KAN’s 3rd Annual Nonprofit Leadership Awards is scheduled for Wednesday, June 4th, 2025, 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 (24-25) – 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.

Safe Haven Kids League of California City is an organization dedicated to help families especially. the youth in our community. Over the last two years we have been able to help more than 1000 families in & out of our community & the community we serve. We are currently in the early stages of planning our “A Giving Resource Spectacular event” . This event is designed to help families in need with the Thanksgiving Holiday.

This event will include the following: Free food boxes to families in need, free produce, free canned goods, free turkeys or hams, free educational items, free cases of water, free giveaways to all that attend, art & crafts for the kids, Karaoke, hygiene kits. Food & beverage, recycling and more. Also Cal-City Starbucks will be there at our event helping & giving away free coffee & Hot chocolate to our community, we will also have 5 Starbucks stores & employees in this event helping give out food to families in need in our & surrounding community (Cap K) Community Action Partners of Kern, will be there with free food boxes & Produces free to all communities. We are looking to have 8 organizations join this event, to better serve our community.

(SHKLCC) is an organization dedicated to help families and especially youth in our community. Over the last year we have been able to help more than 800 families. We are currently in the early stages of planning our next event “A Day With Our Seniors Citizen of our community. This event will include the following: Parents and kids come out and enjoy a day of community & fun With our 50 & above Club, the kids and youth of our community will serve our seniors remembering where we come from though our seniors. We will have pictures for keepsakes of memories for the kids and families, we will be giving a lot of amazing items to our seniors for free. We are also asking the senior center bingo board to host BINGO for this event. We also will have Karaoke and a lot of fun for our 50 & above club. Starbucks of Cal-City will be there supporting & giving back to our seniors and community for free also the Boy & Girls scouts and many more organizations will be there supporting and helping with this event. Opportunity Drawing / Arts & Crafts / Food, Water & juice / blankets and a lot more.

Safe Haven Kids League of California City Presents “A Giving Resource Spectacular (Help Families With The Thanksgiving Holiday)

Safe Haven Kids League of California City is currently in the early stages of planning our A Giving Resources Speculator. This event is designed to help families in need with the Thanksgiving Holiday. This event will include the following: Free food boxes to families in need, Free Produce, free Turkeys or Hams, free Canned goods, free educational items, free giveaways to all that attend, art & crafts for the kids, Karaoke, hygiene kits. Food & beverage and more. Also Cal-City Starbucks will be there at our event helping & giving away free coffee & Hot chocolate to our community, we will also have 5 Starbucks stores & employees in this event helping give out food to families in need in our & surrounding community (CapK) Community Action Partners of Kern, will be there with free food boxes & Produces free to all communities. We are looking to have 8 organizations join this event, to better serve our community.

We are excited to announce our upcoming Backpack Drive & Block Party, hosted by Stay Focused Ministries and Fresco Mexican Grill & Meat Market, on July 29th, 2023.

The event will take place at. We will be distributing 1,000 backpacks to children in need, along with free tacos, live music, games, and more. It will be a day filled with fun, community engagement, and support for our future generation.

We invite you to join us at this vibrant community event and help make a difference in the lives of local children. By attending and spreading the word, you will contribute to empowering our community and ensuring that students have the necessary tools for a successful academic year.

“Safe Haven Kids of California City Presents Annual Back 2 School Backpack & Resupply Giveaway”

(SHKLCC) is an organization dedicated to help families and especially our youth in our community. Over the last year we have been able to help more than 800 families. We are currently in the early stages of planning our “Back2School Backpack Giveaway 2023 This amazing event for parents and kids to come out and enjoy a day of fun in the community. We will have an amazing sponsor for taking pictures for keepsakes of memories with the kids and families. We will be giving Backpacks to all the kids. Starbucks of Cal-City will be there supporting the community with free ice coffee and sweet tea for all, also Dolores Huerta Foundation youth will be there educating the community the importance of youth being involved and also be giving out free items to the community & many more organizations will be there. There will be a free raffle for all parents in attendance. You can win cool items for all / arts & crafts / food & water, juice / jumper house / free educational item pencil/ pens/ folders/ paper/ backpacks and a lot more for free to our community.
Last year we were able to give away over 200 + Backpacks to the kids and we are hoping to give even more this year.

(SHKLCC) has been doing amazing things here in our community. We started in a dirt field giving to our community with 10 to 15 people, now we have moved at our local recreation center and have over 150 to 200 people come out and support us. This year we would love to give even more. lt is becoming increasingly difficult for the organization to continue to provide their excellent services to our community. The reason behind this is due to the increasing costs and the current economic environment. That’s the reason why I’m contacting you. I feel strongly about the (SHKLCC). Your help to our organization will help us continuously help our community.

(SHKLCC) works very hard for the kids & families of our community.

Safe Haven Kids League of California City does not discriminate against race, gender, age, religion, or sexual orientation, as well as other categories.

(SHKLCC) board members do not take a salary, all donations are used for our programs and our events. Any donations will be extremely appreciated, and will make sure our community knows where this generous donation comes from.

(SHKLCC) is an organization dedicated to help families and especially youth in our community. Over the last year we have been able to help more than 800 families. We are currently in the early stages of planning our next event “A Day With Our Seniors Of Cal-City” This event will include the following: This amazing event is for parents and kids to come out and enjoy a day of community & fun With our seniors . We will have pictures for keepsakes of memories for the kids and families, we will be giving a lot of amazing items to our seniors for free. We will also have BINGO / Karaoke and a lot of free items for our seniors / Starbucks of Cal-City / Dolores Huerta Foundation or (Capk) Community Action Partnership of Kern Foundation. all will be there, supporting our seniors & our community. Opportunity Drawing / Arts & Crafts / Food, Water & juice / blankets and a lot more. (SHKLCC) has been doing amazing things here in our community. We started in a dirt field giving to our community with 10 to 15 people, now we have moved at our local recreation center and have over 150 to 200 people come out and support us. This year we would love to give even more. lt is becoming increasingly difficult for the organization to continue to provide their excellent services to our community. The reason behind this is due to the increasing costs and the current economic environment. That’s the reason why I’m contacting you. I feel strongly about the (SHKLCC). Your help to our organization will help us continuously help our community. 1, (SHKLCC) works very hard for the kids & families of our community. 2, Safe Haven Kids League of California City does not discriminate against race, gender, age, religion, or sexual orientation, as well as other categories. 3, (SHKLCC) board members do not take a salary, all donations are used for our events that we host. Any donations will be extremely appreciated, and will make sure our community knows where this generous donation comes from.

Reach for the Gold! Don’t miss your chance to become a volunteer at the 2023 Kern County Regional Basketball Competition!

Please note:
The minimum age to volunteer is 14 years old
Each person is required to have their own email address to register
All volunteer shifts are assigned on a first come, first serve basis

Reach out to Kellie at kpeterson@sosc.org for more information

The Bakersfield City School District, in collaboration with Stay Focused, is partnering with Dr. Martin Luther King Elementary School, MLK Initiative, St. John’s Church, ShePOWER, and Compassion Christian Center to present “The Celebration of a King and a Day of Service,” to honor and celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The event will feature student presentations from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary school, Performers, Community Resource Vendors, Guest Speakers, and many more. Music, prize giveaways, free food, and live performances will be available.