Marin nonprofits and volunteers honored for service
The Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership has announced the honorees for its annual “Heart of Marin” awards.
The organization conferred the recognition in eight categories and distributed $35,000 in awards. It said the recipients were selected from more than 100 nominees.
Christine Comaford, a caregiver with the By the Bay Health hospice organization, was named volunteer of the year. Comaford said she has been a hospice volunteer for 26 years, including 16 with By the Bay Health, and has helped 64 people through the death process.
“I just want the world to know about how important hospice is,” said Comaford, 62, of Corte Madera. “So many people bring in hospice when it’s a little bit late.”
She recommended that families seek the service as soon as the patient receives a terminal diagnosis.
“They get this team of five people, for free, to come help them,” she said.
The excellence in leadership award went to Caroline Peattie of Fair Housing Advocates of Northern California. David Bernard of the San Geronimo Valley Community Center received the excellence in board leadership award. Social activists Donna Garske and Bettie Hodges received lifetime achievement awards.
The youth volunteer honorees were Tess Belger of Project Awareness and Special Sports; Hudson Blechman of 100+ Teens Who Care Bay Area; Candice Lucas of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy; Walt Novosardian of the Youth Leadership Institute and the Marin County Youth Commission; and Shea Sorcher of the Marin County Sheriff Search and Rescue team.
Woodlands Pet Food and Treats received the corporate community service award. The Marin Foster Care Association received the excellence in innovation award. The Marin Child Care Council received the achievement in nonprofit excellence award.
The Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership held the 32nd annual awards ceremony on Jan. 9 at the Marin Center Exhibit Hall in San Rafael. Other sponsors included BioMarin, Comerica Bank, Kaiser Permanente, the Marin Community Foundation, the Marin Independent Journal, Pacific Gas & Electric Co. and Redwood Credit Union.
With the exception of the corporate community service category, each category came with a $5,000 award. The five youth volunteers received $1,000 each.