TCF and The Blade Announce the First Annual NWO Nonprofit Innovation & Excellence Awards

TOLEDO, OH, October 11, 2011 – Toledo Community Foundation and The Blade, in partnership with The Center for Nonprofit Resources, collaborated to create an award to recognize local nonprofit organizations for their contributions to our community.  “Toledo Community Foundation and The Blade recognize that the nonprofit sector plays a critical role in enriching and improving the lives of people throughout Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan,” states Keith Burwell, president of Toledo Community Foundation. 

Three nonprofit organizations were recognized at the first annual awards breakfast held this morning at The Toledo Club for their contributions to the community.  There were over 280 members of the nonprofit and business community in attendance.

Winners of the first Northwest Ohio Nonprofit Innovation & Excellence Awards announced today are:
o Unison Behavioral Health Group – Innovation award
o Read for Literacy, Inc. – Small agency Excellence award
o Hospice of Northwest Ohio – Large agency Excellence award

Each organization received a $5,000 unrestricted grant from Toledo Community Foundation as well as a one-of-a-kind glass creation by local glass artist Shawn Messenger.

Without any experience in animation or filmmaking, 15 consumers and two facilitators of Unison Behavioral Health Group created an inspiring, digitally animated film, "Leon and Mia: Crisis and Recovery."  The 17-minute movie shows what it's like to live with "voices" and "depression."  "Leon and Mia" is a powerful and innovative project that addresses two important needs:  1) The therapeutic need of the member to tell his/her story/to be seen and heard; and 2) A community need to increase empathy, understanding and respect for those who cope with serious mental illness on a daily basis.

Read for Literacy and Hospice of Northwest Ohio awards of excellence were earned for noteworthy achievements in mission/program, governance, financial management, fundraising, evaluation and community impact.

Read for Literacy provides a range of literacy services that enable children and adults to achieve the high levels of literacy they must have to succeed in an increasingly information-dependent world, while serving as an advocate for literacy in the greater Toledo area.

Hospice of Northwest Ohio provides specialized medical, emotional and spiritual care to people of all ages and their families living with any end-stage illness in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan.

A total of 128 agencies nominated themselves for the awards, which will be given annually to honor organizations for enriching and improving the lives of people in our community.

CONTACT:  Joanne Olnhausen, Communications Officer
Toledo Community Foundation
419.241.5049
Joanne@toledocf.org