Bondy reacts to the news.

Jill Bondy was named the winner of the Carmen Sarro Community Service Award by the Zonta Club of Santa Clarita Valley on Saturday.

Bondy, immediate past president of Circle of Hope Inc., was presented the award by Christine Sexton, a Zonta member and daughter of the late Carmen Sarro.

Bondy was selected from a slate of 25 honorees nominated by Santa Clarita Valley nonprofits. All of the honorees were recognized Saturday during a sold-out luncheon at Robinson Ranch in Sand Canyon.

“I am extremely honored to be recognized by these fabulous women in Santa Clarita. It was something I never thought I would ever be in the same company,” Bondy said. “My volunteering is just something that I do. I never thought of it as something to be recognized for. All the women here so richly deserve this award, as much as I do.”

Jill Bondy, right, receives the Carmen Sarro Community Service Award from Sarro’s daughter, Christine Sexton. Photos: Michele E. Buttelman.

Nominated for recognition at Zonta’s 32nd Women in Service Celebration were: Chris Bratzel, LARC Ranch; Charlotte Briggs, Domestic Violence Center of SCV; Jill Broline, Assistance League of SCV; Mary Ann Colf, Samuel Dixon Family Health Centers; Rebecca Corona-Nickerson, American Association of University Women: Sharon Dawson, Help the Children; Rebecca DeLuca, JCI Santa Clarita; Sue Endress, Rotary Club; Amanda Etcheverry, Soroptimist International of SCV; Kim Goldman, SCV Youth Project; Rebecca Johnston, Soroptimist International of Greater SCV.

Marlee Lauffer emceed Saturday’s event.

Also: Terry Kanowsky, SCV Scholarship Foundation; Simona Kreitzman, Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital Auxiliary; Jessica Lee, Sheriff’s Youth Foundation; Mitzi Like, Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital Foundation; Delaney Marbach, Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clarita Valley; Patti Massman Neuwirth, Children of the Night; Brenda Neilson, Michael Hoefflin Foundation; Linda Pippin, SCV Senior Center; Michelle Roberts, Girl Scouts of Greater L.A.; Deborah Rocha, Straightening Reins; Diana Sevanian, American Cancer Society; Phillis Stacy-Brooks, Mothers Fighting for Others; and Doris Marie Zimmer, College of the Canyons Foundation.

Marlee Lauffer served as emcee of the celebration.

“The Zonta Club of Santa Clarita is so proud to be hosting this event for the 32nd year,” Lauffer said. “We are thankful to live in a community where so many dedicated women live, work, and give of their time in service to others. Special thanks go to all of the organizations that have nominated an honoree. We would also like to thank all of you for attending today to acknowledge these amazing women for making our community such a wonderful place to live.”

Jill Bondy, center, winner of the Carmen Sarro Community Service Award at the Zonta Club of SCV Women in Service Celebration, is presented with a certificate of recognition by members of the Santa Clarita City Council, Marsha McLean, Dante Acosta and Laurene Weste. Christine Sexton is at right.

The Women in Service Celebration attracted nearly 200 attendees and included lunch, prize drawings and a marketplace featuring vendors whose merchandise supports women’s causes.

Nominations for the Carmen Sarro Community Service Award were made by SCV nonprofits. Women were nominated who represented outstanding service to her organization, to the community as a whole, and to Zonta’s goal of improving the lives of women and girls.

The award is named for the late Carmen Sarro, a longtime Zonta member whose wide range of community service epitomized the well-rounded community volunteer.

Nancy Albrecht, Zonta President 2003-04, explained that the award was named for Sarro because of her “dedication and enthusiasm for service to this community.”

Singing the National Anthem at the Zonta Club of SCV Women in Service Celebration were The Boogie Woogie Beauties of Canyon High School: left to right, Skylar Cutchall, Elisha Soronio and Abby Heywood.

Sarro, who died in 2003, was the first employee of the city of Santa Clarita and was a member of the Zonta Club of SCV for more than 25 years.

During her lifetime, Sarro was honored for her service to Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital, the Canyon Theatre Guild, the Boys and Girls Club of SCV, the city of Santa Clarita and the Zonta Club of SCV.

She was named SCV Woman of the Year in 1985.

Jo Ann Rodriguez served as chairwoman of this year’s celebration.

“It is inspiring to see so many of you come out to honor and celebrate the women of the Santa Clarity valley who volunteer their time and energy in order to make this community the wonderful place we call home. For that we thank you,” Rodriguez said.

The program also included The Boogie Woogie Beauties of Canyon High School – Skylar Cutchall, Abby Heywood and Elisha Soronio – singing the national anthem.

The Zonta Club of SCV was chartered in 1974 and is dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls through service, advocacy and awareness. The Zonta Club supports several community service projects in the SCV to help women and girls including LifeForward workshops designed to help women acquire skills for economic independence; Robotics for Girls at the Boys & Girls Club of SCV and the Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Project to assist women in court proceedings related to incidents of domestic violence.

Zonta also annually awards scholarships to women and girls in the SCV including the Virginia Wrage Memorial Grants to women facing life changes in mid-life; Community Grant Program that assists SCV nonprofits; Young Women in Public Affairs Award to pre-collegiate women for leadership in public policy, government and volunteer organizations and the Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarships to women pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees in business related subjects.

For more information about the Zonta Club of SCV visit www.scvzonta.org.

The Zonta Club of Santa Clarita Valley hosted a record 25 nominees to its 32nd Women in Service Celebration held Saturday, April 9 at Robinson Ranch Clubhouse in Sand Canyon. First row (seated, left to right) Jill Bondy, Brenda Neilson, Jill Broline and Rebecca Corona-Nickerson; (first row standing, left to right) Mitzi Lake, Delaney Marbach, Simone Kreitzman, Terry Kanowsky and Deborah Rocha; (second row standing, left to right) Linda Pippin, Diana Sevanian, Doris Marie Zimmer, Charlotte Briggs and Sharon Dawson; and (back row, left to right) Kim Goldman, Phillis Stacey-Brooks, Amanda Etcheverry, Jessica Lee, Michelle Rocha and Mary Ann Colf. Not shown are Chris Bratzel, Rebecca DeLuca, Sue Endress, Rebecca Johnston and Patti Massman Neuwirth.