2009 Heart of Marin Awards Winners
Heart of Marin Awards Honor Volunteers and Nonprofits
Marin volunteers, agency executives and nonprofits were honored by 750 people, January 7, 2010 at the Marin Center Exhibit Hall. All honorees; other than the Corporate Community Service winner, win $5,000 each for their nonprofits. Youth awards carry an award of $1,000 each and are presented to five exceptional Marin County youths.
The ceremony was sponsored by the Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership of Marin in partnership with Tamalpais Bank – the founder of the Awards in 1992. The event is an annual showcase of the work done by local nonprofits and their volunteers.
| Excellence in Board Leadership | Charlotte Shell, Novato Youth Center for guidance of the organization through a successful Executive Transition process and her support of the new Director in developing a sustainability plan that included expanding the client base, diversifying funding sources, and increasing community collaborations. | |
| Volunteer of the Year - Tied | John & Millie Barrett, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the North Bay who both serve as "Bigs" and committee chairs. They educate potential volunteers, perform outreach activities, and share their love of the environment by developing outdoor activities. Additionally, John trains new mentors on what to expect in their match relationships, all of which lead to matches with greater outcomes for youth. | |
| Achievement in Nonprofit Excellence | D. Bruce Wheeler, Board President & Elizabeth LaRose, Executive Director, Headlands Institute who are dedicated to teaching science and environmental education. They have provided hands-on investigation in the Marin Headlands for 31 years, striving to educate the next generation of leaders to respect the natural world and preserve it for future generations. | |
| Excellence in Leadership | Eddie Kaufman, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the North Bay who has initiated a number of strategies and programs enabling Big Brothers Big Sisters to expand their reach and secure funding allowing them to serve a growing number of young people. The expansion increased productivity and enabled the merged agencies to secure significant grant funding. The number of children the agency serves has grown from 557 in 2004 to 1743 in 2009. | |
| Corporate Community Services Award | Larry Brackett, Frank Howard Allen Realtors and his wife Brennie, encourage volunteerism and community involvement among their agents and staff. Additionally, each year Frank Howard Allen contributes thousands of dollars in support of a diversity of community events benefitting several charities throughout Marin County. | |
| Excellence in Innovation | Michael Scippa, Advocacy Director - Marin Institute's "Free the Bowl" Video Contest The Internet-based campaign, ‘Free the Bowl Video Contest’ inspired youth to create their own ads to counter Super Bowl beer ads and to send a message to alcohol producers that targeting youth or vulnerable populations is unacceptable. The contest created a compelling new model of youth advocacy that will help change the social norm of underage drinking and reduce alcohol-related harm. | |
| Youth Volunteers of the Year | Leah Guliasi, Terra Linda High School - Leah has been a member of the Interact Club for four years having served as treasurer, secretary and president. In addition, Leah has volunteered in Mexico and Nicaragua and from that experience, she created a tutoring program at her former elementary school. Her local service includes the Marin Organizing Committee and the Marin County Youth Court.
Luigi Mendoza, Novato High School - Having had the experience of being homeless, Luigi has become very passionate about helping others in similar situations. He volunteers his time to help run a program that buys clothing and other essentials for families in domestic abuse shelters. Luigi is also a tutor/mentor and has helped to develop a new lunchtime tutoring program at Novato High School. Luigi is a leader, advocate and one of the best mentors on campus. Sergey Nikeyenkov, San Rafael High School - Wrapped in grief due to the murder of his godmother and childhood abuse, Sergey created the Phoenix Project which joins victims of violence together Giving voice to the real cost of violence. The Phoenix Project educates gives young people a place to put down their pain and move forward. Sergey is tireless in his work and dedication and is an inspiration to the community in his passionate pursuit of peace. Tyler Willis, Marin Catholic High School - Tyler knows firsthand what poverty is. It is from this lived experience that he created the Food For Thought program which provides free food for families in need. Tyler represents hope and change and has taken the pain and struggle from his own life and turned it into an innovative program to help others with a basic need. Taylor Crouch, Sir Francis Drake High School - Taylor has been a volunteer for the San Francisco Theological Seminary for four years. Last year he was chairman of an event to benefit the international incoming students, which provided donations of furniture, household and kitchen items. Additionally, Taylor is president of the Drake Save Darfur Club and recently co-chaired Drake’s annual blood drive. Taylor’s commitment to local and global social justice issues is inspiring. |
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| 2009 Heart of Marin Award Winners |  |
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| Past Donor Receipents |
