Nomination forms have gone out by e-mail and regular mail to dozens of local community organizations asking non-profit groups to nominate their outstanding volunteers to be honored at the annual Women in Service brunch hosted by Zonta Club of the Santa Clarita Valley. Completed nominations are due by Jan. 16, and the winner of the Carmen Sarro Community Service Award will be presented at the annual Zonta Women in Service Celebration on April 11. All nominees will be guests of Zonta at the brunch and will be recognized, along with their nominating organization, before the final winner is announced.

The “Carmen Sarro Award for Improving the Status of Women Through Community Service” honors longtime Zonta member Carmen Sarro, who died in 2003.

During her life, Sarro was honored for her dedication to Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital volunteer activities, to the Canyon Theatre Guild, to the Boys and Girls Club and to the City of Santa Clarita.  In 1985, Sarro was selected as “Woman of the Year.”   Sarro was a member of the local Zonta Club for more than 25 years.  During that time, she served as president two times, led the area clubs as director, and served the district as secretary.

Carmen Sarro

“This will be the 31st year that Zonta has given a community service award, and since 2004 it has been designated as the Carmen Sarro Award, to remember her for much more than her service to Zonta.” says Jo Ann Rodriguez, chair of Zonta’s Women in Service Committee.  “We wanted to honor Carmen in a way that recognizes the scope of her service to the entire community.  Through the years, she became an icon for the kind of service that we Zontians seek to emulate as a part of our mission.”

The Women in Service Celebration allows community organizations to recognize women throughout the Santa Clarita Valley who, through their leadership, have made a difference in the community, especially in improving the lives of women.  Each participating organization nominates a member who is honored for her contribution by Zonta.  From the nominations, one person will be selected for the Carmen Sarro Award.

The celebration event will be a brunch on Saturday, April 11, at Robinson Ranch. Nomination forms are available to community organizations online at www.scvzonta.org, or by calling the Zonta message line at (661) 252-9351. Completed nominations are due by Jan. 16 and individual guest reservations must be paid by April 1 in order to qualify for the $45 per person early bird rate for those who wish to attend to support a nominee. After that date, tickets will be $50 each. Organizations can also order a table for 8 guests for $375, which insures that all members of that organization will sit together, and also includes an add in the event program.

Zonta International is dedicated to improving the legal, political, educational, health and professional status of women worldwide.  Locally, the club is involved in and supports many community service organizations, both financially and through hands-on volunteer efforts.  Service projects include the Girls Robotics program in cooperation with the Boys & Girls Club of SCV, Virginia Wrage Memorial grants to mature women changing occupations or entering a new career following a life-altering event, free LifeForward workshops helping local women with life and career skills, a Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Program and community grants to local non-profits which share Zonta’s mission of improving the lives of women.