KAN’s 4th Annual Nonprofit Leadership Awards is scheduled for Wednesday, June 3rd, 2026, at 11:00 AM at the Woman’s Club of Bakersfield, 2030 18th St. The purpose of the Nonprofit Leadership Awards is to recognize distinguished Kern County residents who have made significant contributions to the nonprofit sector in the region.

To purchase tickets or a table (CLICK HERE).

To become a sponsor (CLICK HERE).

Nomination Information

To help us recognize remarkable individuals, KAN invites you to make a nomination by using the online form (CLICK HERE).

Awards categories include:

• Nonprofit Professional of the Year (25-26) – It takes passion, drive and intellect to craft true transformation for people served by the non-profit community. This award honors the leader who has best used those tools to make a dramatic impact in the lives of their non-profit clients and, through service, improved the communities of Kern County.
• Board Member of the Year – This honor goes to the non-profit board member whose commitment, engagement and stewardship has helped shape growth, improvement, and accountability at a Kern County Non-Profit. By providing financial support, oversight, guidance, and encouragement this leader has helped staff and the non-profit exceed its plans and expectations.
• Rising Star Award – Non-profit staff and young leaders are on the frontlines of our efforts to impact community problems, overcome social barriers to success and improve people’s lives. This award honors an emerging star in the nonprofit world who made a powerful impact this year and who we are excited to see grow and develop in the coming years.
• Lifetime Achievement Award – This category is designed to honor the legends of Kern County’s non-profit community. Their decades of commitment and effort have built a lasting legacy for the organizations they serve, created a foundation of structure and knowledge all nonprofits can benefit from, and served as the measure of attainment that new generations should aspire to.
• Unsung Hero – These quiet champions transform services from routine to exceptional because they get things done, serve with heart and don’t waste time asking for recognition. They’re an example of how to truly excel and an inspiration for those around them. This award exists to create a space where these humble leaders get the recognition they deserve.
• Youth Award (High School) – The next generation of non-profit leaders and innovators are already giving of their time and individual passion as they work toward their high school graduation. This award will recognize one of these young people for the work they do on behalf of causes they care for.
• Nonprofit Contributor/Partner – Non-Profits don’t succeed without the support of community supporters who give of themselves and their resources to empower the transformative work our organizations do each day. This awards a community contributor and partner who has a heart for making sure nonprofits have what they need to succeed.

Give Big Kern 2026

GBK 2026 will take place on May 5, 2026!

Give Big Kern has raised over millions of dollars from thousands of donors for hundreds of local nonprofit organizations. Every year since 2016, Kern Community Foundation has hosted GBK to help local nonprofit organizations raise money and volunteer hours. GBK is a month-long event of community engagement in giving and volunteering that leads up to the first Tuesday in May. GBK is part of Kern Community Foundation’s Nonprofit Strengthening strategic initiative. The initiative increases visibility, builds capacity, and improves sustainability for local nonprofits. The effort shines a light on hard-working local nonprofits, empowering them to advance their marketing and development capabilities, and donor, board and volunteer engagement while encouraging networking and collaboration among nonprofit organizations across the sector. GBK would not have been possible without the support of our sponsors. Nonprofits participate in GBK at no cost. Marketing materials, event fees, online platform, and training are provided through our generous sponsors.

Interested in a sponsoring, please contact info@kernfoundation.org.

Other GBK 2026 Events
Press Conference – April 14, 2026
3rd Annual Give Big at the Park: Nonprofit Meet & Greet – April 18, 2026
Liberty Bell & Watch Party – May 5, 2026

Charmed & Chosen 2nd Annual Sneaker Ball Fundraiser

Charmed & Chosen Inc. invites you to our 2nd Annual Sneaker Ball Fundraiser! This is your chance to step out in style, rocking your best formal outfit paired with your favorite sneakers. It’s going to be a night full of fun, music, and great vibes, all while supporting an amazing cause. Whether you’re still in high school or just graduated, this event is perfect for you to hang out with friends, make memories, and give back. So, lace up your sneakers and come kick it with us! You won’t want to miss it.

2nd Annual Highland Music Gala

Join us for an unforgettable evening of music, dining, and giving back at the Annual Highland Music Gala !

Highland musicians have a special event invitation to march at Pearl Harbor on
December 7, 2025! We want to see Highland High School and Bakersfield,
California represented at this momentous occasion!

Purchase tickets online at: BMTSTARS.COM
Dinner is included in the price of a ticket ($85 + $5.41 processing fees) with an entree
choice of tri-tip, chicken, or pasta. There will be live entertainment, games, and amazing
silent auction opportunities. The lounge bar will be open for beer, wine, and cocktails.

