CONGRATULATIONS

to all the recipientsof the 22nd Annual

Heart of Marin Awards

On January 8, 2015, 850 members of our community packed the

Marin Center Exhibit Hall to honor nonprofits, volunteers and

businesses. We appreciate the passion and accomplishments of

all the nominees and the support of our sponsors. We invite you

to celebrate the extraordinary recipients of each award with us.

MEDIA SPONSOR

AWARD SPONSORS

PRESENTING SPONSOR

Ethel Seiderman is nationally recognized

for her creative approaches to childcare and

families, establishing cooperative nursery

schools tied to parent education programs.

She created innovative programs which became

national models for meeting a broad range of

needs. In 1973 Ethel founded the Fairfax-San

Anselmo Children’s Center and was the director

until 1999. The Parent Services Project was

founded in 1980 as Ethel realized that, in order

to promote the well-being of children, we must

promote and incorporate their families. Ethel

has been a champion for justice, equity and

respect for all children and families regardless

of economic standing or ethnic background. She understands that through

honoring and sustaining each other we can truly build a better future.

NEW THIS YEAR: LIFETIME ACHIEVMENT AWARD

Helen Rogers, Next Generation Scholars (NGS).

At 85, and with over 35 years’ teaching math,

Helen joined NGS as a volunteer. For six years she

has led both individual and group math tutoring

sessions year-round. 100% of Helen’s students have

completed their pre-college math requirements and

were accepted to highly selective colleges. Helen

also volunteers her time as a mentor for students

who are away at college helping them with college

math coursework selection, tutoring support, and

career guidance as well as training college students

interested in pursuing careers as math educators.

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR

Bob Rosenberg, Marin County School

Volunteers. Since joining the board five

years ago, Bob has produced numerous

improvements and implemented systemic

changes including data management,

increasing the budget, hiring a new executive,

and creating the Friends of Marin County

School Volunteers. In collaboration with Marin

School districts, Bob also participated in

numerous sessions to coordinate how they

could aid financially strapped districts using

volunteers. Bob sets the tone of optimism,

determination and perseverance, serving as

a role model for board and staff as someone

who “walks the talk.”

EXCELLENCE IN BOARD LEADERSHIP

EXCELLENCE IN LEADERSHIP

Cassandra Flipper, Bread & Roses.

Since 2000, and following founder Mimi

Farina, Cassandra has served as the executive

director. During her tenure the organization

increased annual shows from 400-600

and expanded services to children, youth

(particularly in juvenile halls) and veterans

(particularly younger veterans suffering from

PTSD and physical disabilities). Under her

leadership she has been able to restore the

budget to pre-recession levels. Bread & Roses

has brought hope, healing, and joy to

125 facilities around the Bay serving over

30,000 audience members.

Mary Kay Sweeney, Homeward Bound of Marin.

Homeward Bound is the primary provider of

shelter and residential programs for homeless

families and adults in Marin. Its Fresh Starts

Culinary Academy provides training to homeless

and under-employed adults. Students work in

either a cafeteria-style kitchen, catering for

clients, or in a fast-paced restaurant setting.

Their Celebrity Chef Events attract top chefs from

the Bay Area, cookbook authors, and television

celebrity chefs, elevating the conversation around

who is homeless in our community — shifting the

paradigm of what a homeless person looks like

and what they can do.

EXCELLENCE IN INNOVATION

Genworth, a leading financial security

company, supports efforts that enhance

the quality of life in the communities they

maintain offices. The San Rafael office has

126 employees that focus their charitable

giving and volunteer efforts around seniors,

basic needs and education for at-risk youth.

Genworth provides and supports access to

food, clothing and shelter through multiple

Marin nonprofits.

CORPORATE COMMUNITY SERVICE

Respecting our Elders is a small all-volunteer nonprofit distributing free,

fresh food to older adults in need, throughout Marin. They pick up over

$5 million of food annually, donated by stores. Food is then directly

distributed to lower-income senior complexes and open food days.

Recipients get good quality food for themselves and for those they care

for without having to qualify: they simply have to show up. All of

the volunteers are recruited from their recipient base and they feed

approximately 1,000-1,500 people every week by bringing food to locations

all over Marin.

Center for Domestic Peace’s mission is to mobilize individuals and

communities to transform our world so that domestic violence no longer

exists, creating greater safety, justice and equality. Since 1977, they have

responded to the needs of more than 171,000 women victimized by domestic

violence and their children, as well as more than 28,500 men who have

been violent. In 2011, they partnered with Huckleberry Youth Programs to

address community response to youth dating violence. Over the next three

years, working with partners, they will build a comprehensive spectrum of

prevention, intervention, treatment and community response strategies for

youth and young adults in Marin exposed to domestic violence.

ACHIEVEMENT IN NONPROFIT EXCELLENCE

YOUTH VOLUNTEERS OF THE YEAR

Marlon Alvarez, Novato High School

During Marlon’s 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th grades

at Hamilton School he helped with the weekly

family market every Wednesday at 6am, assisting

with the distribution of food to families in need.

This year he has taken on helping to coordinate

market logistics, assisting with organizing and

distributing morning snacks for all classes. During

the summer, with the support of local businesses,

Marlon collected and presented gift cards,

supplies, and 425 backpacks to students in need.

Rachel Rothken, San Domenico

Rachel volunteers at the Novato Adult Education

Center which offers coursework in completing

High School Diploma requirements and preparing

for the GED. Rachel’s passion for teaching all

levels of math was a gift to the classroom. Rachel

creates and uses her own curriculum, filled with

interactive packets and games that are effective

and fun for the students. Now a senior, Rachel

works two nights a week with the high school

diploma students who need credits in math and

algebra.

Laura Dickinson, St. Ignatius

Laura volunteers assisting ESL children with

their transition to school, tutoring students with

academic work and study skills, supporting

the Marin Food Bank and restoring creeks

and cleaning up shorelines. Having completed

hundreds of volunteer hours, Laura shares that

her most rewarding work involves the intellectual,

social, emotional and physical well-being of

children from economically disadvantaged and

homeless families.

YOUTH VOLUNTEERS OF THE YEAR

Harrison Jantze, Redwood High School

Harrison has been a member of the Marin

County Sheriff’s Department of Search and

Rescue Team since October 2013. Over the past

year, he has been involved in multiple searches,

volunteered for mutual aid and supported

Sheriff’s departments in other counties. Harrison

has helped rescue hikers in our state parks, and is

trained for the urban search and rescue team on

search strategies for victims of abduction.

Tyler Barbee, Tamalpais High School

In 2008, Tyler started leagues for Challenger

baseball and basketball, pairing special needs

youth with student athletes. Using his leadership

skills and business initiative, Tyler launched

Project Awareness and Special Sports (PAASS),

a nonprofit to further his dream of creating

connections for special needs youth. In the last

12 months he has created partnerships with

the San Rafael YMCA, Mill Valley Parks and

Recreation, and Tam Valley Parks and Recreation

to add additional recreational programs.

CVNL.ORG

Go to CVNL.ORG to learn more and get the latest information about our events and news. Call 415.479.5710 if you have questions or would like to speak with us directly. Please take note that we’ve moved. Our new address is: 65 Mitchell Blvd., Suite 101, San Rafael, CA 94903.

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