AROUND THE CENTER
Winners of Nonprofit Awards Honored at Luncheon
The Mandel Center and its alumni association held its Nonprofit Awards luncheon on Tuesday, March 28th at the Cleveland Renaissance Hotel to honor the winners of the Leadership in Nonprofit Management Award and the Organization Innovation Award. The winner of the Leadership Award for 2006 was David Simpson, CEO, Hospice of the Western Reserve. There were two winners for the 2006 Organization Award: AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland and Cleveland Foodbank.
David Simpson was honored to be selected as the winner of the Leadership in Nonprofit Management Award.
"I am as humbled by the recognition as I am cognizant that it is our entire Hospice of the Western Reserve team that truly deserves this recognition," Simpson said. "This award is a tribute to our entire staff of 1,700 paid and volunteer employees. It is their dedication and compassion that are the essence of our mission-based, not-for-profit organization."
While the Leadership Award was first presented in 1995, the Organization Award was presented for the first time this year.
"We're truly honored to have received the Organization Innovation Award," commented Earl Pike, Executive Director for AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland. "It is a recognition of the passion and creativity of our board, staff, volunteers and the community of people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS that we are here to serve."
Anne Goodman, Executive Director for the Cleveland Foodbank, told the Mandel Center that winning the Organization Award was a very proud moment for the organizaiton. "There is no more prestigious award in Cleveland's nonprofit community than this," Goodman said. "Tens of thousands of donors, volunteers and dedicated people who manage hunger centers work together to provide meals to vulnerable hungry men, women and children in our area every day of the year. The Foodbank is successful, and this award is possible, because of their efforts."
The keynote address for the event was given by Bill Shore, Founder and Executive Director of Share Our Strength and Chair of Community Wealth Ventures. The renowned author, whose latest book is titled The Light of Conscience: How a Simple Act Can Change Your Life, discussed the topic of nonprofit sustainability.
The criteria for the Leadership Award consisted of the following: Record of leadership; services as a nonprofit management role model; creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship as demonstrated by the candidate's ability to successfully identify and address core organization issues; leadership in fostering interaction among staff, volunteers, and the community; and commitment to the principles and skills associated with good management. Criteria for selection of the Organization Award included: Record of innovation; expansion beyond traditional organizational boundaries; and creation of a culture/climate of innovation within the organization.
The winners of this year's awards were chosen by the Mandel Center's Nonprofit Awards Selection Committee, which is comprised of local nonprofit leaders and is headed by David Abbott, Executive Director of the George Gund Foundation. Please visit the Mandel Center website for more information about the Nonprofit Awards and for a list of previous winners of the Leadership in Nonprofit Management Award.
Mario Morino Introducing the Keynote
Keynote Speaker Bill Shore
Susan Eagan and David Abbott with the winners of the nonprofit awards
