Boulder Rotary, a community service organization, will once again recognize local forces for good at its upcoming Service Above Self Gala.

The gala, the biggest fundraiser for the club, honors non-Rotarians for their contributions to the Boulder area. The event is set for April 26 at the Boulder County Club, 7350 Clubhouse Road.

The honorees — who were selected for their community service and efforts to live the club’s motto of “service above self” — were nominated by people both within and outside of Boulder Rotary. Any individual or organization that has done service work in Boulder County within the last two years is eligible for the award.

This year, Boulder Rotary chose its honorees from a total of eight nominees.

“We always celebrate people who are changing the world, and really changing the community of Boulder, to make it a better place,” said Leslie Herz, gala committee chair. “We’re looking for community service overall, above the call of duty.”

This year’s pool of award recipients includes a Boulder-based nonprofit: Sunflower Seeds Ukraine. The other honorees are Bob Yates, Alissa Sims and John Cohagen.

Sunflower Seeds Ukraine sends protective gear and medical supplies to Ukrainians on the front lines of their country’s conflict. Boulder Rotary has also worked with the nonprofit to assemble and ship solar panels to schools and families in Ukraine.

Herz said it’s uncommon for Rotary to choose a group, rather than a single person, for the award, but Sunflower Seeds Ukraine stood out with its “exceptional work.”

“We felt like they were making such a difference that we decided to switch gears on that this year,” Herz said of Sunflower Seeds Ukraine. “It was such a unique opportunity that they were able to take advantage of and fill a need.”

Yates is a former Boulder City Council member. He has served on the boards of several Boulder organizations over the years. Yates is currently involved with Boulder Community Health, All Roads homeless shelter and the Boulder Chamber’s Community Advisory Council, among other organizations.

“He’s an icon in our community for sure,” Herz said.

Sims is being recognized for her volunteer work with Adelante!, a program that supports first-generation Latino students at Boulder High School. Sims guides students through the college application process and mentors them during their college years.

“We do a lot of scholarships within Rotary,” Herz said. “People like Alissa Sims who are helping kids — that’s always been near and dear to our heart.”

Cohagen helped design, construct and develop Camp Tumbleson Lake, a new youth camp near Ward run by the YMCA of Northern Colorado and Southern Wyoming.

Cohagen dedicated hundreds of volunteer hours to the camp’s progress as a member of the YMCA’s board of directors, according to Boulder Rotary.“He’s really been active within Boulder County for years and years,” Herz said. “He’s most recently been really involved in the Y, and I know how much they appreciate and value him there.”

Each nominee will be honored at the gala and given $1,000 to donate to a nonprofit of their choice. That prize can go to nonprofits they volunteer for or to any organization they think would benefit from the funds.

Tickets for the Service Above Self Gala are $175. Proceeds from the gala help Boulder Rotary continue its volunteer-led charitable projects.