Press Release

Lots of cheers, some tears and a sold-out crowd were on hand as Marin County volunteers were honored at the 16th annual Heart of Marin Awards ceremony luncheon at the Marin Civic Center. 
Take a look here at the photo album...story continues below-
A record 750 attendees gathered under a magical, twinkie-light strung ceiling to honor and celebrate the work of 141 volunteer nominees in the annual event sponsored by the Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership of Marin (CVNL) along with  Tamalpais Bank. As she has for the last several years, KRON4 television and KCBS radio film critic Jan Wahl, served as Mistress of Ceremonies.

Seven award categories included the Champion Award, Excellence in Leadership, Excellence in Board Leadership, Volunteer of the Year, Youth Volunteer of the Year, Achievement in Non-Profit Excellence and Corporate Community Service.   
"We have a crisis in confidence and we need to divert that crisis so that we can avoid a crisis in the community."
Mark Garwood CEO for Tamalpais Bank, made that reference to the gloomy economy in his opening remarks and reminded the crowd of the the challenges facing the nonprofit sector in the current climate.




Garwood then followed that remark by announcing his bank would accelerate their financial donations and he encouraged others to do the same citing 'time, talent and treasure' as the mantra for giving. Tamalpais Bank created the Heart of Marin award sixteen years ago and has been a major sponsor every year.












Linda Davis, CEO for CVNL followed Garwood to the podium and she also made reference to the economy-
"Transformations evolve from crisis," she said, "Together we can be the transformation we await."
Davis also lamented the lack of elected officials in attendance (many were represented by their staff instead) and then whooped it up for Marin County Supervisor Susan Adams who was there in person.
Then the business of handing out the awards began with emcee Wahl keeping up an entertaining patter of quips and remarks in between the categories. Cash awards were provided by sponsors Autodesk, Marin Community Foundation, Bank of Marin, Bregante + Company, LLP and Woodlands Market.







There was a tie for the first award, Volunteer of the Year.  Housing was the theme for both winners. Jean Taylor got the award for her work with Homeward Bound of Marin and the opening of Next Key Center, and 19 year-old Vincent Chew won for his work on creating housing connections for the homeless, gang intervention and community outreach with Ambassadors of Hope and Opportunity, an organization that helps young homeless adults.






Next up was the Excellence in Board Leadership and Linda Tavaszi of Marin Community Clinics was honored for her work on the recent expansion of this important community medical program and facility.
The Bank of Marin garnered the award in the Corporate Community Service category for their contributions to volunteerism, including their practice of allowing employees time off to volunteer during work hours. 









Youth Volunteer of the Year category is always a draw and five were given out. The recipients list of accomplishments were impressive, especially given their ages. 
Middle school student Lauren Grieve was lauded for her work towards improving health conditions in Marin and overseas in Monrovia, Japan and Chili with her organization, Meridian Health Foundation. 










Hannah Bichkoff from Terra Linda High School was also honored for her efforts in health and safety issues both overseas and locally with the Rotary Interact Club.  Bichkoff also helped a Burmese family acclimate to life in the U.S. 
Caroline Mulroy, a Temescal High student, got an award for her work in Mama Hope an organization that seeks to provide resources for developing countries.  Mulroy's project; she raised enough money to fund and build a system that provides clean, safe water to a village in Kenya.









San Rafael High student Cindy Ku's work with Next Generation Scholars, an organization that seeks to help low-income student find their way into college, nabbed her an award.  Ku's hard work to close the 'educational equity gap' in Marin earned her high praise, especially for the College Bound Club she started at SRHS.
The final recipient also from San Rafael High was Javier Espinoza.  Espinoza drew on personal experience with his volunteerism efforts in helping victims of domestic abuse.  Growing up in an abusive household, Espinoza and his mother endured beatings from his father.  Espinoza channeled that harrowing experience into his work for Marin Abused Women's Services.  He created something called "Mothers Day In A Box", a box package containing food and gifts that he supplied to the moms in the shelter on Mother's Day.  He expanded it to "Back to School In A Box" with backpacks and school supplies for the children of abuse victims.  Espinoza would like to create boxes for Holidays as well.

After receiving their awards, the Youth Volunteers received a standing ovation from the entire room.















