Center for Volunteer & Nonprofit Leadership Announces Nominees for the 30th Annual Heart of Marin™ Awards

133 community members have been nominated in eight award categories recognizing outstanding community service.

San Rafael, CA, November 17, 2022 – SAN RAFAEL, CA, NOVEMBER 17, 2022 – Center for Volunteer & Nonprofit Leadership (CVNL) is pleased to announce the nominees for the 30th Annual Heart of Marin™ Awards.

“After two years of virtual events we are thrilled and filled with joy to bring everyone together in person to honor and show our appreciation to the outstanding nominees” said Linda Jacobs, CEO at CVNL. “In 2022 individuals and nonprofits stepped up in creative and courageous ways.  We look forward to recognizing all of the nominees and to announcing the award recipients on January 12th, 2023.”

Heart of Marin directly supports the local Marin nonprofit sector, giving $35,000 to outstanding Marin nonprofits and the committed individuals who serve them. Everyone is invited to the Awards Ceremony on Thursday, January 12th, 2023, from 11:00am to 2:00pm at the Embassy Suites Hotel, San Rafael, where recipients will be announced, and all nominees will be recognized.

To reserve seats or tables for the event visit cvnl.org/heart-of-marin. CVNL is thrilled to welcome the community back to the first in-person Heart of Marin since the pandemic began in early 2020. Seating will be limited and the public is encouraged to reserve seats early.

The event is supported by Presenting Sponsor Bank of Marin, and Media Sponsor Marin Independent Journal. Awards are made possible by the generosity of our sponsors (see below).

