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