Organizers are gearing up for the second biannual Celebration of Excellence for Sunshine Coast volunteers.
The event, designed to recognize the myriad contributions by local volunteers to a wealth of causes on the Coast, will take place April 14 at the Chatelech Theatre.
New this year will be an education category, allowing Coasters to give selfless contributors to learning their due recognition.
To me it's amazing how much work gets done here on the backs of volunteers, said committee member Charlene SanJenko. I don't think I've ever quite seen it before.
Nominations will be accepted until March 1. Organizers said they would also accept intent to nominate forms up to Feb. 15.
Because nominating someone can be a daunting task that might discourage some people, the committee has said it will be happy to assist in the process and ensure deserving volunteers get their credit.
Celebrating volunteerism itself requires volunteers. Organizers said they would welcome help reviewing the applications, a process that begins in March.
In 2010, the Celebration of Excellence put the spotlight on 19 Coasters who made valued contributions across areas including arts, environmental protection, community building, sports, health and safety.
Nods are also given to those working in the non-profit sector and youth under the age of 21 who work to make the Sunshine Coast a thriving community.
By the end of the evening, we're all feeling so good about our community and the stuff we're doing, SanJenko said with reference to 2010's sold out event.
This year the event, funded by ticket sales and category sponsors, will embrace a more social atmosphere, said committee member Anne Titcomb.
Desserts and wines will likely be provided by a host of caterers. The celebration is not intended to make money, with funds raised being used to ensure volunteers enjoy their day in the spotlight.
We just scrape through to hopefully make it pay and not make it too expensive for people to actually attend, Titcomb said.
The event is also an opportunity for small businesses on the Coast to showcase their services while helping to support a worthy cause.
While the committee members will be working to organize the event and ensure its success, they were adamant in their desire to have volunteers apart from themselves to review submissions.
Those wishing to lend their support to the celebration are welcomed to call the Volunteer Centre in Sechelt.
Nomination forms and criteria information are available on the Volunteer Centre's website, www.scvolunteer.com.
If required the Volunteer Centre will direct you to a mentor to guide you through the process. Please email [email protected] entering nomination form questions in the subject line or call Cathy at 604-885-1036.
