Donate to the Karen Delaney Legacy of Service Fund

Volunteer Center Of Santa Cruz County

LXCL:<h3 class="lxcl-h3" dir="ltr" style="text-align: start;">At the Volunteer Center, we connect people for good because meaningful service is the heart of a strong, vibrant community and a healthy, happy life.</h3>Our vision is a community where giving is the way of life — where everyone’s gifts matter, kindness is celebrated, and together we build a stronger, healthier, more connected community where everyone thrives. Volunteer and Connect for good at www.scvolunteercenter.org!

ADVANCED TICKET SALES ARE CLOSED A small number of tickets are available at the door - doors open at 11am Wednesday, May 20. Celebrating the volunteers who make Santa Cruz County stronger through service. Voted Best Nonprofit Event in Santa Cruz CountyJoin Santa Cruz County civic leaders, community changemakers, nonprofits and business owners in honoring the volunteers who make our community great.&nbsp; The Be the Difference Awards is an annual community celebration honoring the top 50 volunteers, nonprofits, and businesses who show up for our neighbors &mdash; and inspire others to do the same. This is not a fundraising gala. It&rsquo;s a community thank-you.<br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(58, 58, 58); font-family: Oxygen, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;" id="isPasted" fr-original-style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(58, 58, 58); font-family: Oxygen, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">That&#39;s why people say it&#39;s &quot;the most inspiring event of the year!&quot; Tickets are $60 per person and include lunch. MORE INFORMATION: <a fr-original-style="" href="https://scvolunteercenter.org/be-the-difference-awards" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">About the event</a> <a fr-original-style="" href="https://scvolunteercenter.org/be-the-difference-awards/#honorees" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Meet this year&#39;s honorees</a> What&#39;s for lunch?<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Pan Seared Salmon with mango salsa (Gluten Free)</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Tropical papaya salad: mixed baby greens and arugula, mint, papaya, mango, kiwi, mango papaya vinaigrette (Gluten Free, Vegan)</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Wild rice (Gluten Free, Vegan)</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Seasonal berries and cream (Gluten Free)</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Carrot cake&nbsp;</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Vegan/Vegetarian options on request (stuffed mushroom with lentils, quinoa, vegan cheese, and chef&rsquo;s choice veggies), seasonal berries. <br style="box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: 0.25px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;" fr-original-style="box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: 0.25px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">If you would like to request a vegan lunch, or if you have specific dietary requirements or allergies, please email bethedifference@scvolunteercenter.org.&nbsp; </li></ul>Honorees: please RSVP by responding to your notification email, or by calling 831-427-5070. Thank you! Proudly sponsored by: <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/hxn9dbuhd/image/upload/v1775571013/wysiwyg/vgtjnrxlt6tfwqatg8ue.jpg" style="width: 600px; display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px 1px; user-select: none; max-width: 100%; position: relative; box-sizing: inherit;" fr-original-style="width: 600px; display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center;" fr-original-class="fr-draggable">

2026 Be the Difference Awards

Mentor &amp; friend. Community Leader and Champion for Good. Karen Delaney shaped a culture of service in Santa Cruz County for 44 years as the Volunteer Center&#39;s Executive Director.&nbsp; Your gift in her honor sustains the Volunteer Center and carries her work forward.

Mentor & friend. Community Leader and Champion for Good. Karen Delaney shaped a culture of service in Santa Cruz County for 44 years as the Volunteer Center's Executive Director. Your gift in her honor sustains the Volunteer Center and carries her work forward.

Volunteer Center Of Santa Cruz County

Volunteer Center Of Santa Cruz County

Past events

Past events

2026 Be the Difference Awards

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