and Virginia Horses for Heroes (therapy for wounded veterans). An additional 18 groups and individuals received the First Lady's Opportunity Seal of Approval. This was the second year of the program, called the First Lady's Initiatives Team Effort (FLITE).