The Santa Clarita Valley Man & Woman of the Year, as the title is known today,
was started by the Newhall-Saugus Chamber of Commerce as the "Outstanding Citizen
of the Year." (Initially only one person was honored each year.) The Newhall-Saugus
Chamber became the SCV Chamber of Commerce, which organized the contest for a number of years.
Today the event is operated by the SCV Man & Woman of the Year Committee, an independent
nonprofit organization. Winners are selected by the committee, which consists of all prior
recipients who are still alive. Honorees receive a cash award that they may give to the charity
of their choice.
NOTE: William Bonelli was named
"Oustanding Citizen of the Year" in 1966.