And the nominees are…

Corporate Community Service (Sponsor: PG&E)
  • Bank of America
  • Bank of Marin
  • Ghilotti Bros., Inc.
  • Hanson Bridgett LLP
  • JAMBAR
  • Kaiser Permanente San Rafael-Petaluma
  • Marin Independent Journal
  • Redwood Credit Union
  • San Marin Animal Hospital
  • Volvo Cars Marin
Volunteer of the Year (Sponsor: Harbor Point Charitable Foundation)
  • Jeff Amen, Community Action Marin
  • Alexander Battaglia, Operation Access
  • Lydia Bell, LITA (Love is the Answer)
  • John Beltran, The Marine Mammal Center
  • Joan Boyd, Guide Dogs for the Blind
  • Hunter Breck, Felidae Conservation Fund
  • Chad Brubaker, Call of the Sea
  • Natalie Clark, WildCare
  • Carla Condon, Age Friendly Intergenerational Center
  • Dick & Betty Currie, Guide Dogs for the Blind
  • Troy Evans, Marin County Search and Rescue
  • Noni Garner, O’Hanlon Center for the Arts
  • Peter Goetz, LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired
  • Erika Gomez, Multicultural Center of Marin
  • Clara Greisman, Enriching Lives Through Music
  • Lesley Hu, Pierce’s Pledge
  • Suzanne Jansen, Center for Domestic Peace
  • Brian Johnson, Community Action Marin
  • Krissa Klein, Sonoma Ecology Center
  • Timothy Knowlton, Marin Humane
  • Nicole Lea, Family and Children’s Law Center
  • Marv Levinson, ExtraFood
  • Nancy Rae Ludwigsen, San Geronimo Valley Community Center
  • Nancy Malcolm, Vivalon
  • Rich Moore, Halleck Creek Ranch
  • Heather Parker, Hooves for Harmony
  • Alex & Tracy Peters, Las Gallinas Sanitary District Non-Marching Band
  • Ann Marie Santana-Turina, Marin Humane
  • Marc Schreiber, Family and Children’s Law Center
  • Virginia Schultz, Marin County Library Foundation
  • Lori Feldman & Carol Soker, Marin Court Appointed Special Advocates
  • Bonnie Spitz, DrawBridge
  • Bruce Todd, Canal Alliance
  • Becky White, 10,000 Degrees
Excellence in Board Leadership (Sponsor: BioMarin)
  • Laura Anderson, Marin Healthy Youth Partnerships
  • Dr. Colleen Arnold, Matrix Parent Network and Resource Center
  • Chris Cabral, Trips for Kids Bay Area
  • Bruce Goines, Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority
  • Dr. Jason Lau, Marin YMCA
  • Marc Loupe, Alzheimer’s Association
  • Mary Jane Luck, SHE-CAN
  • David Neagle, Ritter Center
  • Pamela Parker, Southern Marin Mothers’ Club
  • Carol Rebscher, San Geronimo Valley Community Center
  • Marion Soloway, Pony Barnes Foundation
  • Cheryl Sorokin, Marin Villages
  • Ida Times-Green, Sausalito Marin City School Board
  • Tiana Wimmer, Enriching Lives Through Music
Excellence in Innovation (Sponsor: Potrero Group)
  • Ambassadors of Hope and Opportunity
  • First Responder Therapy Dogs INC.
  • Giving Marin Community Partnership
  • Little Wishes
  • Maggie/Mavi Pilloton
  • Marin Agricultural Land Trust, Drought Resilience and Water Security Initiative
  • Marin Foster Care Association
  • Osher Marin Jewish Community Center
  • Shoreline Connectivity Project
  • Side by Side, Raices Unidas
  • Social Call
  • Sparkle Foundation
  • Vivalon
Youth Volunteer of the Year (Sponsor: Redwood Credit Union)
  • Ruth Alvarenga, North Marin Community Services
  • Ashlyn Byous, WildCare
  • Matteo Diaz, The Spahr Center
  • Kimberly Escobar, Youth Leadership Institute
  • Oliver Goldman, Marin County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue
  • Melissa Gongora, HeadsUp San Rafael Public Education Foundation
  • Talia Harter, San Rafael High School
  • Alysha Lee, County of Marin Student Elections Ambassador Program, League of Women Voters, and Beyond Differences
  • Maddie Mangino, Sparkle Foundation Inc.
  • Amanda Mueller, Marin County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Unit
  • Samantha Podoll, San Geronimo Valley Community Center
  • Jada Swan, Project Awareness and Special Sports, Friendship Club Terra Linda High School
  • Sophia White, The Schurig Center
  • Alisa Zhou, American Red Cross
Excellence in Leadership (Sponsor: Marin Community Foundation)
  • Chandra Alexandre, Community Action Marin
  • Kay Carlson, Marin Open Studios
  • Kari Cordero, SANE-SART
  • Dave Cort, San Geronimo Valley Community Center
  • Aideen Gaidmore, Marin Child Care Council
  • Sarah Hobson, West Marin Fund
  • Ivana Jagodic-Meholick, Post-Partum Support Center
  • Marty Meade, Marin American Indian Alliance
  • Andy Naja-Riese, Agricultural Institute of Marin
  • Mark Shotwell, Ritter Center
  • Samantha Tradelius, Sparkle Foundation
Achievement in Nonprofit Excellence (Sponsor: Comerica Bank)
  • [ap]Parent Love
  • Adopt A Family
  • Ambassadors of Hope and Opportunity
  • Big Skills Tiny Homes
  • Bridge the Gap
  • The Cedars of Marin
  • Community Action Marin
  • Enriching Lives Through Music
  • ExtraFood
  • Family and Children’s Law Center
  • Legal Aid of Marin
  • Make it Home Bay Area
  • Man 2 Man Urban Youth Advocate, Inc.
  • Marin Child Care Council
  • Marin County Cooperation Team
  • Marin Foster Care Association
  • Marin Humane
  • Marin School of the Arts Foundation
  • Mount Tamalpais College
  • North Bay Children’s Center
  • Ritter Center
  • SANE-SART
  • Southern Marin Mothers’ Organization
  • The Nika Project
  • Vivalon
Lifetime Achievement (Sponsor: Kaiser Permanente)
  • Rev. Dr. Jane Adams-Spahr
  • Judge Roy Chernus
  • Trisha Garlock
  • Heidi Kuhn
  • Jody Lewen
  • Renee Pollard
  • Richard Shipps
  • Judy Schriebman
  • Bruce Wagman

Nominees are listed online at cvnl.org/heart-of-marin. Nominees will be celebrated and recipients announced at the Heart of Marin Award Luncheon on January 12, 2023, 11 AM – 2 PM at the Embassy Suites Hotel, San Rafael, CA. The public is welcomed and encouraged to attend and celebrate. Advance registration is required. Register here.

If you are interested in sponsoring or donating tickets or a table, please contact Manahari Hansel | Development Manager | CVNL, Center for Volunteer & Nonprofit Leadership | 415 448-0341 | mhansel@cvnl.org

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