Background: Highland High School opened in 1970 in northeast Bakersfield, surrounded by open fields and land used for grazing sheep. As the school is now in its 5th decade, Highland has realized tremendous growth in many areas of the performing arts. One unique element of the music program that sets them apart from others is their core group of students who play the bagpipes, a tradition that has carried on for decades. Known as the Highland Scots, students are recognized by their wearing of the kilts and
their eye-catching green, blue, and white. Their marching band is known as the Black Watch Brigade, a royal regiment of Scotland. Their field show this year is entitled “To Those About to Rock,” transforming classic tunes into a fun and energetic display. HHS also has a full orchestra, and a jazz band that plays at special events. For more information about this event or upcoming events, please contact: Sandra Caudel, Booster President 661-333-6088 Candace Garcia, Booster Vice President, 661-427-7321 Theresa Louie, Booster Secretary, 661-565-5077 Sarah Haggard, Gala Chairperson, 661-246-7227

Donation Letter

To whom it may concern,
On behalf of the Highland Music Boosters, I am reaching out to request your generous support for
our upcoming Highland Music Gala, an event dedicated to raising funds for an enriching and
educational experience for our talented young musicians. This event brings together music
enthusiasts, local businesses, and individuals who share a passion for nurturing the artistic growth of
our students.
Our fundraising goal for this year’s Highland Music Gala is $25,000. This amount is crucial to cover the
competition and festival fees, food for the kids during events, uniforms, garment bags, props, drill,
supplemental education tools and other costs that arise throughout the school year. Fundraising will
also help toward covering the cost of the December 7, 2025, trip to Pearl Harbor so that our students
may participate in the 84th commemorative ceremony. We are committed to ensuring that these young
individuals receive a comprehensive educational experience that is both enjoyable and enlightening.
We kindly ask for your support in the form of cash donations, silent auction items, giveaway items, or
corporate sponsorship for the Highland Music Gala. Your contribution will not only assist us in achieving
our fundraising goal but will also play a significant role in creating a lasting impact on the lives of these
dedicated students. Your generosity will be acknowledged during the event and in our promotional
materials. For your records, our organization is a 501c3 and our tax ID number is 77-0498308.
Attached, please find more information about the Highland Music Boosters, our mission, and the
details of the Highland Music Gala. If you require any additional information or have any questions,
please do not hesitate to contact us at scotshhsmusic@gamil.com or 661-246-7227.
Thank you for considering our request and for your dedication to supporting the arts and education.
We look forward to the possibility of partnering with you to make this year’s Highland Music Gala a
resounding success.
Sincerely,
Sarah Haggard, Gala Committee Chair
Highland High School Instrumental Music Booster Club
scotshhsmusic@gmail.com
661-246-7227
Enclosures: Information

SAVE THE DATE KAN 2024 Leadership Awards

Kern Alliance of Nonprofit’s 2024 Leadership Awards will take place on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, 11 am-1 pm at The Woman’s Club Bakersfield. Tickets will be on sale soon.

To purchase a table or tickets: (CLICK HERE)

JJ’s Legacy’s 8th Annual Grillin’ and Brewin’

We are thrilled to announce JJ’s Legacy 8th Annual Grillin’ and Brewin’ will take place November 9, 2023. This much anticipated fundraising event will have the same delicious, mouth-watering BBQ prepared by our local award-winning competition BBQ team, The Ridge Route Boys, Curtis Trigueiro, and PorkChop and Bubbas BBQ will join! New this year – popular local country music star Joe Peters will be our entertainment. The fundraiser benefits JJ’s Legacy Got the Dot High School Leadership Program and Club. This essential learning platform educates local students about the need and importance of registering to become an organ, eye, and tissue donor.

emPOWERment Dess Perkins Foundation hosts The Grateful Gala

On behalf of emPOWERment Dess Perkins Foundation, we are thrilled to extend an invitation to our much-anticipated annual “Grateful Gala.” As a non-profit organization located in Bakersfield, CA, our mission is to restore hope to the hopeless, disenfranchised, at-risk, and victims turned survivors. We are dedicated to empowering at-risk youth and sex/human trafficking victims, helping them overcome their past and build a positive and resilient future.

Date: September 15, 2023
Social Hour: 5:30 PM (no host)
Dinner: 6:15 PM
Location: Stockdale Country Club, 7001 Stockdale Hwy. Bakersfield, CA 93309

Sponsorship Packages are available.

With crime in our city and our school campuses progressing tremendously, Stay Focused Ministries is on the front line, bringing the community together to unite one another through various events. Stay Focused is hosting Blood In, Blood Out Live Drama Performance. It’s a true story of a man who was a former gang member and organized crime leader, who found himself full of hopelessness, gang violence, and drug addiction. The play showcases how the perspective of intervention and prevention takes place and how the gospel came and broke all those chains. This Free event will start with an outdoor car show by the Carnales Unidos Car Club, live performances from Christian Hip Hop band 12Th Tribe, and Christian Hip Hop artist Young Preach, and More. Guest speakers Blinky Rodriguez from Champion of Service, and Fabian Garcia from Homeboy Industries. Followed by the live drama inside the Fox Theather, doors open at 2:00 PM and the seats are based on a first come first serve basis. Join Stay Focused at the Fox Theather located at 2001 H. St, on Sunday, May 28, 2023, from 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM. We all hope the event will spur hope and encouragement in students and families across our community.

JOIN US ON SATURDAY, MAY 6TH AT THE BEAUTIFUL GARDINER RANCH FOR THE 2023 CASA DERBY PARTY BENEFITING COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES (CASA) OF KERN COUNY. THIS FUN FILLED EVENING INCLUDES A SAVORY DINNER, DANCING, EXCEPTIONAL MUST HAVE LIVE AND SILENT AUCTION ITEMS AND A SHOWING OF THE 2023 KENTUCKY DERBY RACES. SO LET’S GET READY TO PARTY TO AMPLIFY THE VOICES OF YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE! FOR SPONSORSHIPS, TICKETS OR TABLES, CALL CASA AT 631-2272 OR RESERVE ONLINE AT KERNCASA.ORG