The Santa Clarita Valley Jaycees’ SCV 40 Under Forty is asking the Santa Clarita Valley to once again help honor young men and women who make a difference in the community.

The nonprofit, volunteer-based organization is always looking to develop leadership through community service, and one of the ways it does that is by encouraging volunteerism, said Lindsay Schlick, co-chair of the event.

“That’s why we want to help them thrive,” Schlick said, regarding the event and the nonprofits that the Jaycees support. “We don’t volunteerism to get swept under the rug — when people take the time to help out, we want to celebrate that in our community.”

The Santa Clarita Valley Jaycees (Junior Chamber International) is a volunteer-based organization for 21- to 40-year-olds.

Click here for the Jaycees website.

The annual tradition in the SCV has grown every year, and now the organizers are bringing it back to the Hyatt Regency Valencia, as well as adding new companion events.

For the first time, the more than 300 nominees from past years (the Jaycees have been holding the event for a little less than a decade), are going to be invited to a June 29 alumni mixer at Salt Creek Grille, which is also the first opportunity residents will have to nominate a potential SCV 40 under Forty honoree.

The alumni mixer, sponsored by Santa Clarita law firm Poole and Shaffery, is a thank you to those leaders and people making positive changes in their community or work, as well as a way for those interested in the Santa Clarita Valley chapter of the Junior Chamber International.

“We’re encouraging businesses who are involved or want to get more involved in the community to attend,” Schlick said, “it’s a great opportunity to network with today’s up-and-coming leaders in the Santa Clarita Valley.”

A mixer for this year’s nominees is also being planned for August as a thank you for their community contributions.

“Even before they’re honored, we wanted to say thanks,” she added, “it’s still meaningful to be nominated.”

Tickets for the alumni mixer are $25 a piece, which will go to the cost of the event and Jaycees operations, which supports countless nonprofits throughout the Santa Clarita Valley.

Information about the mixer for nominees will be posted on the group’s site and Facebook page as soon as it’s available.