The BIG event was held on August 6 at the Scottish Rite Center in downtown Sacramento, as one of two major fundraisers for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Sacramento Area.

Sacramento’s 1st Inaugural Stars Installation and Ceremony was on August 31 on L and 18th streets. The Sacramento Walk of Stars honors national and worldwide accomplishments made by those who call or once called the Sacramento region home. The 2016 Walk of Stars Inductees are: Debbie Meyer, Gregory Kondos, LeVar Burton, Dr. Ernie Bodai and Timothy B. Schmit.

Art With A Heart was held on August 24 at the Sierra 2 Center, featuring local artists. Organized by My Sister’s House, Art With A Heart raised donations for services to Asian and Pacific Islander and other underserved women and children impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking by providing a culturally-appropriate safe haven, job training and community services.

The Sacramento chapter of the Positive Coaching Alliance welcomed San Francisco 49ers legend and Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young as the keynote speaker during the 2016 Jeans and Jerseys Youth Sports Awards on August 30 at the Crest Theatre in Sacramento.

BBQ in the Vineyards is the region’s signature political event for networking. Many business, community, civic and elected leaders attended the outdoor event at The Old Sugar Mill in Clarksburg on Aug. 18. The BBQ had more than 750 attendees from the Sacramento building industry including dozens of local elected officials.

At the RECON Nexus Mixer on July 28, regional executives and professionals in the commercial real estate, architecture, engineering and construction industries met for a bi-monthly industry mixer at Blue Prynt Restaurant & Bar in downtown Sacramento.

Make-A-Wish of North California granted 6-year-old Ethan Dean’s wish to be a garbage man for a day, on July 26. Ethan, who was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at only 3 weeks old, got to ride through downtown in a Waste Management Truck and pick up trash at different locations in downtown Sacramento, ending with a with final stop at the State Capitol.

The Sacramento Tree Foundation held the Tree Heroes Awards Dinner on June 1 at the Farm Bureau in Natomas, featuring a live auction and dinner. The dinner, held beneath the heritage 300 year old native oak grove at the California Farm Bureau, celebrates those in the community working toward clean air, healthy communities and economic prosperity through the promotion of a healthy urban forest.

The annual Wind Youth Services Summer Soirée fundraiser was on July 22 at the home of Scott Gregory. The Wind Youth Center provides programs, tools and resources to homeless teens in the Sacramento area. All proceeds from the event were matched by Goodwill Industries International, Inc.

The Center for Fathers and Families recently held their 14th annual Salute to Fatherhood banquet. Guests were invited to hear an interview of Sacramento’s hometown hero, Anthony Sadler, Jr. and his father, the Reverend Anthony R. Sadler. The banquet raised $100,000 to support CFF’s programs and services.