Photo by Sarah Finnegan.
IGNITE Awards 2018
Medals for nominees at the second annual IGNITE Awards Ceremony at The Club on Tuesday, April 17, 2018. Hands On Birmingham, a program of United Way, gives the awards to recognize community volunteers and service leaders in Jefferson, St. Clair, Walker, Shelby, and Blount counties.
There is still time to make nominations for the fourth annual IGNITE Volunteer Awards, which honor unsung community heroes who have made worked hard to bring about positive change in the Birmingham area.
The awards are given by United Way Hands On, formerly Hands On Birmingham.
Nominations are open until Saturday, November 30, for people who live in Jefferson, St. Clair, Walker, Shelby and Blount counties. The nominations began in September.
Anyone can recommend a deserving volunteer for the awards, and self-nominations are also accepted.
Community members can nominate volunteers in eight categories: Community Volunteer of the Year, Corporate Volunteer of the Year, Faith-Based Volunteer of the Year, Government Volunteer of the Year, Nonprofit Volunteer of the Year, Small Business Volunteer of the Year, Student Volunteer of the Year and United Way Hands On Volunteer of the Year.
An awards celebration is scheduled for April 23, 2020, at The Club Birmingham. Over the first three years, the event has recognized nearly 150 volunteers and hosted about 800 guests overall.
"We created IGNITE to be a platform to not only recognize the folks who make a difference, but to educate the public on the importance of volunteerism and how it affects the well-being of everyday life," said Hands On Birmingham Director Benga Harrison in a news release.
Organizers are “ecstatic by the positive response” that the IGNITE program has received, said Harrison.
“There is more to do in the community, but this is a great start to showcase the massive efforts from volunteers who truly make a difference, no matter their background or age,” she said in a 2019 release.
The nonprofit’s mission is to connect people in five counties with nearly 200 nonprofits and schools to provide organized, meaningful volunteer opportunities. People can volunteer when it is convenient and join as individuals or part of a team.
Volunteering is a way for people to fill an important personal need, said Harrison.
“I think people are thirsty for connection, a sense of community and a sense of purpose greater than just doing a job,” she told Iron City Ink in 2018.
For registration and nomination forms, visit uwca.org/ignite.
