Heart of Marin Awards
Where volunteers, nonprofits, and leaders shine.
29th Annual Heart of Marin
$35,000 in awards and eight categories, recognizing and honoring Marin County’s outstanding nonprofit volunteers, leaders and organizations.
Award categories, nominees and recipients listed below.
Individual photos and recipient’s stories coming soon!
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.
The 2021 Heart of Marin Award For Excellence In Board Leadership goes to David Lakes, San Geronimo Valley Community Center.
2021 Nominees:
Debra Belaga, NAMI Marin
Trisha Garlock, SchoolsRule Marin
Bruce Goines, Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority
David Lakes, San Geronimo Valley Community Center
Vijay Mohan, Bay Area Discovery Museum
Scott Pinsky, Marin Coalition
Bob Puett, Homeward Bound of Marin
Marty Rubino, Marin Center for Independent Living
Dennis Ryan, Vivalon
Cheryl Sorokin, Marin Villages
Ida Times Green, Sausalito Marin City School Board
Jon Welner, Osher Marin Jewish Community Center
The Corporate Community Service Award will be presented to a business that has fostered and encouraged volunteerism and philanthropy among its employees.
The 2021 Heart of Marin Award for Corporate Community Service goes to Brayton Purcell LLP.
2021 Nominees:
Brayton Purcell LLP
Giving Marin, Community Partnership
Marin Subaru
Toys for Bob
Sponsored by: BioMarin
The Excellence in Innovation 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.
The 2021 Heart of Marin Award for Excellence in Innovation goes to FIRE Foundry.
2021 Nominees:
Ambassadors of Hope and Opportunity
Community Action Marin
Enriching Lives through Music
Environmental Travel Companion
FIRE Foundry
Osher Marin Jewish Community Center
Parent Services Project
PD-Connect
Side by Side
Sparkle Foundation
Sponsored by: Comerica Bank
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.
The 2021 Heart of Marin Award for Volunteer of the Year goes to Jim Findlay, Marin Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA).
2021 Nominees:
Joyce Abrams, Friends of China Camp
Jim Appenrodt, Vivalon
Ellie Chamberlain, Love Is The Answer
Jim Chestnut, Mill Valley Philharmonic
Carla Condon, Age-Friendly Intergenerational Center
Simon Darken, Marin Community Clinics
Brittany DeVita, Guide Dogs for the Blind
Jim Findlay, Marin Court Appointed Special Advocates
Troy Evans, Marin Search and Rescue
Stefanie Gomez, Alzheimer’s Association
Suzanne Jansen, Center for Domestic Peace
Susan Jirles, Humankind Alliance
Brian Johnson, Community Action Marin
Claudia Johnson, Halleck Creek Ranch
Tim Knowlton, Marin Humane
Hoang Leclerc, ExtraFood
Kerry Livingston, Community Land Trust of West Marin
Beth Livoti, Marin Villages
Peter Mandell, The Marine Mammal Center
Karen Petterson, St. Vincent de Paul Society of Marin
Arpita Pitroda, Operation Access
Ned Purdom, Bridge the Gap College Prep
Cristina Salcedo, Shoreline Unified School District
Lindsey Smith, Multicultural Center of Marin
Mary Ann Sorich, Guide Dogs for the Blind
Emily Uhlhorn, The Hannah Project Partnership for Academic Achievement
Averel Wilson, 10,000 Degrees
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.
The 2021 Heart of Marin Award for Excellence In Leadership goes to Omar Carrera, Canal Alliance.
2021 Nominees:
Chandra Alexandre, Community Action Marin
Kay Carlson, Marin Open Studios
Omar Carrera, Canal Alliance
Dave Cort, San Geronimo Valley Community Center
Maika Llorens Gulati, Slide Ranch
Sarah Hobson, West Marin Fund
Andy Naja-Riese, Agricultural Institute of Marin
Mark Shotwell, Ritter Center
Ted Smith, Kids Cooking For Life
Laura Talmus, Beyond Differences
Marv Zauderer, ExtraFood
Sponsored by: Marin Community Foundation
The Lifetime Achievement Award and $5,000 for a nonprofit of their choice 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.
The 2021 Heart of Marin Award for Lifetime Achievement goes to Robert Currier, Marin Shakespeare Company.
2021 Nominees:
Judy Binsacca
Robert Currier
Trisha Garlock
Barbara Lee
Bruce Wagman
Sponsored by: Kaiser Permanente, Marin
The Achievement in Nonprofit Excellence Award and $5,000 will be presented to an organization that has demonstrated exemplary service to its constituents.
The 2021 Heart of Marin Award for Achievement in Nonprofit Excellence goes to North Marin Community Services.
2021 Nominees:
Age-Friendly Intergenerational Center
Ambassadors of Hope and Opportunity
Beyond Differences
Big Skills Tiny Homes
Cedars
Children for Change
Community Action Marin
Elpida Residential Programs, Inc.
Fairfax-San Anselmo Children’s Center
Family & Children’s Law Center
Let’s Talk Partnership
Make It Home
Marin Coalition
Marin County Cooperation Team
Enterprise Resource Center (Project of Marin Mental Health Advocates)
Napa Solano Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner/Sexual Assault Response Team
North Bay Children’s Center
North Marin Community Services
Oak Hill School
PD-Connect
Ritter Center
Slide Ranch
Vivalon
Watershed Alliance of Marin
West Marin Fund
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.
The five Heart of Marin Youth Volunteer of the Year Awards go to:
Lyla Stanger, Children for Change;
Lizbeth Mendieta-Alvarado, Youth Leadership Institute and North Marin Community Services;
Aiden Williams, Crescendo Connect;
Xochitl Komarmy, Redwood High School English Language Development Program; and
Luca Cuffe, Marin Search and Rescue.
2021 Nominees:
Nate Bender, Simple Impact Club-San Rafael High School
Bailey Bernales, Novato Unified School District
Stefania Bitton, Marin Humane
Nury Calderon, Next Generation Scholars
Hailey Carlton, Great Plates Program
Luca Cuffe, Marin Search and Rescue
Haley Gomez, North Marin Community Services
Daniel Gorel, San Marin High School Math Tutoring Club
Talia Harter, Marin Office of Education and San Rafael High School
Anna Jensen, San Geronimo Valley Community Center
Xochitl Komarmy, Redwood High School English Language Development Program
Yetzi Martinez, North Marin Community Services
Lizbeth Mendieta Alvarado, North Marin Community Services and Youth Leadership Institute
William Sanchez Carmona, Next Generation Scholars
Lyla Stanger, Children for Change
Sarah Steele, Bridge the Gap College Prep
Sophia White, Marin Catholic
Aidan Williams, Crescendo Connect
Sponsored by: Redwood Credit Union
Thank you Presenting Sponsor
Bank of Marin has served Northern California businesses and the people who run them for more than 30 years, providing insight, guidance and legendary service. Community commitment is one of the Bank’s core values, believing that strong communities benefit everyone. In the words of the Bank’s founder, Bill Murray, “We do well by doing good.”
2021 Award & Media Sponsors
