First Things First earned the Nonprofit Organization of the Year Award
United Way of Greater Chattanooga unveiled the winners of the Fifth Annual Celebrate Awards Thursday at Common House. This community-centric event honors the nonprofits, leaders and volunteers driving change across the region.
"This is more than just an award ceremony, it’s a moment to recognize the power of a connected community,” said Terran Anderson, VP of Community and Corporate Engagement at United Way of Greater Chattanooga. “The nonprofit community is always facing new challenges, but last night was a beautiful reflection of what happens when we lift each other up and celebrate the impact we’ve made together. We loved celebrating this amazing lineup of 2025 winners and finalists.”
With over 130 nominations submitted, finalists were selected across five competitive categories. The 2025 winners are:
Nonprofit Organization of the Year: First Things First
Nonprofit Leader of the Year: Dave Buck with Chattanooga Autism Center
Live United, Not Divided Award (Sponsored by Roper Corporation): Be the Change Youth Initiative
Rising Star Award: Chattanooga Free Store
Volunteer of the Year: Margy Oehmig volunteer for Metropolitan Ministries
From acceptance speeches to a room full of nonprofit champions, the night celebrated what makes the Greater Chattanooga region truly special—people showing up for each other, especially when it matters most, said officials.
The Celebrate Awards are made possible by the support of this year’s sponsors: Roper Corporation, Shaw Industries, First Horizon Foundation, Husch Blackwell, Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga, Smart Bank and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee.
To relive the highlights or learn more about the finalists and winners, visit unitedwaycha.org/celebrate.