2027 Women Who Serve coming March 20, Bella Vida

More information coming soon

Celebrating Women Who Inspire Change

Zonta Club of Santa Clarita Valley Presents Women Who Serve

Christy Alben of Wish Educational Foundation named winner of the 2026 Service and Impact Award

On Saturday March 21, 2026, the Zonta Club of Santa Clarita Valley honored the spirit of volunteerism by recognizing twenty-three women nominated by local nonprofit organizations at its annual Women Who Serve event, held at the Bella Vida SCV Senior Center.

Each nonprofit selected one outstanding woman whose service has made a meaningful impact across the community. The event marked a celebrated return, bringing together supporters, families, and community leaders for a day dedicated to recognizing those who give selflessly to others.

This year, Christy Alben, vice chair of the WiSH Education Foundation, was named the recipient of the Zonta Service and Impact Award. The award recognizes an extraordinary woman whose compassion, leadership, and dedication create lasting change. Alben was honored for her volunteer service that inspires, leadership that uplifts, and impact that endures.

Event co-chairs Cathy Gundy and Jackie Howarth welcomed attendees and reflected on the significance of the day.

“Today we gather to honor something extraordinary: the power of women who choose to serve,” said Gundy. “These women give their time, talents, and hearts, often behind the scenes, to ensure others are supported and empowered.”

Zonta Club President Dr. Cherise Moore emphasized the broader impact of the nominees. “For four decades, Zonta has been lifting up and recognizing women whose service strengthens our community,” she said. “Santa Clarita is a vibrant and compassionate place because of the women who serve.”

A meaningful moment came as Christine Sexton was recognized following the announcement that the Carmen Sarro Award named would be retired and that the award would be renamed the Zonta Service and Impact Award. Sexton honored her mother’s legacy of decades-long volunteerism and her fearless commitment to family and community.

“Thank you for honoring my mom all these years,” Sexton shared. “She was determined to give her family a great life, driven by her passion for helping others. I am grateful to serve alongside this community.”

The Women Who Serve event continues a more than 40-year tradition of celebrating women whose dedication strengthens the fabric of the community. From education to advocacy, the honorees represent the very best of service and leadership and reflect the positive impact that these women who serve have throughout the Santa Clarita Valley.

Congratulations Christy!!

2026 Women Who Serve Honorees

2026 Women Who Serve photos

Since 1984, the Zonta Club of Santa Clarita Valley has proudly honored the extraordinary women whose volunteer service strengthens our community. Formerly known as “Women in Service,” this cherished annual tradition continues in 2026 under its refreshed name, “Women Who Serve,” celebrating the same powerful mission with renewed energy. While the name has changed, the spirit behind it remains the same: honoring exceptional women whose service shapes our community by elevating others. The Zonta Club of Santa Clarita Valley is proud to present “Women Who Serve” on March 21, 2026, at the Bella Vida Senior Center with doors opening at 11:00 A.M.

The “Women Who Serve” celebration recognizes and honors dynamic, multi-generational women volunteers from non-profit organizations throughout the Santa Clarita Valley who generously give their time, talents, and hearts to improve the community. Their service not only uplifts individuals, it strengthens the backbone of our community, and lays the foundation for future generations. Non-profit organizations serving the Santa Clarita Valley are encouraged to nominate one woman volunteer whose service deserves to be recognized, celebrated and applauded.

Local, eligible, non-profits may nominate one woman to be honored for her service and impact in her community. Both the nominee and her non-profit organization are formally recognized at the “Women Who Serve” celebration for their dedication and service to the Santa Clarita Valley. While all nominees are recognized and celebrated, one outstanding woman is selected to receive the “Zonta Club of Santa Clarita Valley Service and Impact Award,” formally known as “The Carmen Sarro Award,” in recognition of her dedication to service, inspiring change, and making a difference in the community.

Meet the 2026 Women Who Serve Honorees

Honoring a Legacy, Introducing a new Chapter

The Carmen Sarro Award has long honored the legacy of a remarkable Zonta leader whose spirit of service helped shape our community. As our signature event evolves and is newly rebranded as Women Who Serve, we are retiring the Carmen Sarro Award with great respect and gratitude. We will carry forward its heart and purpose into a bold new chapter and introduce our new highest honor that reflects the expanded focus of this event.

The Zonta Club of Santa Clarita Valley Service and Impact Award shines a spotlight on an extraordinary woman from a nonprofit organization in the Santa Clarita Valley whose compassion, leadership, generosity of spirit, and selfless dedication are creating powerful, meaningful and lasting change. The Service and Impact Award celebrates a woman whose actions are directly transforming lives, advancing opportunities, and strengthening our community in profound and measurable ways. She gives her time, talent and treasures to make an impact. This is an award for service that inspires, leadership that uplifts, and impact that endures. While the name of the award changes, the spirit behind it remains the same: honoring exceptional women whose service shapes our community by elevating others.

What Nominees Have Said:

"I would like to thank you for creating such a beautiful and meaningful "Women in Service Celebration"
"Under such difficult circumstances it was a perfect celebration"
"Thank you for all you do for our community and around the world"
“We are the patchwork of a quilt that holds the community together.”
"It was such an honor to be nominated and then recognized by your organization. Bravo!"
I truly appreciated hearing about all the great ways people and organizations in our valley have developed to address the needs of our community and continue to actively support.
I look back and truly see this award as the most meaning way to honor volunteers in SCV.