The Organizing Authority® Since 1985

Awards

Organizing Excellence Award

Congratulations to Evelyn Mount of Community Outreach of Reno Sparks Area, Inc., recipient of the 2008 Organizing Excellence Award!

The Organizing Excellence Award is presented to a local individual or group that has demonstrated outstanding values and achieved measurable results through their organizational efforts. This award is presented not only because of their achievement but also because the results of their efforts are tied directly to their organizational capability. The search for worthy recipients may be considered in the following categories: Business, Community, Education, Family, or Heroic Valor.

The NAPO Board selects the recipient, and the award is presented at the annual conference by the NAPO Board President.

Past Organizing Excellence Award recipients:


2007 WomenVenture of St. Paul, Minnesota
  Since 1978, WomenVenture has helped 90,000 women and men of all economic and ethnic backgrounds achieve their business and career dreams. Through a variety of classes and services, they empower their clients to create meaningful professional paths, and then create a road map to get there.
2006 Women's Lunch Place

Founded in 1982 to be a safe and comfortable daytime shelter where homeless and underprivileged women and their children could find support, friendship, nutritious home-cooked meals, and a safe haven from the streets.
2005 Polinsky Children's Center Foundation
The A.B. and Jessie Polinsky Children's Center, built to replace the Hillcrest Receiving Home, is a 24-hour facility operated by the County of San Diego for the temporary shelter of children.
2004 Jamal Place
2003 Partners in Housing
2002 Furniture Bank-Metro Atlanta
Provides furniture and household items to support impoverished families moving into their first quarters on the road to becoming self-sufficient. Run by Tom Polk.
2001 Faith Home
A home which has provided loving care to more than 30 HIV/AIDS babies since 1988. Run by Hy & Linda Taurig.
2000 The Los Angeles Commission On Assaults Against Women
Established an alliance with community groups to assist and educate women on self- protection. Run by Andrea Wallace.

Culver Palms Life Skills Lab
Honorable Mention: a community action group providing classes and mentors in job preparation for independence and confidence. Run by Billie Silvey.
1999 YWCA of Bucks County
Provides Family Centers in low-income housing complexes for high-risk children, offering tutoring, day camps, summer camps, and employment training for parents. Run by Betty Latham.
1998 Students Recycling Used Technology
An Oregon community partnership, wherein businesses donate used technical equipment for high school students to repair, which are then donated to public schools grades K through 12. Run by Dee Carlson.
1997 Legal Aid for Abused Women & Children (LAAWC)
Provides legal services to those in need. This not-for-profit organization was established by attorney Herma-Joze' Blaauwgeers.
1996 Sacred Heart Community Service
Provides free food, clothing, housing, job assistance, and health care to the needy. Run by Susan Hunn.
1995 Communidad Cambria
Three Latina, single mothers (Teresa Marcial, Josefina Guzman, Maria Contreras) who spearheaded a campaign with the government to rid their apartment building of drug dealers, creating a model residence in Los Angeles.
1994

Life Enrichment Center
For Community Service: Mayme McKenzie opened her farm to mentally and physically challenged visitors.

Lucia Rede Madrid
For Education: Established a public library in her small town grocery store.

Dena Rodenbeck
For Business: Established a business to employ homeless women who produced products to sell out of retail carts in a shopping mall.

Process and guidelines for the Organizing Excellence Award

  1. NAPO members, in the host conference city, are asked to nominate a maximum of three candidates for this award, to be presented at the annual conference. Nominations are submitted to the Awards Chair by mid-December.
  2. The Awards Chair summarizes the nominations, interviews the candidates by phone, and tenders a recommendation to the NAPO National Board for consideration at the January board meeting.
  3. The presentation of this award includes a cash donation, a plaque, and an invitation for one representative to attend the awards ceremony. Recipients are notified of the award prior to the annual conference by the Awards Chair and are encouraged to bring materials for a tabletop display at the awards ceremony.

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