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Heart of Marin Awards Made at Sellout Event

Sponsor Tamalpais Bank Announces Acceleration of Charitable Community CountsT Program

San Rafael - January 8, 2009

In remarks delivered today at the 16th annual Heart of Marin Awards, Tamalpais Bank chairman and chief executive officer Mark Garwood told an audience of 750 that business contributions urged his to nonprofit organizations were more important than ever.

“The current economy has created financial situations for many nonprofit organizations that call for the business community to step up and take action immediately,” he said.  “Tamalpais Bank will also double the funds allocated for its Community Counts ™ program for the first six months of 2009.”

At the luncheon, held at the Marin County Civic Center, awards were made to outstanding nonprofit individuals and organizations in conjunction with the Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership of Marin (CVNL).

Additionally, Tamalpais Bank, which created the Heart of Marin and is its primary underwriter, has already moved up a planned contribution to Ambassadors of Hope and Opportunity (AHO), a Mill Valley-based nonprofit that aids homeless young adults.

Earlier in the week, the group had said it required emergency funding to be able to continue to provide services.

“Our donation was scheduled to be made mid-year,” said Garwood, “however, when we heard about AHO’s need, we decided to act now.”

Garwood said that, in the current economic climate, it is important for businesses and individuals to step forward and support organizations that derive their funding from donations. 

“Marin County has a justifiably well-known reputation for supporting nonprofit organizations that provide aid to at-risk individuals,” he said.  “It is particularly important that we, as leaders in the community, consider the continual support of nonprofits.

Garwood said the plight of Ambassadors of Hope and Opportunity was ironic in one way.  “The Heart of Marin Awards were created 16 years ago to identify outstanding individuals and organizations among Marin County non-profits.  Working with the Center, we annually highlight the outstanding efforts of these groups.

“It would be a terrible blow if, as we honor some groups, that deserving organizations were forced to close their doors for lack of funding,” he said.
Ambassadors for Hope has helped 678 young adults in Marin County during the last three years, according to Zara Babitzke, who founded the group.   
Winners of the awards were:

• Jean Taylor of Center for Judicial Excellence (Excellence in Board Leadership)
• Cris Cater of Senior Access (Excellence in Leadership)
• Bank of Marin (Corporate Community Service)
• Bread & Roses (Achievement in Nonprofit Excellence)
• Hannah Bichkoff, Javier Espinoza, Lauren Grieve, Cindy Ku and Caroline Mulroy (Youth Volunteer of the Year)
• Jean Taylor (Homeward Bound of Marin)

About Tamalpais Bank
Tamalpais Bank (www.tambank.com), a wholly owned subsidiary of Tamalpais Bancorp, offers business and consumer banking through its seven branches in Marin County. The branches are located in Corte Madera, Greenbrae, Mill Valley, San Anselmo, downtown San Rafael, Terra Linda and Tiburon/Belvedere.  Each branch provides free-of-charge community rooms to local, non-profit organizations and participates actively in local organizations.  For additional information, please contact Mark Chapman 415-526-6485.