Hundreds of volunteers were celebrated and recognized at the 49th annual Spirit of Volunteerism Awards for their selfless dedication to giving back to the Orange County community, addressing education, housing, food insecurity and other social needs.
OneOC, an organization dedicated to uplifting and accelerating the success and reach of Orange County’s nonprofits, hosted the ceremony on Thursday, April 24, at the Grove of Anaheim, joined by hundreds of attendees gathered to salute the work of individuals, groups and companies whose volunteerism has directly impacted people in the county and beyond.
Honorees No Limits Learning Center takes the stage at the annual Spirit of Volunteerism awards at The Grove in Anaheim on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG) Jennifer Sirangelo of Points of Light gives the keynote speech at the annual Spirit of Volunteerism awards at The Grove in Anaheim on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG) Grace Williams, center, of Assistance League of Huntington Beach speaks to the attendees during a “meet someone you don’t don’t know” segment during the annual Spirit of Volunteerism awards at The Grove in Anaheim on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG) Students from Orange County School of the Arts performat the annual Spirit of Volunteerism awards at The Grove in Anaheim on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG) Jennifer Sirangelo of Points of Light gives the keynote speech at the annual Spirit of Volunteerism awards at The Grove in Anaheim on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG) Attendees to the annual Spirit of Volunteerism awards have their photo taken outside The Grove prior to the awards event in Anaheim on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG) YJ Oh, One OC board member and co-chair of the annual Spirit of Volunteerism awards speaks during the awards event at The Grove in Anaheim on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG) Honoree Lain Vaught, left, of HomeAid Orange County speaks at the annual Spirit of Volunteerism awards at The Grove in Anaheim on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG) Honoree Lain Vaught of HomeAid Orange County speaks at the annual Spirit of Volunteerism awards at The Grove in Anaheim on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG) YJ Oh, left, One OC board member and co-chair of the annual Spirit of Volunteerism awards poses for a photo with honorees Mila Rubin and Henry Nielson of Empower Education during the awards event at The Grove in Anaheim on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG) Hundreds attend the annual Spirit of Volunteerism awards at The Grove in Anaheim on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG) Students from Orange County School of the Arts performat the annual Spirit of Volunteerism awards at The Grove in Anaheim on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG) Attendees at the annual Spirit of Volunteerism awards listen to honoree Lain Vaught of HomeAid Orange County during an event at The Grove in Anaheim on Thursday, April 24, 2025 (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG) Tim Strauch, president & CEO at OneOC rallies the crowd as he enters the stage at the annual Spirit of Volunteerism awards at The Grove in Anaheim on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG) Show Caption1 of 14Honorees No Limits Learning Center takes the stage at the annual Spirit of Volunteerism awards at The Grove in Anaheim on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG) ExpandKeynote speaker Jennifer Sirangelo, CEO of the national Points of Light, spoke to challenges that have led to the decline of volunteering in America over the last few decades.
According to a recently published report by Points of Light, about one-third of nonprofits’ workforce is driven by volunteers, but 47% of organizations are struggling to recruit. In the U.S., 64% of nonprofits reported an increase in demand for services, while 29% of groups reported having less funding and staff.
“That means seniors aren’t getting visited,” Sirangelo said. “Young people don’t have tutors. Some of our shelters for both animals and people, and our food banks, they’re not able to do as much as they could if they were fully staffed with the volunteers they need.”
Nonprofits, governments and communities have important roles in reversing this trend, Sirangelo added.
“We know that people are struggling,” Sirangelo said. ” We already know young people are in a mental health crisis, and we know our communities are dealing with bigger challenges with fewer resources, and volunteers are needed more than ever. We know that throughout our society, there are issues of division and bridges that need to be built in our pluralistic society.”
Among those honored for showing up for communities in need were Henry Nielson and Mila Rubin, high school seniors who lead Empower Education, a nonprofit with the vision of improving educational opportunities for underserved youth.
Two years since its creation, Empower Education has raised more than $28,000 to build two classrooms in a rural village in Uganda, and hosted a student-led meal packing event to send more than 5,000 meals for children in the African country.
“But their mission doesn’t stop there. Empower Education’s work extends to communities in Mexico and Korea with initiatives focused on literacy, school retention, gender equality and youth empowerment,” YJ Oh, a member of the OneOC board of directors, said. “Their goal is to equip students with the tools and opportunities they need to succeed and to uplift entire communities in the process.”
Nielson said it was “super awesome” for their work and for Empower Education’s more than 100 volunteers to be recognized.
“I’m really excited for the future of this group as it continues to grow with each new meeting that we hold every Sunday … and all the great things that we’ll be able to accomplish working together as a team,” Nielson said.
The Illumination Foundation received the Innovation Impact Award for the group’s work providing housing and health care services for individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
“This award isn’t just about our organization, it’s really a tribute to the people who power it,” Pooja Bhalla, CEO of Illumination Foundation, said. “At Illumination, we believe innovation isn’t just about ideas, but it’s about courage, the courage to do things differently, the courage to listen deeply, act boldly and reimagine what’s possible. Today, the issues we face — mental health, homelessness, access to care — demand more than traditional solutions. They require collaboration, creativity and unwavering belief in the power of people.”
Throughout the event, dozens of volunteers and groups were flashed on the big screen, calling out their contributions. Some groups honored were featured with special presentations, including Homeaid Orange County, the Institute for Community Impact, No Limits Learning Center, the Passkeys Foundation and PNC Bank.
“Our volunteers are needed now more than ever,” Tim Strauch, president and CEO of OneOC, said. “There’s so much uncertainty and our nonprofits cannot do that without (volunteers).”
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