Since 1959, the Fernando Award is recognized as the leading award for civic accomplishment in the San Fernando Valley region. Each year, dozens of community organizations and businesses nominate outstanding individuals to be considered for this lifetime achievement award. Once nominated, a committee of
distinguished community and business leaders convene to identify five finalists from the many nomination applications received each year. Nominees are evaluated based on their variety of volunteer engagement, length and number of years of volunteer service, volunteer leadership roles, fundraising success and volunteer mentorship. Once the five finalists are elected, ballots are distributed to past award recipients, current board members, patrons and benefactors of the Fernando statue organization and to dozens of community organizations who partner with Fernando to promote volunteerism in the region. This confidential ballot process is managed by an outside CPA firm who announces the Fernando recipient during the evening of the annual Gala event.