The United Way of Southwest Michigan is now taking applications for its next Volunteer Leadership Awards.
The United Way’s Debbie Ramirez tells us the awards will be presented at the organization’s Annual Celebration, to be held April 23 at Lake Michigan College.
There are two awards — the Margaret B. Upton Volunteer Leadership Award and the Judge Susan L. Dobrich Volunteer Leadership Award. Who qualifies?
“For the Margaret B. Upton, we’re looking for volunteers who’ve been volunteering for at least ten years in Berrien County with either one organization or a variety of organizations,” Ramirez said. “And in Cass County, it’s more than eight years.”
Ramirez says the United Way has made it an annual tradition to honor those who volunteer their time to help make their community a better place.
“Volunteers, they’re the lifeblood of so many organizations in the area. And as we’ve seen in the past few years, especially organizations are strapped for resources and can’t do everything they need to do to meet the need that is ever increasing.”
The winner of each award will receive $5,000 to donate to a non-profit of their choice.
“Not only are they then giving of their time to these organizations, they have the opportunity to give a gift, if you will, a financial gift to help those organizations with the work that they need to do.”
Ramirez says nominations for the United Way Volunteer Leadership Awards are being taken online through January 31. You can submit a nomination right here.
