We’re partnering with News Channel 12 to honor nonprofit volunteers who make our community thrive. Each month, we’re choosing a different nonprofit and asking them to select a valuable volunteer to receive the SESLOC Cares for Community Award. We are thrilled to introduce our latest recipient, Dayna Debernardi-Watson, a volunteer with Altrusa of the Central Coast.
We are proud to present the SESLOC Cares for Community award to Dayna Debernardi-Watson, former director and president of the Altrusa of the Central Coast.
Dayna’s commitment to community dates back to her youth, as she was a 10-year member of Sunrise 4-H starting at age nine. In her professional life, she served as a guidance technician at Righetti High School for 27 years, helping youth determine their future direction while volunteering countless hours to school PTSA programs, Warrior Goat Program, Warrior Grange, Righetti FFA Booster, and the Righetti Choir Program. She also was the advisor for Righetti’s ASTRA Club, empowering students to serve the community through literacy and service projects.
As a dedicated member of Altrusa of Central Coast and ASTRA Club advisor, Dayna led annual Spring Book Drives resulting in over 20,000 books donated to local families, hosted Read Across America events, monthly craft events at the Orcutt Library and organized family literacy programs, inspiring a love of reading. In her role as past president and director of Altrusa of the Central Coast, Dayna has overseen the distribution of thousands of dollars in community grants and scholarships. One of her cornerstone programs is the annual Festival of Trees, for which she’s donated hours of time to ensure its annual success.
However, her reach is felt far beyond Altrusa. Her leadership created lasting partnerships with several local service organizations, including Friends of the Orcutt and Santa Maria Libraries, Guadalupe and Oasis Senior Centers, Orcutt Lions Club and Serve Santa Maria.
Congratulations on being recognized as SESLOC’s Community Cares recipient!