Bobbie Landers was honored for her many years of volunteer service to the Orinda community at the 2019 awards gala.
Life seems to continually move at a brisk pace, leaving little time for relaxation in between work and family obligations. But, some people in Orinda find a way to not only juggle work and family but volunteer positions as well.
A few of these individuals and groups will be recognized for their service to the community at an awards dinner March 22 at the Orinda Country Club.
“Many Orindans are very generous in volunteering their time for the good of our community. It’s wonderful to celebrate them and their contributions annually by recognizing an outstanding person or group who has served Orinda in a special way or over many years,” says Sue Severson, a founding member of The Orinda Community Foundation (OCF).
The Citizen of the Year Award, sponsored by the OCF, recognizes an outstanding volunteer or group in the Orinda community while the Mott Award honors an individual or group who has worked tirelessly to preserve or enhance the environment.
The Mott Award, sponsored by The Orinda Association, was named after local resident William Penn Mott, Jr. whose many achievements include being director of the East Bay Regional Park District, director of the California Park Service and head of the U.S. National Park Service. His last major project involved transitioning the Presidio in San Francisco into a national park.
“It seemed like the perfect time to join forces with OCF,” says Orinda Association President and OCF Board Member Carlos Baltodano. “Combining the OA’s Mott Environmental Award with the Citizen of the Year Award allows us to recognize individuals and groups who have contributed to the quality of life in Orinda in one gala event. It also allows the OA and OCF to combine our resources, which in our busy world is always a good thing.”
The winners of Citizen of the Year and William Penn Mott, Jr. Environmental Award will be announced in the March issue of The Orinda News. For more information on the awards ceremony, email OrindaFoundation@gmail.com. To purchase tickets, visit OrindaAssociation.org.
