Past winners of Man & Woman of the Year will select the winners for 2006.

Past winners of Man & Woman of the Year include some of Santa Clarita's most dedicated volunteers. The SCV Man and Woman of the Year award goes back more than 40 years. Over that time, many prominent Santa Clarita Valley community members have been honored, including Bill Bonelli, Jr. (1966), Reverend Samuel Dixon (1973), Connie Worden-Roberts (1975), Jo Anne Darcy (1984), George Pederson (1997), and Don and Cheri Fleming (2004).

They say that when it comes to selecting Santa Clarita's Man & Woman of the Year, it comes down to one thing: sweat.

Yes, the sweat-factor, along with the proverbial blood and tears, plays a big role in who will walk away with the often-coveted title. While writing a big check doesn't exclude you from the running (those organizations do need hearty cash infusions!), the past men and women who've been bestowed with the honorable award are looking for folks that have expended more than a little elbow grease to make their home town, and the nonprofit organizations at the heart of their community, better for the effort.

This year, 18 of the Valley's top volunteers are vying for the two license plate holders that will declare them unequivocally at the peak of their game to all passing motorists from here to eternity. And the community recognition at the unveiling on May 5 at the Hyatt won't hurt, either. After all, most of these folks have invested decades of their lives helping others.

The list of 10 men and eight women nominated this year read like a who's who of Santa Clarita Valley volunteer service (and include two Inside SCV Magazine publishers - congratulations, Wayne and Jeanna!). These candidates were nominated by SCV charities, service clubs and foundations. They are being honored for their contributions to the community through voluntary service.

The judging of this year's honorees will be done solely by past Men and Women of the Year. Co-chairs of this year's event are Gary Condie and Jeri Seratti-Goldman, the 2005 SCV Man and Woman of the Year. The candidates will be judged on volunteerism (time worked with a charity), length of service, the number of organizations supported and financial support.

The official 2006 Man and Woman of the Year will be named at the 39th Annual Awards Banquet to be held Friday, May 5, in the Grand Ballroom of the Hyatt Valencia Hotel. This event will pay tribute to the top volunteers in Santa Clarita Valley and past award recipients. It will include dinner, a multi-media presentation and the awards ceremony. Besides receiving a life-long honor, the 2006 Man and Woman of the Year will receive a cash contribution from the event to donate to the charity of their choice.


For more information or tickets to the event, contact Jeri Seratti-Goldman at 298-1220 or Gary Condie at 257-2900.

SCV Man & Woman of the Year Nominees for 2006 Include:

Name - (Nominated By)

Greg Amsler - (H.M. Newhall Memorial Health Foundation)
Tom Barnett - (Samuel Dixon Family Health Center)
Michael Berger - (College of the Canyons Foundation, Rotary Club)
Elijah Canty - (Samuel Dixon Family Health Center)
Rick Chambers - (Boys & Girls Club of SCV)
Wayne Crawford - (Carousel Ranch)
Robert Fischer - (Placerita Canyon Nature Center Associates)
Carl Goldman - (Child & Family Center, SCV Disaster Coalition)
Del Guyer - (Pleasantview Industries)
Greg Nutter - (SCV Committee on Aging)

Jeanna Crawford - (Carousel Ranch, Boys & Girls Club of SCV)
Diana Cusumano - (College of the Canyons Foundation)
Peggy Edwards - (Samuel Dixon Family Health Center)
Linda Hafizi - (Child & Family Center)
Cathie Kincheloe - (Zonta Club of SCV)
Pamela Koch - (Placerita Canyon Nature Center)
Colleen Lee - (Pleasantview Industries)
Pat Saletore - (Santa Clarita Organization for Planning [SCOPE])