Seema Shah, executive director of the North Los Angeles County Volunteer Center (formerly HandsOn Santa Clarita) for the past seven years, is stepping down as ED to work with children to help them develop leadership and social entrepreneurship skills, the nonprofit organization announced Friday.

During her term as ED, Shah has served as the face and voice of the center in the greater Santa Clarita and Antelope Valleys with a vivacious spirit, tirelessly cheerleading for all things volunteerism.

Founded in 1998, the NLACVC hosts several volunteer-based events, including the 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance, Holiday 5K/10K Run through Magic Mountain, along with dozens of student, corporate and team volunteer efforts.

Since 2011, the organization has also served the community through the Court Referred Community Service program, which allows individuals with traffic citations and minor misdemeanor convictions to “pay their debt” through local community service, rather than paying statutory fines.

Over the last eight years, the Santa Clarita CRCS program has facilitated more than 750,000 hours of court-ordered community service, providing much-needed manpower to dozens of local non-profit, city and/or county agencies.

The CRCS program was expanded to include the Antelope Valley in 2018, which coincided with an official name change to the NLACVC, to reflect the program’s growth beyond the Santa Clarita Valley.

Shah was instrumental in the expansion project, including developing relationships with local AV non-profit agencies, negotiating with representatives from local government, County of Los Angeles, and the criminal courts.

With all key aspects of the AV CRCS program in place, Shah is now turning her attention to other pursuits.

“Seema has embodied the best of what the NLACVC stands for,” said Barbara Boliver, president of the NLACVC Board of Directors. “She has worked so hard to make sure the organization is in a great position to successfully continue following her departure. While she will be greatly missed, we are so happy that she is doing what she loves.”

The Board invites the community to join in celebrating Shah’s contributions with a “Bon Voyage” party at Wolf Creek Brewery (25108 Rye Canyon Loop, Santa Clarita 91355) on Tuesday, March 5, starting at 5 p.m.

For further information about the event, the organization and the Board’s search for a replacement, visit the NLACVC website at www.northlacountyvolunteercenter.org.