ARTICLE
Nearly 300 community members gathered on April 16th at The Grove for an unforgettable evening at the Chamber’s ‘Waves of Impact' Awards Gala, an inspiring celebration of the people and organizations shaping the future of Santa Cruz County. From the moment guests arrived to a sparkling champagne welcome, the energy in the room was unmistakable. The evening brought together business and community leaders for meaningful networking, lively conversation, and a shared sense of pride in our region. Music from The Three Beach Bums set the tone, while coveted raffle prizes added an extra layer of excitement to the night. At the heart of the celebration was the recognition of our outstanding 2026 award honorees. We were proud to honor Carlos Palacios with the Legacy Award for his lasting contributions to our community. Dan Haifley was named Person of the Year, while Swenson Builders earned Business of the Year. Santa Cruz Signs was recognized as Small Business of the Year, and Santa Cruz Athletic Club as New Business of the Year. Hospice of Santa Cruz County received Organization of the Year, and Santa Cruz Shakespeare was honored with our inaugural Cultural Impact Award. We were also honored to be joined by a number of local nonprofit organizations, each playing a vital role in strengthening our community. Their presence highlighted the depth and diversity of service across Santa Cruz County, from health and housing to the arts and animal welfare. This incredible evening would not have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors, including KAZU 90.3, Bay Federal Credit Union, County of Santa Cruz, Dignity Health Dominican Hospital, Kaiser Permanente, KSBW, Lookout Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Signs, Sutter Surgery & Maternity Center, The Grove, University of California, Santa Cruz, and West Coast Community Bank. The Waves of Impact Awards Gala continues to be a powerful reminder of what makes Santa Cruz County so special: a community deeply committed to collaboration, innovation, and impact. We are grateful to everyone who joined us for this memorable evening and look forward to continuing to celebrate and support the people and organizations that make our region thrive.
Nearly 300 community members gathered on April 16th at The Grove for an unforgettable evening at the Chamber’s ‘Waves of Impact' Awards Gala, an inspiring celebration of the people and organizations shaping the future of Santa Cruz County.
From the moment guests arrived to a sparkling champagne welcome, the energy in the room was unmistakable. The evening brought together business and community leaders for meaningful networking, lively conversation, and a shared sense of pride in our region. Music from The Three Beach Bums set the tone, while coveted raffle prizes added an extra layer of excitement to the night.
At the heart of the celebration was the recognition of our outstanding 2026 award honorees. We were proud to honor Carlos Palacios with the Legacy Award for his lasting contributions to our community. Dan Haifley was named Person of the Year, while Swenson Builders earned Business of the Year. Santa Cruz Signs was recognized as Small Business of the Year, and Santa Cruz Athletic Club as New Business of the Year. Hospice of Santa Cruz County received Organization of the Year, and Santa Cruz Shakespeare was honored with our inaugural Cultural Impact Award.
We were also honored to be joined by a number of local nonprofit organizations, each playing a vital role in strengthening our community. Their presence highlighted the depth and diversity of service across Santa Cruz County, from health and housing to the arts and animal welfare.
This incredible evening would not have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors, including KAZU 90.3, Bay Federal Credit Union, County of Santa Cruz, Dignity Health Dominican Hospital, Kaiser Permanente, KSBW, Lookout Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Signs, Sutter Surgery & Maternity Center, The Grove, University of California, Santa Cruz, and West Coast Community Bank.
The Waves of Impact Awards Gala continues to be a powerful reminder of what makes Santa Cruz County so special: a community deeply committed to collaboration, innovation, and impact. We are grateful to everyone who joined us for this memorable evening and look forward to continuing to celebrate and support the people and organizations that make our region thrive.