Courtesy of Pat Willett  |  Zonta Club of the Santa Clarita Valley

Zonta Club of the Santa Clarita Valley honored more than a dozen women for their community service to Santa Clarita Valley nonprofit organizations Sunday.

Pam Ingram, the current president of Soroptimist Internation

Pam Ingram (r) receives the Carmen Sarro Community Service Award from Sarro’s daughter, Zontian Christine Sexton. (Photo by Pat Willett)

al of SCV, has received the Carmen Sarro Community Service Award from Zonta Club of the Santa Clarita Valley.

Ingram was selected from a slate of 13 local women nominated by Santa Clarita Valley nonprofit organizations for the honor at Zonta’s annual Women in Service brunch this Saturday at Robinson Ranch.

All 13 nominees were honored during the program before Sarro’s daughter, second generation Zontian Christine Sexton, announced the final winner.

A Zonta committee selects the Carmen Sarro winner each year as the nominee who best epitomizes the commitment to volunteer service that Sarro maintained throughout her lifetime.

In addition to serving Soroptimist International of SCV as president, Ingram has served as auction chair and has chaired and co-chaired many events during her more than 15 years of membership in the club.

In addition, Ingram has been active with the SCV Chamber of Commerce, serving on the Board of Directors in 2008, vice chair of events for 2005-06 and co-chair of membership in 2004-05. She co-chaired the Harvest Ride for the Child and Family Center, was on the Board and president of Betty Ferguson Foundation and sponsorship chair for the Women’s Conference held at College of the Canyons.

She served on a task force for the SCV homeless shelter and has served on the Advisory Boards for Michael Hoefflin Foundation and Child & Family Center.

She is an avid supporter of local charities and civic associations, including the American Cancer Society, Relay for life, Boys & Girls Club of SCV, Carousel Ranch, Helmers Elementary School Parents Association, Old Orchard PTSA, Special Olympics and the SCV Senior Center.

Nominees for Zonta’s Carmen Sarro Women in Service Award are (front row, l-r) Nancy Coulter, Josy Block and Lillian Marek (middle row, l-r) Kay Moioffer, Pam Ingram and Jane Bettencourt-Soto and (back row, l-r) Mary Margaret Sunker, Carolyn Olsen, Lesly Wenke and Liisa Froggatt. Not pictured are Joane Weinoe, Annee Sohikian and Barbara Morris. (Photo by Pat Willett)

“Pam has always, in both work and her volunteerism, held women and girls in high regard,” according to her nomination sheet. “Having three granddaughters, it is important to her that the world we live in and leave for our children is better tomorrow than we see today.”

Before Ingram was announced as the Carmen Sarro Award winner, Mistress of Ceremonies Marlee Lauffer introduced each of the 13 honorees, saluted the organizations which nominated them and presented each with a nominee’s award.

Each honoree received a yellow rose corsage, the symbol of friendship for Zonta International. The program opened with the 4 of Hart’s, an a cappella quartet of young women from Hart High School’s vocal music department and Hart alumnae, singing the National Anthem and “Battle Hymn of the Republic.”

“We are pleased that 13 diverse organizations submitted nominees this year, representing thousands of hours of community service,” said Jo Ann Rodriguez, event co-chair with Zontian Mary Ree. “It was evident when going through the applications that the Santa Clarita Valley is blessed with many giving women.”

Rodriguez noted that Zonta Club of SCV has been honoring service to the community for more than 30 years with this year’s brunch and found it appropriate that the top award honors Carmen Sarro, who shared her time and talents with many community organizations in addition to Zonta. More than 125 guests attended the Saturday morning program.

The 13 outstanding women saluted at this year’s ceremony, and the organization which nominated each of them, include Josy Block, SCV Scholarship Foundation; Nancy Coulter, American Cancer Society; Carolyn Olsen, Single Mothers Outreach; Lillian Marek, Assistance League of Santa Clarita Valley; Liisa Froggatt, Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles; Pam Ingram, Soroptimist International of Greater Santa Clarita Valley.

Also reognized were: Mary Margaret Sunker, American Association of University Women; Annee Sohikian, SCV Senior Center; Kay Moioffer, Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital Auxiliary; Joane Weinoe, Michael Hoefflin Foundation; Barbara Morris, Boys & Girls Club; Lesly Wenke, Domestic Violence Center of SCV; and Jane Bettencourt-Soto, Child & Family Center.