HEART OF MARIN AWARDS

Celebrating the Marin Nonprofit Community
Heart of Marin Awards 2007

The 15th Heart of Marin Awards Luncheon got under way on Thursday, January 10 at the Marin Center and Exhibit Hall in San Rafael. The event, now in its 15th year was organized by the Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership (Center) with presenting sponsor Tamalpais Bank as a way of honoring the nonprofit and volunteer community of Marin.

Over 630 community and youth leaders, local dignitaries and business members, filled the beautifully decorated hall to watch the awards being presented. Between them they represented 95 Marin nonprofits. Jan Wahl, film critic for KRON 4 and KCBS, emceed the event with her usual wit and style often raising laughs from the audience.

Winners included San Rafael-based Trips for Kids for Achievement in Nonprofit Excellence, Diane Fiddyment of Big Brothers, Big Sisters of the North Bay for Excellence in Board Leadership for Corporate Community Service, Brayton Purcell a Novato-based law firm for Community Service, Maureen Sedonaen, Executive Director of Youth Leadership Institute for Excellence in Leadership, and Dr. David Fankushen, for Volunteer of the Year for his work with the Ritter Center. Independent judging panels from the community selected the winners in each category. All awardees (except Corporate Community Service) won $5000 for their nonprofits.

There were five Youth Awards of $1000 each. Brandon Bay, a seventh-grader at Miller Creek Middle School in Marinwood was honored for his work with pediatric patients at the Marin Community Clinic. Brandon organized fundraisers to purchase more than 3,000 Beanie Babies which he handed out to patients. David Peck, a sophomore at Terra Linda High school won an award for his leadership role with the youth culinary program, Generation Chefs, a program at the new Marin Youth Center. He educates other youth on healthy eating and the challenges of living with diabetes. Jessica Heighes, a junior at Tamalpais High School was honored as the co-founder of Marin Teen Mental Health Board. The purpose of the Teen Board is to educate all Marin teens to the warning signs of suicide and depression and where to get help. Brenden Lang, a senior at Stuart Hall High School in San Francisco, was given a Youth award for his work with the San Geronimo Disaster Council and his service at the Bay Model and the Farralones Marin Sanctuary. Kim Larson, a Terra Linda High School Senior, won an award for her international work. Almost single handedly she organized a fundraiser, “Race for Water”, to raise money to buy a well for a village in Africa. Last year the Darfur Genocide was her main focus and she organized a conference to raise awareness.

The Awards were sponsored by Autodesk (Nonprofit of the Year), Marin Community Foundation (Excellence in Leadership), Bregante and Company LLP (Excellence in Board Leadership), Woodlands Market (Volunteer of the Year) and Bank of Marin (Youth Volunteer of the Year).

Special recognition was given to four outgoing executive directors by the Center’s Board. They were: Joan Brownstein, Marin County School Volunteers, Carol Friedman, Dance Palace, Kathy King, Mountain Play Association and Jay Zlotnick, Buckelew Programs.

“Hearing all the inspiring acts of commitment and passion toward an issue that is dear to an individual makes the Heart of Marin Awards a very energizing event. Each year this event gives me (and I hope all in attendance) hope and determination to continue our efforts and dedication of time to serve our community. Where else can you be in a room with 650 nonprofit professionals, volunteers and business leaders who all give of themselves for a greater cause,” said Linda Davis, Executive Director of the Center.

Questions? Call the Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership at 479.5710.

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2007 Heart of Marin Award Recipients
L-R: Linda Davis (Center CEO), Dr. Dr. David Fankushen , Diane Fiddyment , Maureen Sedonaen , Jan Wahl (emcee), Brenden Lang , David Peck , Jessica Heighes , Allan Brayton, Kim Larsen, Marilyn Price (Trips for Kids), Mark Garwood (President, Tamalpais Bank). Not pictured: Brandon Bay

Presenting Sponsor:

Tamalpais Bank’s mission is to serve the community. The Bank has committed to donating a percentage of the average annual balance of deposits to qualified nonprofit organizations in Marin County. We are proud to support over 150 Marin nonprofit organizations through our Community Outreach Program. For more information, please call 415-454-1212.


Awards Sponsors:

Autodesk
Achievement in Nonprofit Excellence

Marin Community Foundation
Excellence in Leadership

Bank of Marin
Youth Volunteer of the Year

Bregante and Company LLP
Excellence in Board Leadership

Volunteer of the Year
Woodlands Market