2021 Hometown Spirit Award Recipient

From Nominators:

Sarah Martin dedicates herself to shaping its growth as the best place to live, work, and play for all - both current residents and those yet to call Cary home.

Philanthropically, in the nearly 30 years she has called Cary home. Sarah has been one of the most prolific supporters of worthy causes and organizations in Cary and the greater Wake County. As with everything, Sarah jumps into action when called to service.

For nearly 15 years Sarah served on the Wake County PTA Council board with several leadership positions, including Past President, Leadership VP, Audit Chair, Nominating Chair, Advocacy Chair. In that role, Sarah’s major goal was developing school policies and build environments to support wellness at all schools. Sarah followed that up with over six years on the North Carolina PTA board of directors where she served as Treasurer, Federal Legislative Chair, and on the Advocacy Committee.

In addition to the PTA, Sarah was a member of and chaired Advocates for Health in Action (AHA) for nearly 11 years, an organization with 60+ partners across twelve Wake County municipalities that work to make the healthy choice the easy choice for citizens of Wake County.

Sarah’s longest volunteer position with the Town of Cary start in 2012 as a committee member and later chair of the Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources (PRCR) Advisor Committee, which provides citizen guidance to the department that oversees all the incredible parks, greenways, playing fields, and other cultural amenities that enrich the lives of all Cary citizens. She also served with the Festivals Committee to plan Cary's Spring Daze and Lazy Daze Festivals (2011 to present). Executed Lazy Daze grant program which awarded arts funding to area nonprofits (29 organizations in 2015). Coordinated Jerry Miller Artist Awards for Lazy Daze 2013 and 2014.

In 2018, Sarah was honored for her service with the Herb Young Award, which is given to a volunteer with overall outstanding service, leadership, and support for and of the staff and programs of the Town of Cary’s Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources (PRCR) Department.

The capstone to Sarah’s long volunteer career of community service to Cary began in 2018 and culminates this year as the Chair of the Cary150 Task Force where she leads a team of Cary residents to showcase the very best of Cary’s long history, dynamic present, and exciting future in celebrating the Town’s Sesquicentennial.

Personally, Sarah is one of the warmest, kindest residents Cary has ever known. She is quick to greet everyone with a smile and, even if she just met you. She treats you as if you’ve been neighbors for years. Her graciousness and hospitality make everyone feel welcome.

It is not just for all that she has done for Cary so far that we nominate Sarah Martin for the Hometown Spirit Award, but for everything that she will continue to do for Cary for years to come as a resident and leader.