Barbara Matas Volunteer of the Year Award
Recipient to be announced at the Elected Women's Luncheon in March 2026.
Barbara Matas was a founding member of Marin Women's PAC and to commemorate her memory, we will recognize one (1) individual annually that exemplifies the qualities that make our community stronger.
Barbara passed away in July 2025. Barbara had warmth, unwavering support, sense of humor and exceptional organizational skills that was a cornerstone of our success. Barbara’s quiet confidence and calm demeanor in challenging situations have consistently guided us through any difficulty. Her dedication and personal touch have left a lasting impact on everyone involved in MWPAC and our greater community.
We invite you to nominate someone in our Marin community who you believe may embody some of these qualities.
2026 will be our first year presenting this award.
Award Recipient Criteria
|
Selection Process
Nominating Committee Formation: Assemble a diverse committee including other volunteers, MWPAC members, community members. Assure no one with a conflict of interest is involved in the review.
-
Application Process: Application forms will be completed online here, with a deadline of February 27, 2026.
- Initial Review: The Nominating Committee will conduct an initial review to ensure all applications submitted meet basic eligibility requirements. This may involve verifying the completeness of each nomination and contacting the nominator(s) if needed.
- Scoring Criteria and Deliberation: The Nominating Committee develops criteria based on impact, leadership, alignment with MWPAC mission and values. Each committee member scores applications independently but decides collectively on the top candidate. The Committee may wish to interview the nominees.
-
Final Selection: Once deliberations are complete, the top candidate selected will be announced and notified by Monday, March 2, 2026. The candidate will be invited to attend the Luncheon on March 20th for free.
-
Announcement and Recognition: At Elected Women’s Luncheon on March 20, 2026, the winner will be honored, receive an award and invited to give a short acceptance speech.
For questions or concerns, please contact the Nominations Committee chair, Cathryn Hilliard at 415-847-9754 or cathrynhilliard@gmail.com.
2026 VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD - HEATHER MCPHAIL SRIDHARAN
| Heather was selected because she truly embodies the spirit of volunteer service. With more than 30 years of executive experience in business development and strategy in both the corporate and public sectors, Heather finds time to serve as Vice Chair of the Marin Women's Commission along with her service on nine other Boards and Commissions. Heather's hands-on volunteer service and thoughtful leadership as President of the Marin History Museum and the Kentfield-Greenbrae Historical Society are additional examples of her commitment. She consistently uses her collaborative approach and energy to turn good ideas into real improvements that benefit families, students and her community. Her nominator described Heather as; a “humble, brave and a true leader.” Heather was awarded an engraved Vera Wang crystal leaf vase along with a congressional proclamation of her award at the Elected Women's Luncheon on March 20, 2026. |