Excellence In Leadership award was presented next to Cris Chater for her work with Senior Access, the only adult day services program available in Marin for people suffering from dementia and Alzheimers.  Chater dedicated her award to the families of her clients.









This year, the Champion Award was awarded posthumously to Pam Hamilton for her outstanding work in the nonprofit sector.  Pam was the founder of Hamilton PR a Marin-based publicity agency.  She passed away last September from cancer and her husband, Pete Lewis, accepted the award on her behalf.  He recalled Pam's passion and in a reference to the bad economy, he said she would want everyone to 'redouble' their efforts. 















The last honor awarded was for Achievement in Nonprofit Excellence and that one went to a Marin favorite, Bread and Roses.  Bread and Roses has been providing music to the incarcerated, the indigent, the impoverished and the isolated for 35 years. 
Linda Davis asked the winners to join her onstage and then the ceremony was over, at least for another year. 
Photo Album with all the photos here

Following are the complete list of nominees and sponsors-
Champion Award
The Champion Award this year will be given posthumously to Pam Hamilton, a Marin-based publicist who was well known and respected for her work with the nonprofit sector. The Champion Award recipient is chosen by the Centerʼs Board for outstanding contribution to the community.
Excellence in Leadership
The Excellence in Leadership Award and $5,000 for the recipient's nonprofit will be presented to an executive director who has demonstrated excellence and innovation within their organization and community.
Mary Jane DeWolf-Smith, A.P.P.L.E. FamilyWorks
Zara Babitske, Ambassadors of Hope and Opportunity
Martin Weinstein, Bay Area Community Resources
Marcella Robinson, Bolinas Community Center
Jay Zlotnick, Buckelew Programs
Carol Friedman, Dance Palace Community Center
Chris Bonfiglio, Casa Allegra Community Services
Kay Clements, KWMR
Karen Schurig, Marin Brain Injury Network
Jenefer Duane, Elder Financial Protection Network
Laurie Cohen, Mill Valley Philharmonic
Anna Halprin, Mountain Home Studio
Roni Krouzman, Next Generation
Susan Gilmore, North Bay Children's Center
Judi Shils, Search for the Cause
Cris Chater, Senior Access
Karen Wilson, WildCare

Excellence in Board Leadership
The Excellence in Board Leadership Award and $5,000 for the recipient's nonprofit will be presented to an exceptional volunteer member of a Marin nonprofit board of directors.
Scott Pearson, Bay Area Discovery Museum
RoseAnn Frank, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the North Bay
Rod Farrow, Buckelew Programs
Dale Dutton, Casa Allegra Community Services
Jean Taylor, Center for Judicial Excellence
Steven Tulsky, Centerforce
Stacy Swor, Community Action Marin
Robert Harrison, Community Action Marin
Jana Haehl, Corte Madera Community Foundation
Andrew Giacomini, Legal Aid Marin
Stephen A. Thal, Hospice By The Bay
Brian Swift, Huckleberry Youth Programs
William Strawbridge, Love Is The Answer
Kevin Lunny, Marin Agricultural Institute & Marin Farmers Market
Nancy Vernon, Marin Art and Garden Center
Linda Tavaszi, PhD, Marin Community Clinics
Annan Paterson, Marin Institute
Susan Kirsch, Ph.D., Marin Interfaith Council
Katherine Crecelius, Marin Services for Women
Patricia Warren, Marin Women's Hall of Fame
Roberta Keller, Mill Valley Scout Hall
Beverlee Kell, NAMI Marin
Forrest Craig, North Bay Children's Center
John Bell, Okizu Foundation
Jerry Knecht, Ross Valley Ecumenical Housing Association
Marjorie Barter, Ritter Center
Jeanne Capurro, To Celebrate Life Breast Cancer Foundation
Craig Vercruysse, YMCA Point Bonita Board of Volunteers

