In 1995 the Santa Ynez Valley Foundation Director, Rita Lunde, approached the publisher of The Santa Ynez Valley News, LaCinda Johnson, with the idea of a community-wide celebration of outstanding volunteers, and a new tradition began. Ms. Johnson offered the full support of the paper and was a key member of each year’s planning committee until she passed away. The subsequent owners of the Santa Ynez Valley News have proudly continued partnering with the Santa Ynez Valley Foundation in this worthwhile event each year – printing the Nomination Form in the paper, serving on the Selection Committee, and then providing a series of compelling human interest stories about the outstanding and selfless individuals selected to be honored as Volunteers of the Year.

Each year we honor a Man and Woman of the Year and a select group of volunteers recognized for outstanding work in particular focus areas. In 2013 we also began honoring “Youth in Service” to highlight outstanding volunteer efforts by teens in our community. Occasionally, the Selection Committee will present a Lifetime Achievement Award to a volunteer who has given to the community selflessly for decades. All the honorees are celebrated at a community gala event at the end of March. Each honoree receives the opportunity to direct a donation from the Santa Ynez Valley Foundation to his or her favorite non-profit organization. The “Youth in Service” honorees receive scholarship awards for college.