2026 HIRE Celebration & Awards Luncheon with Mayor Karen Goh

Welcome to the 2026 HIRE Celebration & Awards Luncheon with Mayor Karen Goh presented by the HIRE Committee of Kern County! Join us on Thursday, Oct 29, 2026, 11:30 am to 1:30 pm at Hodel's Country Dining in Liberty Hall!

Check-in will begin at 11:00 a.m. and the event will start at 11:30 a.m. Let's celebrate the hard work and dedication of our community members in style! Enjoy a delicious meal while mingling with fellow attendees and congratulating the award winners. Don't miss out on this opportunity to show your support for local employers who hire people with disabilities and the hard working employees in our community. See you there!

$40.00 per person.

This beautiful event includes employer and employee speakers, Silent Auction and more! HIRE Awards will be presented to Employer of the Year, Employee of the Year, Intern of the Year and the Harvey L. Hall Humanitarian of the Year Award.

We will also be entertained by comedian Miguel Lugo! Check him out at elchueco.org!

A Silent Auction will be held during the luncheon to raise funds for current and future HIRE events. The auction will include baskets in the following categories:

• "To Disney & Beyond!" (Valley Achievement Center)
• "Kitchen Magic Gadgets" (Dept. of Rehabilitation)
• "Family Game Night" (Bakersfield ARC)
• "Mary Kay Pampering!" (Aspiranet)
• "Chillin' & Grillin' " (Valley Achievement Center)
• "Dia de los Muertos" (Independent Living Center)
• "Oh, Christmas Tree!" (HIRE Committee)
• "Date Night!" (PathPoint)
• "Christmas Succulent Fairy Garden" (Aspiranet)
• "Falling in Love with Fall" (California Mentor)
• "Spooky Date Night!" (Valley Center for the Blind)
• "We Are BC!" (Bakersfield College)
• "ARTful Style" (Art Council of Kern & Dress for Success
• "Lego Botanical Garden" (Taft College TIL Program)
• "Students at Work" (KHSD: Journey Career Center & Schuetz Career Center)

The goal of the HIRE Committee of Kern County is to increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities in our community. The HIRE Committee is a non-profit organization founded by Mayor Harvey L. Hall.

Accommodations: If you need an ASL Interpreter or any other accommodations to access information during the event, please email hireofkerncounty@gmail.com before 10/23/26 and specify your needs.

Questions? Email the HIRE Committee of Kern County at hireofkerncounty@gmail.com or call 661 742-3772.

Check out some photos from last year's 2025 HIRE Celebration & Awards Luncheon!