Volunteer of the Year
The Volunteer of the Year Award and $5,000 for the recipient's nonprofit will be oresented to an individual (other than a board member) who has provided exemplary volunteer service to a Marin nonprofit organization.
Ingrid Pelton, Alma Via of San Rafael
Stan Rosenfeld, American Cancer Society
George Eade, American Red Cross
Carolyn Kellams, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the North Bay
Julie Malet (Deceased), Blood Centers of the Pacific
David Ponkey, Bread & Roses
Mary Welch, Buckelew Programs
Nicolas Guzman, Canal Alliance
Peter Murphy, Casa Allegra Community Services
Patricia Anastasi, Catholic Charities CYO
Shirley Trimble, Civic Center Volunteers
Annemarie Clark, The Redwoods
John Eschelbach, College of Marin Alumni Association
Carole Mahoney and Catherine Stern, CorStone
Chris Seltzer, Experience Corps Marin
Jason Thompson, Farallones Marine Sanctuary Association
Michael Amara, Golden Gate Opera
Vicki Gutgesell, Guide Dogs for the Blind
Evelyn Hoffman, Guide Dogs for the Blind
Nancy Brookshire, Halleck Creek Ranch
Mary Eklund, Hospice By The Bay
Gail Graham, Mainstreet Moms Organize or Bust
Roberta Goldberg, Marin Advocates for Children
Dylis and Peter Sommer, Marin County School Volunteers
Milly Oppenheimer, Marin Literacy Program
Patsy White, Novato Housing Coalition
Dr. Brian Delfanti, Operation Access
Genny Duffin, Senior Campanion Program
Don Kline, Spectrum LGBT Center
Marie Henrio, The MYC
Rachel Conine, Tiburon International Film Festival
Jean Taylor, Homeward Bound of Marin
Pam Collins, WeAreSR
Ed Essick, Whistlestop Senior Center
Vincent Chew, Youth Leadership Institute and Ambassadors of Hope and Opportunity

Youth Volunteer of the Year
Up to five Youth Volunteer of the Year Awards of $1,000 each will be presented to full-time middle or high school students serving a Marin nonprofit in the community, school or church environment.
Hannah Bichkoff, Terra Linda High School
Elisma Botha, San Marin High School
Emily Cohodes, Love Is The Answer
Javier Espinoza, Next Generation Scholars
Amber Furderer, Terra Linda High School
Brittany Furlong, Church of the Assumption CYO Basketball
Lauren Grieve, Meridian Health Foundation
Leah Guliasi, Terra Linda High School
Anita Hemati, Marin Catholic High School
Taylor Holtemann, Novato High School
Jin Jun, Next Generation Scholars
Cindy Ku, San Rafael High School and Next Generation Scholars
Isaac Madfes, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the North Bay
Jaime Morgen and Kylie Flanagan, Leap (Marin Performing Stars)
Caroline Mulroy, Mama Hope
Savanna Susnow, Drake High School
Kasha Wright-Whittley, The MYC
Alicia Zecherle, Marin Humane Society
Joyce Cabrera, San Marin High School
Hannah Trautner, Redwood High School
Sarah Theiner, San Dominico School

Achievement in Nonprofit Excellence
The Achievement in Nonprofit Excellence Award and $5,000 will be presented to an organization that has demonstrated exemplary service to its constituents.
After-School Tutoring Program at Hilarita Apartments
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the North Bay
Bread & Roses
Buckelew Programs
Casa Allegra Community Services
Center for Judicial Excellence
Choral Singers of Marin (SingersMarin)
Dedication to Special Education
Dominican University
Easter Seals Northern California
Elder Financial Protection Network
Family Service Agency of Marin
Farallones Marine Sanctuary Association
Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy
Institute for Abundant Living
KarmaSpirit/NovatoSpirit
Marin Abused Women's Services
Marin Brain Injury Network
Marin Humane Society
MarinSpace
Media Interchange
Mill Valley Philharmonic
Nepalese Youth Opportunity Foundation
Next Generation
North Bay Children's Center
Operation Access
Pathways to Peace
Sustainable Novato
Godmothers for Timothy Murphy School

Corporate Community Service
The Corporate Community Service Award will be presented to a business that has fostered and encouraged volunteerism and philanthropy among its employees.
Autodesk
Bank of Marin
Circle Bank
Fireman's Fund Insurance Company
Hull, Eisenbarth & Associates, Inc.

Awards Sponsors

Achievement in Nonprofit Excellence
Autodesk
Excellence in Leadership
Marin Community Foundation
Youth Volunteer of the Year
Bank of Marin
Excellence in Board Leadership
Bregante and Company LLP
Volunteer of the Year
Woodlands Market