Sonoma Valley Star
Volunteer Awards
We honor “Star Volunteers” of nonprofits who serve Sonoma Valley at our annual Star Volunteer Awards Ceremony.
“Volunteerism is at the heart of what makes Sonoma Valley such a wonderful place to live.”
—WHITENEY EVANS, EVENT FOUNDER
2026
Awards
Sonoma Valley Star Volunteer Awards
We are hosting the annual Star Volunteer Awards event celebrating volunteerism in the Valley.
Saturday March 21, 3:00-5:00 pm
Stone Hall, Vintage House
Sonoma
Thank you to Sonoma Community Center, Community Foundation Sonoma County and CarePartners for sponsoring this event!
The Star Volunteer Awards is a chance for non-profits that serve Sonoma Valley to recognize a volunteer who has made a significant contribution to their organization and the Valley in 2025. At the awards ceremony each Star Volunteer will receive a trophy provided by Catalyst Fund, as well as certificates from Supervisor Rebecca Hermosillo and Representative Mike Thompson.
Recipients
Art Escape — Monica Ramirez
Bon Marche Thrift Store — Heather English
Boys & Girls Clubs of Sonoma Valley — Matt Gunn
Cancer Support Sonoma — Lori Rukes
Care Partners Initiative — Brady Hoff
Ceres Community Project — Rayne Dessayer
Council on Aging — Michael and Christine Perez
Food For All / Comida para Todos — Carmen Vega
Friends In Sonoma Helping — Shirley Blazevich
Hanna Academy — Therese Nugent
Homeless Action Sonoma, Inc. — Michael Jon Bithorn
Impact100 Sonoma — Jody Leeds
Jack London Park Partners — Kate Johnston
Kid Scoop News — Denise Walsh
La Luz Center — Maria Guadalupe Lopez de Magana
Music in Place — George Petru
Pets Lifeline — Peter Gruber
Redwood Empire Food Bank — Enrique De Haro
Robert Ferguson Observatory — Joe La Sala
Sebastiani Theatre Foundation — Susan Bellach
Seeds of Learning — Edward Schmidt
Sonoma Art Walk — Gail Duffley
Sonoma Arts Live Theater Company — Christine Matthies
Sonoma Botanical Garden — Jacqueline Djanikian
Sonoma Community Center — Charles Mills
Sonoma Family Meal — Jenny Sheerin
Sonoma Garden Park — Priscilla Miles
Sonoma Immigrant Services — Carmela Mezquita
Sonoma League for Historic Preservation — Linda Jackson
Sonoma Mountain Preservation — Tracy Salcedo
Sonoma Overlook Trail Stewards — Jaqueline Steuer
Sonoma Plein Air Foundation — Nancy Kirwan
Sonoma Speaker Series — Jennifer and Steph Rochlin
Sonoma Valley Community Communications — Jason Ghiselin
Sonoma Valley Community Health Center — Magaly Marquez, Max Morales, and Ian Morales
Sonoma Valley Historical Society — Mary Smith
Sonoma Valley Hospital Foundation — Art Grandy
Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance — Robert MacPhee
Sonoma Valley Museum of Art — Avril Angevine
Sonoma Valley Rotary Foundation — Antoine Bigirimana
Sonoma/Petaluma State Historic Parks — Kathryn Foster
Soroptimist International of Sonoma Valley — Carol Whitson
Square Peg Foundation — Harper McCabe
Sugarloaf Ridge State Park — Bruce Hope
Sweetwater Spectrum — Koushalya Chittajallu
Transcendence Theatre Company — Gerry Sweeney
Vintage House — Pete Hansen
Catalyst Award
Sonoma Valley Catalyst Fund — Suzanne Brangham and Jack Lundgren
Sonoma Valley Catalyst Fund — Elena Alioto, Jude Sales, and Judith Walsh
To participate, your organization must be able to say yes to all of the following criteria
Organization is a 501(c)3 OR 501(c)6 registered non-profit
Organization is not political or religious
The nominated volunteer served Sonoma Valley and/or its residents in 2025. Sonoma Valley is the area between Schellville and Kenwood
Nominated volunteer was not compensated in any way for their service
If your organization qualifies, we encourage you to nominate a volunteer to be honored this year!
THE SUBMISSION WINDOW FOR THIS YEAR IS CLOSED.
The event is free and open to the public. Kindly RSVP by March 16 to reserve your seat.
You may RSVP online via Eventbrite or simply email Barbara Wells, Event Chair, at info@sonomavalleycatalystfund.org.
If you have any questions please contact Barbara Wells, Event Chair, at info@sonomavalleycatalystfund.org.