[KHTS] – Elizabeth Hopp, a 37-year resident of the Santa Clarita Valley, was honored Nov. 6 at the Zonta Club of SCV Tribute to Women 2015 hosted by the Zonta Club of Santa Clarita Valley.

Elizabeth Hopp, center, and her family, at the Zonta Club of SCV Tribute to Women 2015. Photo by Michele E. Buttelman.

The 31^st annual event, which previously had been a roast and then a tribute dinner, has been re-named Zonta Club of SCV Tribute to Women and will celebrate women’s accomplishments.

The Zonta Club of SCV Tribute to Women 2015 was also a fundraiser held to support the Zonta Club of SCV Foundation which funds a variety of programs to empower women and girls in the SCV.

City Councilwoman Laurene Weste. left, presents Elizabeth Hopp with a certificate of recognition at Zonta’s Tribute to Women 2015. Photo by Michele E. Buttelman.

Despite traffic woes caused by an accident on the I-5 freeway that found traffic spilling over onto SCV surface streets, more than 200 guests, many delayed, attended the Zonta Club of SCV Tribute to Women 2015” to honor Hopp.

Elizabeth Hopp

Hopp, executive vice president and chief banking officer of the Bank of Santa Clarita, is well known in the SCV for her work with numerous nonprofits including the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clarita Valley, Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital, Committee on Aging, Betty Ferguson Foundation, Santa Clarita Child & Family Center, SCV Chamber of Commerce, Michael Hoefflin Foundation for Children’s Cancer, Friendz, SCV Chamber of Commerce and many others.

Hopp began her career in banking in 1969 when she started as a teller at Bank of America. She moved to the SCV, with her two children Tony Watson and Matt Watson in 1978, shortly after marrying her husband Steve Hopp.

She began working in the SCV in 1982, first at Santa Clarita National Bank, followed by Valencia Bank, American Pacific State Bank and currently at the Bank of Santa Clarita.

Hopp said she was “immensely honored” but also “embarrassed” to be the Zonta Club of SCV Tribute to Women 2015 honoree.

“There are so many women that give so much to this community, that to be singled out just doesn’t feel right,” she said. “I am so pleased to be the Tribute honoree but I feel like standing up and saying, ‘No, no, no, you don’t know what she does, and you don’t know what she does, and what about her?’ There are so many that deserve this award.”