Center for Volunteer & Nonprofit Leadership Announces Nominees for 5th Annual Heart of Sonoma County Awards
Honoring Sonoma County’s outstanding nonprofit volunteers, leaders, and organizations.
SONOMA COUNTY, CA, 3/4/25 – Center for Volunteer & Nonprofit Leadership (CVNL) is pleased to announce the nominees for the 5th Annual Heart of Sonoma County Awards™. Heart of Sonoma County supports the local nonprofit sector, giving $35,000 to outstanding organizations and the committed individuals who serve them. The community is invited and encouraged to attend the luncheon and awards ceremony to cheer on their friends, family, neighbors, and colleagues who have been nominated. All nominees will be recognized at the event and award recipients will be announced.
This year’s event will be held next week at The Backdrop on Thursday, March 13th, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM. Advance registration is required. Visit https://cvnl.org/upcoming-events-fundly-temp/?eid=11526 to purchase tickets or tables.
“Our mission with the Heart of Sonoma County is to celebrate the dedication and impact of nonprofits, volunteers, and community leaders,” said Linda Jacobs, CEO of CVNL. “As the nonprofit sector adapts to shifting policies, funding uncertainties, and evolving regulations under the current administration, organizations continue to step up, ensuring critical services reach those who need them most. Despite political and economic challenges, nonprofits and volunteers remain unwavering in their commitment to strengthening our communities. We look forward to coming together to recognize and honor these often-unsung heroes who make a lasting impact.”
This event is made possible with the support of Presenting Sponsor Comerica Bank and the generosity of Award Sponsors Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Peter E. Haas Jr. Family Fund, Medtronic, ACRISURE, PG&E, and Redwood Credit Union. Northern California Public Media serves as the Media Sponsor. For information on Award Sponsor packages contact Linda Jacobs, CVNL, CEO: ljacobs@cvnl.org.
And the Nominees are…
(Nominees are also listed online at https://cvnl.org/heart-of-sonoma-county/)
Corporate Community Service
Bank of America
Jackson Family Wines
Oliver’s Markets
Poppy Bank
Volunteer of the Year (Sponsor: Kaiser Permanente Northern California)
Michael Bithorn, Homeless Action Sonoma, Inc.
Shirley Davis, Sonoma Community Action Network
Madonna Feather Cruz, United Way of the Wine Country
Debbie Gilman, Sonoma Valley 4H & SRJC Cheerleading
Paul Guerra, Food For Thought
Cheryl Maslow, Children’s Museum of Sonoma County
James Pardieu, 10,000 Degrees
Manuel Rodriguez Garcia, LandPaths
Steve Schnieder, Homes 4 the Homeless
Rita Wengler, Council on Aging
Beverly Winton, Equi-Ed
Excellence in Board Leadership (Sponsor: ACRISURE)
Ellen Bailey, Community Matters
Naomi Crawford, Sonoma Family Meal
Jan Erickson, Sonoma Community Center
Allison Gutierrez, Latino Service Providers
Rachelle Hirsch, Equi-Ed
Jenny Juhl, Community Child Care Council of Sonoma County (4C’s)
Brandon Kelsey, Community Child Care Council of Sonoma County (4C’s)
Emily King, Common Ground Society
Troy Niday, TLC Child & Family Services
Santiago Ramirez, Catholic Charities of Northwest California
Greg Steele, Children’s Museum of Sonoma County
Leigh Stokes, Corazón Healdsburg
Marion Weinreb, The Living Room
Excellence in Innovation (Sponsor: PG&E)
Catholic Charities of Northwest California
Common Ground Society
Council on Aging
Emergency Prep Help
Forgotten Felines of Sonoma County
Free to Be
Humane Society of Sonoma County
inRESPONSE Mental Health Support Team
Sonoma Valley Collaborative
Sweetwater Spectrum
Youth Volunteer of the Year (Sponsor: Peter E. Haas Jr. Family Fund)
Aurora Amoroso, St. Francis Solano School
Tessa Autumn Berney, Sonoma Community Center
Maddie Castro, Sonoma Academy
Kelly Cipriano Gutierrez, LandPaths
Zach McKenna, United Cerebral Palsy of the North Bay
Zuli Morales, Redwood Empire Food Bank
Charly Newman, Sonoma Community Center
Maya Paris, Free to Be
Lilly Streb, Sonoma Ecology Center
Sabrina Tristano, Humane Society of Sonoma County
Lauren Wilson, Miracle League North Bay
Marianna Wininger, Casa Grande High School
Noa Wonderly, Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue
Alexander Yoon, 404 Found Code
Excellence in Leadership (Sponsor: Medtronic)
Katie Davis, Sebastopol Area Senior Center
Susan Fette, TLC Child & Family Services
Lynne Gordon Moquete, Una Vida
Letitia Hanke, The LIME Foundation
Stephanie Manieri, Latino Service Providers
Pip Marquez de la Plata, Forgotten Felines of Sonoma County
Margaret Sluyk, Reach for Home
Erica Vogel, Community Matters
Achievement in Nonprofit Excellence (Sponsor: Open)
10,000 Degrees
Assistance League of Sonoma County
Community Child Care Council of Sonoma County (4Cs)
Community Support Network
Conservation Corps North Bay
Corazón Healdsburg
Forgotten Felines of Sonoma County
Heartfelt Help Foundation
Humanidad Therapy and Educational Services
Kiwanis Club of Santa Rosa
Latino Service Providers
The LIME Foundation
Nuestra Comunidad
Our Village Closet
Reach for Home
Rebuilding Together Petaluma
Sonoma Community Action Network
Vital Immigrant Defense Advocacy and Services
Lifetime Achievement (Sponsor: Redwood Credit Union)
Bonnie Burrell
Mary Callahan
Rosalind Morris
Bettina Paige
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About CVNL: Since 1964, CVNL has advanced nonprofits and volunteerism by strengthening leadership, encouraging innovation, and empowering individuals in their communities. Passion alone isn’t enough when it comes to creating strong nonprofits. That’s why we work with aspiring and established leaders every day to help them build the skills and connections that can take their impact to the next level. Together we offer comprehensive programs that support nonprofits and volunteers including Learning & Leadership programs and trainings, executive search, customized consulting solutions, volunteer matching, and corporate engagement. Heart of Marin™, Heart of Napa™ and Heart of Sonoma County events support nonprofits of every size and mission through recognition and cash awards. Other programs and services include the Sonoma County Human Race, Secret Santa, Court Referral Program, and Paratransit. We provide disaster preparedness training and serve as an Emergency Volunteer Center (EVC), overseeing spontaneous volunteers and donations for Napa, Marin, Sonoma and Solano Counties in the aftermath of a disaster. We believe that with confident and prepared leaders, our nonprofits will be better equipped to create healthy, happy and more equitable communities. Visit www.cvnl.org to discover more.