FT Volunteer Awards with sponsor

Franklin Tomorrow’s Volunteer Awards Ceremony is being transformed this year to focus more closely on a wider spectrum of volunteerism in our community.

Instead of being held as part of a summer Shrimp Boil, the event will be held this summer at the Franklin Theatre.

The call for nominations of individuals for Franklin Tomorrow’s annual Exemplary Community Volunteer Awards and Volunteer Spirit Awards was issued May 12, 2014.

The awards will be presented in late July during an event at the Franklin Theatre. New awards are being added this year to recognize Civic Groups, Corporate Volunteer Teams, as well as Individual Corporate volunteers.

Serving as chairmen for the event are local Realtors, J. Edward & Brenda Tuck Campbell of Synergy Realty Network, LLC.

Nominations are due Tuesday, June 10, 2014.

In 2007, Franklin Tomorrow established the Exemplary Community Volunteer Awards to honor the decades of service and tremendous impact that of Anne T. Rutherford, a founding member of Franklin Tomorrow and an active volunteer for many community organizations.

The Anne T. Rutherford Award recognizes the collective effort of an individual’s work and the impact on the agencies themselves and the community at large. One award is given annually.

In following years, the awards grew to include Volunteer Spirit and the Youth Initiative Awards to allow for more people to be honored for selflessly supporting local non-profit organizations or agencies.

The Volunteer Spirit Awards is awarded to individuals who are involved in either a variety of community activities or primarily in one organization as a significant volunteer. This individual stands out as altering the environment around them

simply by their service and heart for the community. Three awards may be given in this category annually.

The Youth Initiative Award is open to individuals under the age of 21 and are involved in either a variety of community activities or primarily in one organization as a significant volunteer. This individual stands as a standard of service for the youth in our community.

The Ned Lea Volunteer Contribution Award was created in 2011 to posthumously honor an exemplary volunteer. While not presented annually, nominations are accepted each year. Other awards may be created by the Board of Franklin Tomorrow to recognize significant achievement.

Civic Group Award will honor civic, membership, congregation or non-corporate groups that volunteer together for a cause.

Corporate Team Award will recognize companies that see the value of giving back to their community through successful volunteer programs with high levels of participation and impact.

Finally, the Corporate Volunteer Award will recognize an individual who as part of a company-sponsored volunteer program or event has made a significant contribution to one or more organizations.

In 2013, Susan Thornton, one of the founders of Graceworks, was recognized with the Anne T. Rutherford Exemplary Community Volunteer Award for her support of the organization since its founding and specifically for her work with The Manger project.

Receiving the Volunteer Spirit Awards in 2013 were Patty Bearden, Franklin Noon Rotary Club; Henry Booker, Franklin Housing Authority; and Alma McLemore, African-American Heritage Society & other organizations. Jayce Arnette received the Youth Initiative Award, and the late Dr. Craig Ferrell and late Ed Moody were honored with the Ned Lea Lifetime Achievement Awards.

Franklin Tomorrow President Kathie Moore presented the President’s Award to Friends of Franklin Parks for their work since being founded by Franklin Tomorrow in 2011.

A $500 grant to the winner’s non-profit of choice accompanies the Anne T. Rutherford Award, while a $250 grant accompanies the other awards.

A nomination form can be accessed by clicking the image below. A one-page statement describing the service of the nominees MUST ACCOMPANY the form. For a complete nomination packet, please emailkathyc@franklintomorrow.org or call 794-0998.

Completed nominations should be submitted to kathyc@franklintomorrow.org.