The Volunteer Center of South Jersey “Spirit of Community” award nominations are now open.
The celebration will take place on Oct. 23 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Auletto Caterers in Deptford. This event will bring the entire community together to honor volunteers, as well as nonprofit and corporate leaders, whose dedicated service makes a difference to so many.
The Volunteer Center offers a unique opportunity to recognize and appreciate local heroes who make South Jersey a vibrant place to live. Spirit of Community has grown to be the largest volunteer recognition event in New Jersey.
“We are very proud to provide this memorable event to our local nonprofits to recognize their hard-working volunteers and give them a chance to sit back and relax while cheering on their members. In 2018, we presented over 75 awards and celebrated with over 350 guests,” said Michele Epifani, Executive Director at VCSJ.
Organizations like Center for Family Services, FURever As Friends, Gloucester County Library Systems and three local Habitat Chapters (Burlington County-Greater-Trenton-Princeton, Gloucester and Salem), will be in attendance, just to name a few.
The Volunteer Center will be presenting awards in the following eight categories the night of the event:
President’s Volunteer Service Award, conferred by the Office of the President of the United States, recognizes the valuable contributions of volunteers nationwide who are answering the President’s call to serve others. Over one hundred dedicated volunteers received these awards annually.
Volunteer of the Year Award provides a public platform for local non-profits to recognize a volunteer who has made an outstanding contribution in their agency.
Volunteer Manager of the Year Award recognizes achievement in the creation, implementation and leadership of an effective volunteer program to meet social need.
HEROES Honoring Excellence Rewarding Outstanding Employee Service by their employers.
Corporate Excellence Award honors a socially responsible company with an exemplary commitment to service in the community.
South Jersey Humanitarian of the Year Award is designed to honor a South Jersey leader who has consistently gone above and beyond to make his/her community a better place through their commitment to volunteerism and selfless acts of service.
Bob Shryock Community Service Award will be given to a Gloucester County non-profit organization that has shown an unwavering commitment to volunteerism and the community.
Distinguished Youth Service Award to recognize community leaders between the ages of 14 and 23 who have made a great impact in the community.
Community members are invited to nominate family, friends, colleagues and neighbors for the President’s Volunteer Service and the Distinguished Youth Service awards. The deadline for nominations is Sept. 13. Nomination forms and tickets purchases can be found by visiting SJVolunteers.org/Spirit.
The Volunteer Center of South Jersey is a nonprofit that promotes volunteerism in the region and connects both individuals and businesses with opportunities to serve. The center also achieves its mission by creating best practice tools and by offering educational, consulting and other support services to help our nonprofit partners grow and serve the community. The Volunteer Center is located on the campus of Rowan College of South Jersey, Gloucester County campus.
