Pat Shoemaker Volunteer Award
Recognizing individuals who have given extraordinary volunteer time to care for our community
About the Pat Shoemaker Volunteer Award
Affectionately known as the “Pat-on-the-Back Award,” this annual honor celebrates the legacy of Patricia Ford Shoemaker (July 4, 1920 – October 18, 1998) and recognizes individuals who have given extraordinary, yet often unsung, volunteer time to care for our community.
Pat exemplified selfless service, volunteering for Boulder Community Hospital for 28 years. For 14 of those years, she created monthly original craft displays, made baby blankets, and designed animal-shaped covers to warm the toes of children with casts. In 1984, the Colorado Hospital Association gave Pat its “Colorado Auxilian of the Year” award, honoring her many hours of volunteer service. Her warmth and dedication inspired everyone around her.
Each year, the Pat Shoemaker Volunteer Award shines a light on these quiet heroes who embody Pat’s spirit of generosity and care. The recipient can direct a $1,000 award to a Boulder County nonprofit organization of their choice, continuing the cycle of giving that Pat cherished.
Award Information
The award is intended to honor a volunteer at a Boulder County nonprofit who demonstrates Pat’s commitment to the nonprofit sector including:
- A spirit of service through actions and time given to the community.
- An unsung hero who has made a significant contribution to the work of a nonprofit organization behind the scenes.
Nominations for the 2026 Pat Shoemaker Volunteer Award are closed.