Junior League Honors Longtime Volunteer Nancy Martz

Nancy Martz, executive director of Apples to Zucchini Cooking School, was named the 2026 Sustainer of the Year by the Junior League of Santa Barbara, according to announcements published May 30 and June 1. The award is one of the league’s highest honors and recognizes community leadership, volunteer service and lasting impact, the group said. Martz was recognized for what the league described as decades of work in education, youth development, nonprofit leadership and volunteer service in Santa Barbara. The recognition was announced in community postings carried by Noozhawk and The Santa Barbara Independent. ### Who is Nancy Martz, and why did the Junior League single her out? Nancy Martz is the founder and executive director of Apples to Zucchini Cooking School, a Santa Barbara nonprofit that teaches children, teens and adults to prepare nutritious, affordable meals using seasonal and local ingredients, according to the organization’s description in the award announcement and a 2025 Independent profile. The Junior League said her work has helped inspire healthy lifestyles and life skills among thousands of children and families while building partnerships aimed at community well-being. (independent.com) The Junior League said Martz’s award reflects more than her current nonprofit role. In its announcement, the organization said she was honored for a decades-long commitment to strengthening the Santa Barbara community through education, youth development, nonprofit leadership and volunteer service. ### What does “Sustainer of the Year” mean in this case? (independent.com) The Junior League said the Sustainer of the Year award celebrates members who have shown exceptional volunteerism and leadership throughout their lives while continuing to reflect the league’s commitment to community impact. In Martz’s case, the organization also identified her as a 25-year member and sustainer of the Junior League of Santa Barbara. (independent.com) Jessica Hawley, president of the Junior League of Santa Barbara, said Martz “embodies the very best of the Junior League’s mission.” Hawley said Martz’s “dedication to serving others,” collaborative leadership style and work creating opportunities for children and families had left “an enduring mark on our community.” ### What did Martz say about the recognition? (independent.com) Martz said the Junior League had a direct role in shaping her leadership approach. In the announcement, she said she was “deeply honored” to receive recognition from an organization that had a “profound influence” on her life. Martz said the league gave her opportunities to develop leadership skills, build confidence and learn how to mobilize people around a common purpose. (independent.com) She said those experiences and friendships continue to guide her work and connected the award to what she called “a legacy of women committed to creating positive change in our community.” ### How does this connect to Santa Barbara’s nonprofit work? Apples to Zucchini Cooking School said its programs bring people together over shared meals through school programs, community partnerships and family workshops. The organization said its goal is to help participants make healthy choices that last a lifetime. A 2025 Independent profile described the nonprofit as focused on teaching practical cooking skills with seasonal, local ingredients, and said the group had expanded from children’s classes into a broader mix of offerings. (independent.com) The Junior League of Santa Barbara describes itself as an organization focused on advancing women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration and training. The Martz award links those two strands — civic leadership training and nonprofit service delivery — through a longtime member who now leads a local food-education nonprofit. That connection is an inference drawn from the two organizations’ descriptions of their work. (independent.com) ### Where can readers find the official announcements? The Santa Barbara Independent published the announcement on June 1 as a community press release submitted by Apples to Zucchini Cooking School. Noozhawk published a version on May 30 in its “Good for Santa Barbara” section, also attributed to Martz for the cooking school. Both postings identify Martz as the 2026 honoree and include statements from Hawley and Martz. (santabarbara.jl.org) The Junior League of Santa Barbara and Apples to Zucchini Cooking School both maintain public websites with information about their missions and programs. As of June 2, the published announcement did not list a separate ceremony date beyond the recognition itself. (santabarbara.jl.org) (independent.com)