Countywide : Volunteer Center to Present Awards

An awards ceremony honoring 1,500 individuals and companies will cap National Volunteer Week, which begins next Monday, for the Volunteer Center of Greater Orange County.

The volunteers and corporate sponsors will be honored for their contributions to various causes. Because of the large number of honorees, the volunteer center will hold the awards over two days, May 5 and 6.

The Spirit of Volunteerism awards program will begin May 5 at 12:30 p.m. at the Irvine Barclay Theatre, where about 500 senior volunteers will be recognized for their contributions. At 7 p.m., 300 grass-roots volunteers will be honored.

On May 6 at 6:30 p.m., about 700 volunteers from the corporate sector will be honored by the volunteer center. Entertainment will be provided on both days by singing groups, the Young Americans and the Californians.

This year, the center will introduce a multi-generational award to honor families who pass down the tradition of volunteerism from parent to child.

The volunteer center works with more than 40 programs that help nonprofit agencies in the county.

“Money alone won’t solve the county’s (social) problems,” said Linda Kjelberg, a spokeswoman for the Santa Ana-based center. “We want to recognize people who see volunteerism as a way of life. This is our way of thanking them.”

The group will also stage its eighth annual fund-raiser, “A Toast From the Heart” on April 30 at 6 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Irvine. The fund-raiser will feature gourmet food, wine tasting and a wine auction to benefit the volunteer center.

For ticket information on events during National Volunteer Week, call (714) 953-5757.