25th Annual Heart of Marin Awards, Jan. 11, 2018
Thank you for celebrating 25 years of recognizing nonprofits with us!
Thank you to everyone who attended the 25th Anual Heart of Marin Awards yesterday — Thursday, January 11th, 2018. Once again, we were inspired by all of the 2017 nominees and the winers. From our heart to yours: thank you, nonprofits, for the extraordinary work you do to make our communities healthier, happier, and more equitable. It has been an honor celebrating the work that you do for the past 25 years! Click here to browse event-day photos.
CVNL Heart of Marin in the News…
CVNL Event Press Release
Marin Independent Journal coverage
And the 2017 recipients are…
Achievement in Nonprofit Excellence
ExtraFood.org
With a mission to help end hunger and wasted food through a food recovery program, ExtraFood.org is the only program that picks up excess food and immediately delivers it to partners serving the most vulnerable children, adults and families. Their program overcomes challenges of transportation, fear, and shame by putting food distribution sites where hungry people already live, work and study.
SPONSOR: Nugget Markets
Volunteer of the Year
Kim Lambert, Canal Alliance
A retired corporate attorney with 30 years of experience, Kim came to Canal Alliance as a volunteer in 2016 to support the Immigration Legal Services Team. She dedicated over 400 hours making sure client records were being accurately recorded and stored, managed the review of thousands of past immigration cases, processed DACA renewals and citizenship applications, participated in legal workshops, volunteered as a tutor in the adult ESL classes, and worked many mornings in the Food Pantry.
SPONSOR: Redwood Credit Union
Excellence in Board Leadership
Pepe Gonzalez, 10,000 Degrees
As board chair for 10,000 Degrees, Pepe has implemented their five-year plan, managed a merger, and led strategic planning efforts to triple the number of students and families reached with comprehensive college success programming. In addition, he helped mobilize the board and organizational resources to maintain active participation in supporting the staff and students after the Trump Administration announced ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.
SPONSORS: EO Products and College of Marin
Excellence in Leadership
Mary Denton, CEO, Suny Hills Services
Appointed CEO of Suny Hills Services in 2010, Mary has streamlined the organization’s management structure, strengthened the financial accountability of
programs, scaled up efforts in private fundraising, and increased the budget by 85% from $7 to $13 million. Key programs include The Hunt School of Marin, Real
Alternatives for Adolescents, Marin Transition-Age Youth, and ReStart.
SPONSOR: Marin Community Foundation
Excellence in Inovation
RxSafe Marin
RxSafe is an innovative example of how communities can work together to save lives and reduce harm from prescription drug use and abuse and is serving as a mentor to others in California. Structured to coordinate actions through 5 teams: Law Enforcement; Prescribers and Pharmacists; Community Prevention; Treatment and Recovery; and Data Collection and Monitoring, teams partnerto advance strategies and coordinate efforts. Preliminary results indicate a 41% reduction in the average dose of narcotics prescribed.
SPONSORS: International ProInsurance and Pacific Union
Corporate Community Service
Redwood Credit Union
In 2017, RCU’s Marin staff provided volunteer support totaling over 3,250 hours at 115 events for local nonprofit and community organizations. RCU pays staff their salaries when they volunteer during business hours and management staff are encouraged to serve on a board of directors or committee. RCU established the North Bay Fire Relief Fund which has raised more than $31 million to support fire victims, first responders, students and schools, along with small businesses and employees who have lost their jobs due to the fires.
SPONSORS: Pacific Gas and Electric Company and Bregante + Company, LLP[
Youth Volunteers of the Year
Macie Millstein, Senior, Marin Academy
Marcie led all of Marin Academy’s community action efforts, from facilitating Community Action Leaders to being a trailblazer for Marin Academy’s Youth Grants Board. She volunteers at Ambassadors of Hope and Opportunity and is a Board Member on Marin/San Francisco Jewish TeenFoundation.
Kyle Sayers, Senior, Branson, Next Generation Scholars
As part of Next Generation Scholars, Kyle created a bicultural computer science class that serves low-income students, teaching basic computer science principles to 6th and 7th graders. He co-created an app to close the equity gap for college students and is now working with PENN and Tufts to launch this technology.
Yonayda Rodas, Senior, San Rafael High School, YWCA San Francisco & Marin
As an intern for YWCA San Francisco & Marin, Yonayda has volunteered over 100 hours toward the mission of eliminating racism and empowering women. She knocked on thousands of doors over a 3-month period, passing out ‘Know Your Rights’ cards and educating communities about how to respond to ICE raids and investigations.
Joshua Rowe, Sophomore, San Domenico School, Youth Leadership Institute
Through the Youth Leadership Institute, Josh has been instrumental in the success of the Marin County Youth Commission serving as a Commissioner. As a member of the Alcohol, Tobacco, and other Drugs Prevention Advisory committee, he has led efforts to reduce underage access to alcohol.
Kobe Pole, Senior, Redwood High School, Marin Search & Rescue
Last year, Kobe logged 500+ hours and responded on 23 missions, often serving in leadership positions with Marin County Search & Rescue. Missions varied from searching for human remains in Sonoma after the recent fires, searching for a plane that crashed in the Pt. Reyes National Seashore, to a missing man in Hicks Valley.
SPONSOR: Bank of Marin
Lifetime Achievement Award
Marilyn Price, Founder, Trips for Kids
Marilyn is a social activist and cycling legend known internationally for her work as an accomplished entrepreneur. She pioneered the practice of bicycle trail riding to deliver lessons in personal responsibility and environmental awareness through the development of practical skills and the simple act of having fun. Marilyn’s pioneering use of the bicycle as a tool for helping under-served youth translates across gender, cultural, economic and ethnic boundaries and has spread worldwide.
