The Pat on the Back Award is named to honor Pat Shoemaker and to recognize other individuals who have given extraordinary, but often unsung volunteer time in caring for the community. A “pink lady” volunteer for the Boulder Community Hospital for 28 years, Pat also produced monthly original craft displays for the hospital. Pat was the Boulder Community Hospital Outstanding Volunteer of the Year in 1983 and was honored as the Colorado Auxilian of the year in 1984. She was a homemaker and the mother of two daughters, Linda Shoemaker of Boulder and Judy Miller of Tucson, Arizona.

Potential nominees should embody Pat’s dedication and caring. A $1,000 award will be presented to the honoree to be directed to the nonprofit of his or her choice.

The 2003 Pat on the Back Honoree: Carol Carminati.
Carol Carminati doesn’t think what she does is significant, saying she only does what is necessary, what anyone would do. Obviously New Horizons Cooperative Preschool disagrees. As the 2003 recipient of the Pat on the Back Award, what Carol gives is clearly significant.

She began volunteering at New Horizons in 1994 when her eldest child began school there and she continues to help even though her youngest graduated from New Horizons four years ago. Carol describes New Horizons as, "a special place you just don’t want to leave."

According to Deb Shioshita, another parent volunteer, in addition to serving as Membership Coordinator, Secretary of the Board of Directors, and Coordinator of Registration and Health Forms, Carol has often given in a quiet, behind the scenes manner. She has regularly transported children and parents to school functions, baked cupcakes for children’s birthdays, been acutely aware during the holidays of which children need special gifts, and filled in as a long -term sub without pay. One fall Carol and her children raised $700 for the school by raking people’s leaves and asking for a donation to New Horizons.

Carol also spends much time volunteering at University Hill Elementary School where her son attends. Last year she worked tirelessly around the region with other parents to defeat Amendment 31 and preserve bilingual education in Colorado. Carol says, " I just didn’t feel like the State had the right to take choices away from parents about how kids get educated. It would deny culture in a sense and that’s not good for kids’ confidence."

Carol’s Japanese mother raised four children after Carol’s father died, sometimes needing to work three jobs to make ends meet. Seeing many people in similar circumstances at New Horizons and Uni Hill, Carol volunteers now because she relates and because she can. She finds volunteer work more rewarding than paid work and hopes to keep living a simple life with her husband and two children so she can continue to make a positive difference.

"I’m really glad New Horizons is being recognized through this award, because they truly accept and celebrate diversity. The teachers are amazing and the school builds bridges between the Anglo and Latino communities, as well as other cultures and life circumstances people are in."