Finalists Named for the Seventh Annual WEDU Be More Awards

The seventh annual WEDU Be More Awards™ will take place on Thursday, February 9, 2012 at the A La Carte Event Pavilion in Tampa. The annual event, recognized as the “Academy® Awards for Nonprofits,” begins at 11:00am.
 
Dec. 27, 2011 - PRLog -- DECEMBER 27, 2011 (Tampa, FL) — Continuing the tradition of honoring Tampa Bay area nonprofit organizations, dedicated staff, volunteers and individuals, the seventh annual WEDU Be More Awards™ will take place on Thursday, February 9, 2012 at the A La Carte Event Pavilion in Tampa. The annual event, recognized as the “Academy® Awards for Nonprofits,” begins at 11:00am.

WEDU Be More Awards™ Finalists:

Be More…Informed (Marketing Campaign Award) ~ Broadening horizons through creative and results-driven original marketing campaigns using multimedia platforms.

•   Hillsborough Area Regional Transit
•   More Health, Inc.
•   Suncoast Community Health Centers
•   The Pier Aquarium

Be More…Entertaining (Special Events Award) ~ A series of events or one particularly original special event/fundraiser to recognize, salute, assist, celebrate people or businesses, brand the organization and/or build/strengthen relationships with supporters.

•   Florida Institute for Community Studies (FICS)
•   Gulf Coast Jewish Family & Community Services, Inc.
•   The Junior League of Tampa, Inc.
•   Wheels of Success

Be More…Brilliant (Innovation Award) ~ The organization that develops an original idea and displays/delivers it in a uniquely creative way to achieve organizational goals. (A TIE  resulted in 6 finalists in this category.)

•   Children First, Inc.
•   Lazydays Employee Foundation
•   Starting Right, Now
•   Suncoast Community Health Centers, Inc.
•   Take Stock in Children of Sarasota County
•   The Pier Aquarium

Be More…Enriched (Arts & Culture Award) ~ This award will recognize outstanding achievement specifically for programs related to the arts, performance, historic or zoological exhibits.

•   Asolo Theatre, Inc.
•   The Glazer Children’s Museum
•   The Pier Aquarium

Be More…Knowledgeable (Educational Outreach) ~ Bestowed upon the one organization that, through a specific project, offers guidance, knowledge, emotional or physical support, and/or a mentorship program aimed at improving specific aspects of community life.

•   Glazer Children’s Museum
•   Housing and Education Alliance, Inc.
•   Project Prosper, Inc.
•   Roskamp Institute
•   Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center, Inc.

Online Categories:

Be More…Humble (The People’s Choice Award) ~ This award was driven by an online poll from the general public in the WEDU viewing area. This prestigious award exhibits the connection and relationship the organization has with the community and the people it serves.

•   AMIKids, Inc.
•   Children First, Inc.
•   Early Learning Coalition of Pasco and Hernando Counties, Inc.
•   Operation PAR
•   The Junior League of Tampa, Inc.

Be More…Relevant (Best Use of Video) ~ A short video that will, or has, compelled someone to seek services; volunteer their time or support an organization financially.

•   Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay, Inc.
•   Enable America
•   Lazydays Employee Foundation
•   Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center
•   Starting Right, Now

Be More…Involved (The Mason Dixon Award for Volunteerism) ~ These award finalists were culled from an online poll driven by votes from the general public in the WEDU viewing area. Mason Dixon, community philanthropist and Q105 radio personality, will ultimately choose and present the award to the most-deserving recipient - from the five finalists - that received the most online support.

•   Doug Durand
•   Donna Hunter
•   Virginia Papadopoulos
•   Anthony Rizzo
•   Devante Robinson

Be More…Entrepreneurial (Rising Star Award) ~ Presented to an individual under the age of 30, who has distinguished themselves by using entrepreneurial skills to build a successful endeavor [in the nonprofit arena] that can be directly accredited to their inspiration and motivation.

•   Zachary Bonner
•   Alice Darrow
•   T. Hampton Dohrman

Media Research Categories:

Be More…Giving (The Ryan Nece Foundation Power of Giving Award) ~ NFL Veteran, WEDU Board Member and Founder of the Ryan Nece Foundation, Ryan Nece delivered a compelling and inspiring keynote address at the 2010 Be More Awards ceremony on be-ing more and The Power of Giving which led to the creation of this award. This honor will be bestowed upon the organization/individual/family who by the use of a simple altruistic gesture of time, talent or treasure, made a tremendous impact in someone’s life. Judges determined five finalists based on newsgathering with media partner ABC Action News. Mr. Nece decided the ultimate winner of his namesake award.

