The Volunteer of the Year Awards Celebration has become the River Region’s largest annual event recognizing individuals and groups who have given selflessly of their time and talent to improve their community and the overall quality of life. The awards celebration is held each year during National Volunteer Week in April and is co-hosted by HandsOn River Region and the Junior League of Montgomery.
The Volunteer of the Year ceremony provides an excellent opportunity for you to recognize and express appreciation to community volunteers. We hope you will consider recognizing outstanding volunteers in a memorable and inspiring way at this event given in their honor.
Awards
Awards are given to outstanding individual volunteers and volunteer groups whose efforts have brought about a positive impact on the River Region.
Categories (Eligible for Nominations):
- Adult Group - Groups eligible for this award represent colleges, civic organizations, faith-based groups, or corporations. Consideration is given to the groups’ collective approach to problem solving and improving the community.
- Adult Volunteer (Ages 19+) - Individuals eligible for this award may be involved in a variety of community activities or may have a concentration of service with a particular cause. The collective effect of their work has an impact on agencies and the community at large. Consideration is given to the nominee’s longevity, focus or variety of work, and overall impact.
- Youth Group (college students & under) - Groups eligible for this award may represent schools, faith-based organizations, or service clubs. Consideration is given to the group’s team approach to problem solving and improving the community.
- Youth Volunteer (college student & under) - This award recognizes a youth who incorporates volunteerism into his/her life and serves as an inspiration to others.
Eligibility and Selection Process
Eligibility: Deserving volunteers may be nominated by anyone in the community or by a school, business, faith-based organization, government entity, or 501(c) (3) nonprofit agency. Nominees must currently be active volunteers (or active within the past 12 months). Volunteers at for-profit hospitals or hospices are eligible for nomination. National Service program participants (AmeriCorps VISTA, Learn & Serve, RSVP, Foster Grandparents, Senior Companions, etc.) are also eligible based on their volunteer involvement in their service assignment. Individuals involved in court mandated community service or those serving as loaned executives are not eligible. Persons who receive compensation for service rendered (excluding AmeriCorps living allowance) are also not eligible. Winners from the previous five years are ineligible for nomination unless the nominee is a group whose membership changes annually.
Nomination Process: Nominations may be submitted for each category; however, only 2 nominees per category will be accepted from an agency or individual. An exception is made for umbrella agencies with multiple sites that operate independently. Each independent site may submit 2 nominations in each category. This exception does not apply to multiple programs or departments within one agency. Nomination narratives are very important as they introduce the nominee and their commitment to service to the judges. Nominations not accompanied by the narrative will not be accepted. Pictures, newspaper articles, and up to 3 letters of support are encouraged but will not be returned to the nominator.
- The nominator is responsible for informing all persons they have nominated.
- Those submitting nominations will receive an email confirmation upon submission of this form.
Screening and Selection Process: HandsOn utilizes judges who are selected for their involvement in and knowledge of the community. Judges individually select three finalists in each award category. The judges then meet to review the finalists and select the recipients for each category. All nominees are formally recognized at the reception and receive certificates of appreciation.
Finalist Notification: Award winners and their nominators will be notified at the awards ceremony.