United Way Announces Finalists For Nonprofit Celebrate Awards

  • Wednesday, April 26, 2023

United Way of Greater Chattanooga announces the finalists across five award categories for the third annual nonprofit Celebrate Awards. The Celebrate Awards spotlight the hardworking nonprofit organizations, volunteer leaders, and community change-makers in Greater Chattanooga. This year, a new Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion award will recognize an organization that has made significant and intentional strides by building deeper community connections and taking direct action.

The awards ceremony will take place on Tuesday, May 9, at 5:30 p.m. at Common House Chattanooga.

“We are proud to recognize and collaborate with those who drive meaningful change in our community," said Lesley Scearce, president and CEO of United Way of Greater Chattanooga. “These finalists represent the hard work that has taken place in the last year, and we can’t wait to celebrate them at the ceremony.”

Here are the awards and their finalists:  

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Award Finalists:  
Cempa Community Care 
The Bethlehem Center 
The Enterprise Center 

Nonprofit Organization of the Year Award Finalists: 
Chattanooga Area Food Bank 
First Things First 
MetMin- Metropolitan Ministries 

Nonprofit Leader of the Year Award Finalists: 
Sponsored by Roper Corporation  
Jessica Whatley 
Kristen Pavlik McCallie 
Reginald Smith 

Innovation in Action Award Finalists:  
A Step Ahead 
Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer: Industrial Arts Therapy Program 
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Chattanooga 

Volunteer of the Year Award Finalists: 
Sponsored by Elder’s Ace Hardware  
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee TeamBlue 
Lamar Selcer
Linda Cooper  

To purchase tickets to the event, click here

To learn more or see full award descriptions, please visit unitedwaycha.org/celebrate.

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