Fernando Foundation Calls for Nominations for Valley’s Most Prestigious Volunteerism Award

Sherman Oaks, California – The Fernando Award Foundation has announced nominations are now open for the 2025 Fernando Award.

For more than six decades, the foundation has honored a San Fernando Valley resident’s lifetime of civic, philanthropic and volunteer work with what has come to be called the Academy Award of volunteerism.

“What sets the annual Fernando Award apart from other Valley awards programs is its unique history of recognizing lifetime achievement in community service,” said Fernando Award Foundation Nominations & Selection Committee Chair Lee Alpert. “Lifetime contribution is key to understanding the purpose of the Fernando Award. Since its inception in 1958, the Fernando Award is considered the highest recognition in the San Fernando Valley for community volunteerism. In any given year in the San Fernando Valley, there are many generous and committed people helping to make the Valley a better place. However, the Fernando Award is given to an individual not just for a year of service, however remarkable, or even ten years but rather for a lifetime of service.”

Nominations are now open from now until the deadline of July 28th at noon. Nomination applications and guidelines are available online at https://fernandoawards.org/award-nominations/ Nominations can only be accepted through the foundation website.

Those considering making a nomination, can also view the nomination form by going to the website www.fernandoawards.org and clicking on the menu bar at the top of the page marked “The Award” and scroll down to 2025 Award Applications.

The Fernando Nominations & Selection Committee is comprised of Alpert, Zedar Broadus, Mark Levinson, Christy Vega and Zev Ashkenazi.

“Each year, we look forward to recognizing nominees who are outstanding for their community involvement. A nominee should be making a very clear difference in the Valley through significant volunteer leadership with civic organizations, programs and/or critical social and community causes,” said Alpert. “The list is narrowed to five finalists and culminates with the selection of one distinguished individual at the annual gala in November.”

According to the foundation guidelines, the nominee should have a solid, consistent history of volunteerism in helping San Fernando Valley residents or be someone who has brought about positive social change.

Criteria that nominators should consider include:

- The nominee’s history of service to at least five (5) or more Valley non-profits or community organizations

- The nominee’s history of at least 20 years of volunteer service

- The nominee’s track record of holding leadership positions in various organizations and fulfilling different levels of volunteer responsibility

- The nominee’s history in contributing to or securing financial support for non-profit community organization

- The nominee’s achievements in recruiting volunteers for non-profit organizations

“Anyone can nominate a candidate and we very much encourage the Valley’s non-profit organizations to consider someone who has provided longtime leadership and support,” explained Alpert, 1999’s Fernando honoree. “Each year, community organizations and businesses nominate outstanding individuals. Nominees are then evaluated based on their volunteer engagement, length and number of years of volunteer service, volunteer leadership roles, fundraising success and volunteer mentorship. The confidential ballot process is managed by an outside CPA firm.”

Alpert said anyone with questions about the nomination process is welcome to contact him at LKA@alpertdrc.com. The foundation website address is www.fernandoawards.org.

Since Valley business and civic leaders established the award, which was created to spur community involvement, close to 700 Valley residents have been recognized as nominees and more than 60 Valley community and business leaders have been named Fernando recipients. The names of the award recipients are engraved on a Fernando monument at Van Nuys Civic Center as well as on a marble obelisk at Warner Center Park.00:00

Five finalists will be announced at a special cocktail reception to honor the nominees and finalists. The 67th annual Fernando Foundation gala reception and dinner will be held at Skirball Cultural Center on Friday, November 7th.

Besides recognizing a noteworthy community volunteer each year, the Fernando Award organization also presents scholarships to students who have been role models for volunteerism in their schools, inspiring a new generation of philanthropy.

The 2025 Fernando board members include Chair Vahid Khorsand, Vice Chair Diana Sanchez, Secretary Susan Du Brin, Treasurers Bruce Miller and Marco Santana, Sarah Horvet, Susana Gomez, Albert Hernandez, David Honda, Marian Jocz, Don Larson, Mark Levinson, Jane Skeeter and Mel Wilson.

For more information about the Fernando Award Foundation, visit www.fernandoawards.org