Celebrate the volunteers who make Santa Cruz County great at the 2023 Be the Difference Awards

When the community is in need, who always answers the call?

Volunteers.

Celebrate the extraordinary volunteers who make Santa Cruz County a better place to live. The Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County is proud to announce the 2023 Be the Difference Awards, a special event that honors the individuals, groups, and businesses that transform our community through volunteerism. The awards luncheon will take place on Wednesday, May 24, from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm at the breathtaking Cocoanut Grove Ballroom, located in the Boardwalk.

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(Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County)

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(Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County)

Presented by the Santa Cruz Community Credit Union, the Be the Difference Awards recognize the top 50 volunteers in six categories of service: promoting social and economic justice, providing health and wellness, empowering youth and families, building a sustainable community, creating vibrant arts and cultural experiences, and rebuilding the community after disasters.

Karen Delaney, the Volunteer Center Executive Director, shares, “The gifts of time, dedication, and compassion given by this year’s honorees - to both the causes they care about and the community at large - is unmatched. Our community has been through so much - from Covid to CZU and most recently, devastating floods. These volunteers have supported the community through it all. We can’t wait to honor their service, and inspire others to volunteer as well.”

Come say thank you to these inspiring volunteers and show your support for their invaluable contributions. Tickets for the awards luncheon are available for $50 and can be purchased at https://scvolunteercenter.org/be-the-difference-awards.

2023 Be the Difference Honorees:

Individual Honorees

Osiris Arbsland
Mike Arenson
Miguel Aznar
Michele Bassi, Community Bridges
Dale Bieser, Seymour Marine Discovery Center
Jim Chambers, Habitat for Humanity Monterey Bay
Tom Wilson and Chris Walters, Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship
Brent Cooley
Jennalee Dahlen, Yoso Wellness Spa
Matt Farrell
Carol Fuller
Ian Gillies, Matter of Balance - Santa Cruz Volunteer Center
Marc Godoy, Pajaro Valley Loaves and Fishes
Monica Joy Hanly, Grey Bears
Nancy Jones, Homeless Garden Project
Peggy Gotthold & Lawrence Van Velzer, Santa Cruz Shakespeare
Jessica Lenth, Boys and Girls Club of Santa Cruz County
Martha Miller, Arts Council of Santa Cruz County
Mariana Moran Falcon, United Way of Santa Cruz County
Lisa Nielsen, University of California Santa Cruz
Robert Orrizzi, Downtown Streets Team
Rodrigo Plaza
Michael Saint, Ecology Action
Jackie Schooler and Donna Lopiano, Santa Cruz SPCA
Terre Schroeder, Housing Matters
Miriam Stombler
Joanne Weiger, Literacy Program (Volunteer Center)
Isaiah Williams, Hospice of Santa Cruz County
Mark Woodward, Native Santa Cruz

Business Honorees

1440 Multiversity
Areperia 831

Organization / Group Honorees

Alpha Theta Chapter of Omega Nu Watsonville
Boulder Creek Business Association
Boulder Creek Fire Department
Friends of Felton Library
Gardenia Amor Y Bienstar Para La Mujer
Hopes Closet
Pajaro Valley Loaves and Fishes
Quilters for Hospice
Rotary Club of Santa Cruz Sunrise
Soroptimist International Capitola-by-the-Sea
St Francis Catholic Kitchen
The Equine Healing Collaborative
Your Future is Our Busines

Don’t miss this chance to show your support for these outstanding volunteers. After all, it’s the collective effort of volunteers like these that make our community a happier, healthier place to live. Get your tickets here.

The Volunteer Center is grateful for the support of the Be the Difference Awards sponsors, who make this inspiring event possible:

Santa Cruz Community Credit Union
1440 Multiversity
Bay Federal Credit Union
Daniel & Dorothee Moncino
Lookout Santa Cruz
Good Times
Kaiser Permanente Santa Cruz
KION
Santa Cruz County Bank
Univeristy of California Santa Cruz
Friends Of the Rail & Trail
Karen Delaney
KindPeoples
Miller-Maxfield, Inc.
Roaring Camp Railroad
1st Capital Bank
Santa Cruz Warriors

ABOUT THE VOLUNTEER CENTER OF SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

The Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County (VCSCC) has been connecting individuals, organizations and businesses for good since 1967. Each year VCSCC engages with more than 500 community partners and more than 15,000 volunteers who connect meaningfully to help more than 9,000 residents in need. In addition to volunteer engagement and placement, VCSCC administers 19 programs to support community need, seniors, families, youth, disaster response, and government partnerships to make Santa Cruz County a happier, healthier place to live. For more information, visit scvolunteercenter.org or find us on Facebook and Instagram.