CommUnify has named the honorees for the 18th Annual Champions Dinner & Awards Ceremony, 6-8:30 p.m. Friday, June 7 at Hotel Corque, in the Craft House Restaurant Ballroom, 420 Alisal Road, Solvang.
The honorees are Geoff Green, the Vikings of Solvang, and Santa Maria’s Hardy Diagnostics.
There will be a Disco After-Party, 8:30-10 p.m., and complimentary roundtrip bus transportation from Santa Barbara to Solvang provided by Santa Barbara Airbus. Free onsite parking is also available.
The event recognizes and celebrates contributions of the individuals, businesses and organizations that are local “champions” and whose dedication to the community’s well-being has made Santa Barbara County a better place for all of its residents, CommUnify said.
Funds raised from the dinner will support the seven programs in CommUnify’s Family & Youth Services division. (CommUnify was formerly known as CAC/Community Action Commission.)
“We are so pleased with this year’s group of champions,” said Patricia Keelean, CommUnify CEO.
Geoff Green is a key figure in the local nonprofit landscape, generous with his time, advice and network, CommUnify said. He has been a leader in the nonprofit community for 25-plus years, both
in Santa Barbara County and beyond.
A former Yosemite National Park ranger/naturalist, Green has served as CEO of the Santa Barbara City College Foundation and the Fund for Santa Barbara, and is currently CEO of the California
Association of Nonprofits.
“More importantly, thousands of Santa Barbara County high school students can now achieve their dreams of obtaining a higher education degree because of his success in creating the SBCC Promise initiative, which subsequently inspired Allan Hancock to do the same,” CommUnify said.
“The efforts of The Vikings of Solvang have gone unrecognized for far too long,” CommUnify said. “We are happy to highlight the important financial support the Vikings have provided for the last 50 years to our county’s residents who have medically related needs, not to mention the wonderful events they host in the Santa Ynez Valley which help families of children who have disabilities.”
A 200-plus member local volunteer organization The Vikings of Solvang provides financial support to individuals with medically related needs.
The Vikings participate in activities supporting their community, and raise funds through fun, family-oriented events such as their annual Kids Christmas Party, car show and golf tournament. They also bring joy to children with disabilities at their annual Kids’ Christmas Party.
For more, visit https://www.vikingsofsolvang.org/.
The employees and leadership team of Santa Maria’s Hardy Diagnostics are being celebrated for donating both time and money —1% of their net profits each year — to local charities.
“Hardy Diagnostics was one of the unsung heroes during the early days of the Covid pandemic, ensuring that our county hospitals, clinics, and key medical personnel had the PPE materials they needed,” CommUnify said.
Hardy Diagnostics, founded by Jay Hardy and based in Santa Maria, is a 100% employee-owned company that produces and distributes products that aid in the detection of microorganisms to diagnose and prevent disease.
For more, visit https://hardydiagnostics.com/.
Along with the medallion award ceremony for the newest cohort of CommUnify Champions, the fundraiser event will include a live auction featuring six items, and a paddle raise. Emcee and auctioneer for the evening is Andrew Firestone.