•   Scott Fink
•   Gio Brothers (John, Nick, Anthony and Carmen Gio)
•   DeRonda Hills
•   Alison Payne
•   Judge Tracy Sheehan

Judges’ Categories:

Be More…Encouraged (Judges Choice Award) ~ The Judge’s Choice Award is given to an organization demonstrating an overall appeal due to its original and extraordinary approach to its respective endeavor and/or providing an independent voice for those less heard. This award is decided entirely by the WEDU Be More Award™ judges based on majority vote and consensus. (A TIE resulted in 6 finalists in this category.)

•   Lazydays Employee Foundation
•   Moffitt Cancer center
•   Project Prosper
•   Starting Right, Now
•   The Spring of Tampa Bay
•   Wheels of Success

Be More…Unstoppable (Nonprofit Organization of the Year Award) ~ This award is the most coveted and is determined through extensive research. It is ultimately decided by an independent judging committee and given to one organization that, through a superior level of service, helps their constituency be more. Selected from all submitted applications, the criteria to win this award consists of overall organizational excellence; fulfillment of the Four Commitments to the Community, including service to the organizations’ constituency, level of community impact, financial viability and embodiment of overall community goodwill. In addition to many other benefits, the organization recognized with this award receives a $1,000 WEDU Community Investment Grant.

•   Glazer Children’s Museum
•   Gulf Coast Jewish Family & Community Services, Inc.
•   Lazydays Employee Foundation
•   Starting Right, Now
•   The Spring of Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay’s own Jack Harris, legendary media personality and co-host the WFLA radio morning show along with Lissette Campos, award-winning journalist, Director of Community Affairs for ABC Action News and host of the Positively Tampa Bay segment seen weekdays on ABC in the Tampa area will serve as the 2012 WEDU Be More Awards™ co-hosts.

NFL Veteran and founder of his namesake foundation, Ryan Nece, serves as the Honorary Champion of the 2012 ceremony. Following six years playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and a stint with the Detroit Lions, Mr. Nece then turned to the community to give back and enhance the quality of life of those truly in need. Son of NFL Hall of Fame safety Ronnie Lott, Nece founded the Ryan Nece Foundation in an effort to increase his extensive community service efforts in the Tampa Bay area. He has designed a Good Samaritan Program and launched the Power of Giving campaign to encourage individuals to make a powerful impact on their community.

Tickets for the WEDU Be More Awards™ luncheon and ceremony taking place on Thursday, February 9, 2012 at the A La Carte Event Pavilion are $50 per person, $600 for Community Heroes table for 10, or $1,000 for a Philanthropist table of 10. For more information or to make reservations for the WEDU Be More Awards™ – an inspiring celebration of community goodwill – visit wedu.org/BeMore or call WEDU at (800) 354-9338 ext 2241. The deadline for reservations is Friday, February 3, 2012.

The 2012 ceremony, celebrating outstanding achievements by individuals and nonprofit organizations in west central Florida, is supported in part by The Bank of Tampa, Verizon Foundation, St. Petersburg Times, A La Carte Event Pavilion, AVSS, American Marketing and Mailing Services, ABC Action News, Foelgner, Ronz &Straw, Nielsen, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida, Happy Feet Plus, Bernard F. & Mary Ann Powell Foundation.

# # #

WEDU is west central Florida’s leading PBS station and public media company reaching 16 counties through multiple media platforms including on-air programming and online experiences that broaden horizons, transport and transform and open gateways to new ideas and new worlds. Financially supported by the community, the organization offers a wealth of award-winning inspirational, educational and enlightening content over a variety of multi-media platforms including: television programming; opportunities to serve extended communities through the station’s fully interactive website, wedu.org and various social media platforms; monthly member magazine Premiere, educational outreach activities and a myriad of special events. WEDU prides itself on its position in the Tampa Bay community as a leader, partner, informed citizen and a member of PBS, the most trusted institution in America (2010 GfK Roper Public Affairs Media Survey).
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