SPONSOR: Kaiser Permanente, San Rafael
2017 Nominees…
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 their constituents. Here are this year’s nominees.
Catholic Charities Canal Family Support Kids Club
Catholic Charities St. Vincent’s School for Boys
Ceres Community Project
Children for Change
Downtown Streets Team
Extrafood.org
Homeward Bound of Marin
Kids Cooking for Life
Little Wishes
Marin Humane
NovatoSpirit
Operation Access
Project H.O.P.E.
San Rafael Elks Lodge #1108
St Vincent de Paul Society of Marin County
SPONSOR: Nugget Markets
Volunteer of the Year
The Volunteer of the Year Award and $5,000 for the recipient’s nonprofit will be presented to an individual (other than a board member) who has provided exemplary volunteer service to a Marin nonprofit organization. Here are this year’s nominees.
Tori Brant, Singers Marin
David Brusati, Whistlestop
Georgia Couderc, Marin Humane
Jermey Durfee, Next Generation Scholars
Dan Foldes, Pint of Soul
Chris Gomes, Art Works Downtown
Daniel Heagerty, Spirit Rock Meditation Center
Kim Lambert, Canal Alliance
Banana AKA Lowell Levinger, Bread & Roses
Judith McElroy, Buckelew
Ellen McKena, Extrafood.org
Carole Ormiston, Halleck Creek Ranch
Josefina Perez, Senior Peer Counselor, Civic Center Volunteers
Ingrid Purcell, Hospice by the Bay
Gordon Robinson, Marin Humane
Paula Sauve, Godmothers of Timothy Murphy School
Fred Silverman, 10,000 Degrees Academic Support
Richard Vance, Marine Mammal Center
Bill Weinberg, Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco
Woody Weingarten, Marin Man to Man
SPONSOR: Redwood Credit Union
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. Here are this year’s nominees.
Eric Aanes, Lifehouse
Paula Doubleday, Downtown Street Team
Pepe Gonzalez, 10,000 Degrees
Lori Johanson, Little Wishes
Chuck Lesem, Trips for Kids
Susane Lyons, WildCare
Janet Miller, Integrated Community Services
Ken Preston, Youth Leadership Institute
John Rosenberg, Art Works Downtown
Selina Wajnowski, Halleck Creek Ranch
SPONSORS: EO Products and College of Marin
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 in leadership and whose vision has inspired meaningful and lasting change benefiting the organization and community. Here are this year’s nominees.
Robin Joy Berenson, PhD, LMFT, Community Institute Psychotherapy
Kay Carlson, Marin Open Studios
Mary Denton, Suny Hills Services
Nancy Dow Moody, Lifehouse
Daria Halprin, Tamalpa Institute
Miko Lee, Youth in Arts
Christine Paquette, St. Vincent de Paul Society, District Council of Marin County
Elisabeth Setten, Art Works Downtown
Aliyya Shelley Mattos, PaperSeed Foundation
Ted Smith, Kids Cooking for Life
Kim Thompson, Community Land Trust Association of West Marin (CLAM)
SPONSOR: Marin Community Foundation
Excellence in Inovation
The Excellence in Inovation Award and $5,000 will be presented to an individual, organization or partnership that has developed new, creative and effective strategies for advancing solutions to critical issues in our community. Here are this year’s nominees.
Ambassadors of Hope & Opportunity
Canal Alliance Immigration Legal Services Team
College of Marin Cupboard
Dominican Sisters of San Rafael
Downtown Streets Team
Enriching Lives Through Music
Extrafood.org
Golden Gate Dietetic Internship
Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco
Osher Marin JCC
RxSafe Marin
Suny Hills Services
SPONSORS: International ProInsurance and Pacific Union
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. Here are this year’s nominees.
EO Products
Microsoft Corte Madera
Mike’s Bikes
Nugget Markets
Redwood Credit Union
SPONSORS: Pacific Gas and Electric Company and Bregante + Company, LLP
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, education or faith environment. Here are this year’s nominees.
Patricia Almaraz, Terra Linda High School
Christopher Barajas, Terra Linda High School
Dylan Cullinane, St. Anselm School
Audrey Dickinson, Branson School
Katie Held, St. Anselm School
Yessenia Hernandez, San Rafael High School
Maya Krause, Sir Francis Drake High School
Leela Langlois, San Rafael High School
Damaris Marrufo, Marin School of the Arts at Novato High
Macie Millstein, Marin Academy
Ana Ostrovsky, Terra Linda High School
Emma Page, Saint Vincent High School
Kobe Pole, Redwood High School
Yonayda Rodas, San Rafael High School
Joshua Rowe, San Domenico School
Kyle Sayers, Branson School
Ethan Strull, Marin Academy
Elaine Zhou, Novato High School
SPONSOR: Bank of Marin
Lifetime Achievement Award
The Lifetime Achievement Award and $5,000 for the individual’s nonprofit(s) will be presented to an individual who has made a positive and notable difference during their career by significantly contributing to address a cause, issue or discipline. This is the only nomination category where additional material is accepted. Here are this year’s nominees.
Laurie Cohen
Barbara Lee
Avon Mattison
Gary Maxworthy
Suzie Pollak
Marilyn Price
Debra Scheenstra, DVM
Karen Schurig
Sandi Miot and Beryl Miller
SPONSOR: Kaiser Permanente, San Rafael
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