The Volunteer Center established the Heart of Gold Award in 1995 to acknowledge chief executives who build volunteerism into their strategic business plans. Recipients are honored for recognizing the importance of corporate leadership in building healthy communities through volunteerism.
The Heart of Gold is awarded at an annual dinner.

Heart of Gold Award recipients have been:

• Murray D. Martin, Pitney Bowes, in 2009
• UBS, in 2008
• James H. Quigley, Deloitte, in 2007
• Anne M. Mulcahy, Xerox, in 2006
• Michael Friedman of Purdue Pharma L.P. in 2005
• Richard J. Harrington, The Thomson Corporation in 2004
• William G. Parrett, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, in 2003
• Denis J. Nayden, GE Capital, in 2002
• Michael J. Critelli, Pitney Bowes Inc., in 2001
• William J. Rowe, The Advocate and Greenwich Time in 2000
• Paul A. Allaire, Xerox Corporation, in 1999
• Joseph L. Dionne, The McGraw-Hill Companies, in 1998
• J. Michael Cook, Deloitte & Touche LLP, in 1997
• Gary C. Wendt, GE Capital, in 1996 and
• George B. Harvey, Pitney Bowes Inc., in 1995