Be the Difference Awards
May 14, 2025 | The Boardwalk's Cocoanut Grove Ballroom, Santa Cruz, CA
"The most inspiring event of the year!"
The Be the Difference Awards celebrate the volunteers, organizations, and businesses that make Santa Cruz County stronger through exceptional service and dedication. Each year, this inspiring event brings together 400 community leaders, changemakers, and everyday heroes for an afternoon of recognition, connection, and a delicious lunch.
View this year's list of honorees!
Become a Sponsor & Support Volunteerism
Join us in celebrating the heart of our community! Sponsoring the Be the Difference Awards is an opportunity to elevate your organization’s commitment to volunteerism while gaining visibility among community leaders and changemakers. Sponsors receive prominent recognition, reserved event seating, and the chance to present an award on stage. Learn more and sign up!
Thank you to our Sponsors!
Bay Federal Credit Union
Karen Delaney, VCSC Executive Director
David Lyng Real Estate
UC Santa Cruz
Ready Steady Transportation Services
Awards are given in six categories:
- Social & Economic Justice
- Families & Youth
- Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability
- Health & Wellness
- Arts & Culture
- Building Community
Come celebrate our 2025! Five of these incredible community heroes will be featured in mini-movies at the awards. Join us to learn who!
Business Honorees:
- GOAT Santa Cruz
- Superior Foods
Group Honorees:
- Alpha Theta Chapter of Omega Nu Watsonville
- Caroline's Nonprofit Thrift Shop
- Community Action Board
- Friends of Hospice
- Friends of Watsonville Parks and Community
- Services
- Gardenia Amor Y Bienestar
- Habitat for Humanity Monterey Bay
- Harbor Cares Club
- Hopes Closet Santa Cruz
- KSQD/Natural Bridges Media
- Literacy Program
- Santa Cruz Children's Museum of Discovery
- Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter Foundation
- The O'Neill Sea Odyssey
Individual Honorees
- Cheryl Anderson, Guide Dogs for the Blind
- Amy Bowman, Homeless Garden Project
- Susan Cabrera, St Vincent de Paul, Volunteer Center
- Rob Darrow, Santa Cruz Pride, MAH
- Mark De La Vega, Restorative Justice
- Kay Denike, NAMI Santa Cruz County
- Jennifer Fenton, The Equine Healing Collaborative
- John Fitzgibbon, Second Harvest Food Bank
- Brenda Guzman, CASA
- Valerie Hayes, Hospice of Santa Cruz County
- Todd Hoffman, Scotts Valley High School
- Jeanne Howard, Santa Cruz Gives
Individual Honorees
- Christina Kuo, Monarch Community School
- Tom Ellison & Larry Friedman, The Diversity Center, Santa Cruz Pride
- Fabian Leonor, Pajaro Valley Loaves and Fishes, Watsonville Community Volunteer
- Wendy McDonnel, ReStore Watsonville
- Michele McKee, CASA
- Leticia Medina-Kohrs, Walnut Avenue Women's and Family Shelter
- David & Jan Mintz, Multi-Agency & Community Volunteers
- John Mizell, Santa Cruz County Search & Rescue
- Joyce Olvera, Salud y Monarca
- Isabel Piccini, Serve
- Analupita Ramirez, Monarch Services
Individual Honorees
- Mary Ripma, Santa Cruz Library Commission, Santa Cruz Chapter of the American Association of University Women
- Giselle Serriteño, Palomo Salud y Monarca
- Min Ting, Superior Foods
- Sandra Wallace, For Kids Foundation Monterey Bay
- Kit Wheeler, Second Harvest Food Bank
- Rick Wright, Santa Cruz Shakespeare
The 2025 Judges
Miriam Anton
Executive Director
Pajaro Valley Arts
Spencer Arburn
Account Executive,
Group Sales
Santa Cruz Warriors
Audries Blake
Associate Director of Community Relations,
Scotts Valley Center, UCSC
Katie Denbo
Senior Director of Marketing & Employee Engagement,
1440 Multiversity
Katie Fairbairn
Chief Experience Officer
Santa Cruz Community Credit Union
Amy Ivey
Amy Ivey Consulting
Member, Board of Directors
Volunteer Center
Jada Milhouse, RN
Assistant Clinical Manager
Watsonville/Salinas Medical Offices
Kaiser Permanente
Veronica Plascencia
Sales Manager
KION NewsChannel 46
Fox 35 / Telemundo 23
Kristine Ronzano
VP, Senior Lending Administrator
Santa Cruz County Bank
Patty Winters, PHR, AWI-CH
SVP, Chief Human
Resources Officer
Bay Federal Credit Union
