Seven people who represent the “vibrant spirit of volunteerism” through the Santa Ynez and Los Alamos valleys were celebrated as community champions during a Sunday gathering.
Approximately 160 people gathered Sunday afternoon at Rancho Carmina for the Santa Ynez Valley Foundation’s Champions of the Valley event. It marked the 30th time the foundation has celebrated the community’s top volunteers.
“What all these honorees share is a deep, genuine commitment to the community and the people around them,” said Esther Jacobsen Bates, the foundation’s executive director. “They don’t seek recognition or the spotlight. They serve from the heart, and in giving of themselves they found joy, connection and a sense of purpose.”
After receiving nominations from community members, winners were chosen by a selection committee made up of past honorees and the foundation’s board.
Becky Barieau received the Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing her decades of helping a broad segment of the community, including spearheading the Vino de Sueños. The annual dinner and auction benefit Santa Ynez Valley People Helping People’s support services for farm and vineyard workers.
“As one letter of nomination put it, she just gets things done,” Jacobsen Bates said of Barieau.
As part of the recognition, the foundation presented $1,000 checks for recipients to donate to the nonprofit organization of their choice, with Barieau picking People Helping People to receive her grant.
The foundation also named four recipients of the Champion Award: Doug Riedy, Laura Beas-Diaz, Mike Brady and Terry Delaney.
Riedy was dubbed a fundraising powerhouse in the valley for his effort to secure raffle prizes and sell tickets.
“Doug gives freely of time, talent and heart, and in doing so he makes the community a better place for all,” said Chris Urquidez, foundation board president.
What began as his pandemic beard led to Riedy serving as Santa Claus across the valley.
Riedy directed his $1,000 grant to NatureTrack.
Beas-Diaz’s volunteer efforts span various facets of the Los Alamos community, including helping senior citizens, children and residents in need.
“Laura is being celebrated for her unwavering dedication to the Los Alamos community, where kindness is her middle name,” presenter Michael Nicola, a foundation board member, said.
She divided her grant between the Los Alamos Public Library and the Olga Reed School PTSA.
Brady is a volunteer for People Helping People and other nonprofit organizations along with the Anna Brady Celebration of Life Scholarship in memory of his late daughter.
“He’s a quiet force, often working behind the scenes to support local causes and nonprofits,” Spencer Turnbull, a foundation board member, said about Brady’s volunteer efforts. “He lives by a simple philosophy — everyone receives help along the way, and everyone should give back in return.”
Brady selected People Helping People to receive the $1,000 grant.
Delaney launched Veggie Rescue to turn food waste into food security by harvesting remaining fresh produce from local fields.
The grassroots effort led to the delivery of more than 4 million pounds of fresh produce thanks to a partnership with local growers.
His $1,000 grant will be split among Santa Ynez Valley Community Outreach, the Solvang Senior Center and Veggie Rescue.
During the ceremony, Youth Champion Awards were given to Kacy Caplan, a senior at Santa Ynez Valley Union High School, and Adrian Garcia, who is studying electrical engineering at Cal Poly.
Since starting in 1991, the Santa Ynez Valley Foundation has awarded more than $7 million to support 300 nonprofit organizations in the Santa Ynez and Los Alamos valleys. Along with grants, the foundation awards scholarships, giving out more than $1 million to hundreds of recipients.
“I hope that you leave feeling as inspired and deeply grateful for the people who bring so much heart and soul to our community. I know I do,” Jacobsen Bates said at Sunday’s celebration.