The MVP Community Awards Brought together the movers & shakers of the CSRA who are working to build an inclusive community

Walton Options for Independent Living and Tedford CPA announced the winners of the Most Valuable Partner (MVP) Community Awards during the Celebration Brunch at the Legends Club on Thursday, November 3, 2016. A total of five community awards and two organizational awards were presented to business, organizations and individuals to recognize the work that has been done to create a more inclusive community for persons with disabilities.

The 2016 MVP Community Awards winners are:

Adaptive Driving Solutions
Inclusive Employment Award

Project Burke Build
Community Government Award

Regal Augusta Exchange Stadium 20
Public Accommodation & Communication Award

Veteran K9 Solutions
Outstanding Service Organization Award

Aldwin Yarbrough
Outstanding Individual Advocate Award

The Walton Options Special Recognition Awards are:
Carolyn Free – MVP Award
Lura Maryland – Dedicated Volunteer Service Award

“As an advocacy organization, our goal is not always just to bring the negative attention to necessary change, but also to highlight what is working and share those examples for good practice. The goal of these Awards is to raise awareness of the positive steps that are being taken in the CSRA to benefit the disability community as well as get more business and community leaders thinking about what they could be doing to be inclusive. After the amazing event here today, I believe we have achieved just that.”
– Tiffany Clifford, Executive Director at Walton Options

Hosted by WJBF’s Barclay Bishop, the Celebration Brunch brought together 130 business and community leaders from across the CSRA. The networking style event offered guests the opportunity to share their experiences and ideas about ways to provide more inclusive services and opportunities for the disability community. Guest Speaker Kellie Irving spoke about her commitment to making the CSRA more accessible for all those working and living in the area.

“From deep inside I am moved to do something,” said the City of Augusta Compliance Department Director during the Brunch about her new role. “No matter how small and insignificant or large and monumental, I must courageously take a stand by speaking up, standing down, sitting in, and moving change along. I commit to be fair, impartial, and inclusive.”

The MVP Community Award Categories & Finalists were:

• Inclusive Employment Award: The Family YMCA of Greater Augusta and Adaptive Driving Solutions
• Community Government Award: Augusta-Richmond County Public Library and Project Burke Build
• Public Accommodation & Communications Award : Kroger Marketplace – Grovetown, Regal 20 Cinemas (Augusta), and Doctors Hospital
• Outstanding Service Organization Award: Veteran K9 Solutions, The RECing Crew, and The Master’s Transportation Ministry
• Outstanding Individual Advocate Award: Mallory Lanier, Aldwin Yarbrough, and Mary Painter

Based on the Five Titles of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the MVP Community Awards recognize those businesses, organizations and people in the CSRA who have gone above and beyond to work with persons with disabilities to create an inclusive community.

Thank you to our 2016 Sponsors – Tedford CPA, Presenting Sponsor, and CSRA Area Agency on Aging, Bronze Sponsor.

Thank you to all of our vendors

 

Want to learn more about the MVP Community Awards? Click on the button below to find out more about the 2016 and 2017 Awards.

2016 MVP Community Awards Celebration Brunch Gallery
2017 MVP Community Awards Nominations
2017 MVP Community Awards Celebration Lunch
MVP Community Awards Main Page