News release
The Santa Clarita Valley Man & Woman of the Year Committee invites all local nonprofit organizations to nominate one man and one woman from the ranks of their dedicated volunteers to be considered as the community’s Man or Woman of the Year for 2026, according to a news release from the committee.
Selected honorees, one man and one woman, will be announced at the annual gala dinner event on Friday, May 1, at the Grand Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency Valencia.
The 2025 Man of the Year, Josh Rivas, and 2025 Woman of the Year, Jackie Hartmann, are excited to begin planning the next SCV Man & Woman of the Year Gala, an annual process – one that has been celebrated since 1964, the release said.
“This has truly been a joy and an honor that we don’t take lightly,” Rivas said in the release. “It has been an exciting year for Jackie and me. We have been honored throughout the year, and we are excited to share the experience with two new awardees for 2026. From the paparazzi party to the gala, to riding in a featured car in the Fourth of July Parade, and so much more, we have been privileged to represent volunteerism in our wonderful community.”
Nonprofit organizations can nominate their selected volunteers by checking all the details on the organization’s website, www.scvmanwomanoftheyear.org. The deadline for applications is 5 p.m. Jan. 30.
The Man & Woman of the Year process includes the recognition of all the nonprofit organizations that participate, and the highlighting of the “winning” organizations throughout the year.
“Santa Clarita is a unique place where life revolves around our charitable nonprofit organizations,” Hartmann said in the release. “The Man & Woman of the Year tradition represents the community pride and support which truly makes our valley special.”
“Santa Clarita Valley Man & Woman of the Year is the most prestigious volunteer award granted in our valley,” Gloria Mercado-Fortine, president of the organization and the 2018 Woman of the Year 2018, said in the release. “It celebrates volunteerism in a way that exemplifies our community’s love of service. The event is supported by city, county and national levels of leadership, and businesses and individuals have outstanding opportunities for sponsorship and advertising. All those interested in attending the event and supporting the award committee, also a 501(c)(3) organization, are invited to visit the website.”
