United Way of Greater Chattanooga rolled out the red carpet Tuesday night at the Chattanooga Theatre Centre for its annual Celebrate Awards, honoring the movers, shakers and difference-makers in the community.
"In a night dedicated to glamour and gratitude, the event was a testament to the dedication of all the nonprofits and individuals who work tirelessly to uplift this community," officials said.
The outstanding 2024 winners for each of the five categories are:
Live United, not Divided Award: Chattanooga Symphony & Opera;
Innovation in Action Award: LIFT Youth Center Inc.;
Roper Corporation’s Nonprofit Leader of the Year Award: Rachel Gammon, Northside Neighborhood House;
Volunteer of the Year Award: Stacey Keating; and
Nonprofit Organization of the Year Award: La Paz Chattanooga.
"We are immensely proud to honor the incredible achievements of our local nonprofits through the Celebrate Awards," said Lesley Scearce, CEO of United Way of Chattanooga.
"This event is a celebration of the unwavering commitment of individuals and organizations dedicated to making Chattanooga a better place for all."
Officials said, "From heartfelt speeches to confetti cannons, the Celebrate Awards was a night to remember. Be sure to check out the highlights in United Way’s
photo gallery."
“Twenty years ago, La Paz Chattanooga was founded with a simple, yet powerful mission: to empower our Latino community through advocacy, education and inclusion” said Stacy Johnson, CEO of La Paz Chattanooga. “This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our incredible team, past and present. It is also a tribute to the resilience and strength of the Latino community. Every day, we witness stories of courage, determination, and hope that inspire us to keep showing up.”
"As the curtains close on another unforgettable evening, United Way of Greater Chattanooga extends a big thank you to all who made this event possible and encourages all to keep cheering for the year-round efforts of nonprofits," officials said. "This star-studded event would not have been possible without the generous support of sponsors: Roper Corporation, First Horizon Bank, Husch Blackwell, Shaw Industries, and Athens Distributing. Their commitment to collaboration ensures that the spotlight remains on the invaluable work of local nonprofits."