(BLOOMINGTON) – City of Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton encourages community members and groups to nominate outstanding volunteers for the Be More Awards, the community volunteer awards presented by the City of Bloomington Volunteer Network. Nominations are being accepted through February 3, 2020 at www.BloomingtonVolunteerNetwork.org/bemore.
“Bloomington thrives because so many talented, caring and energetic folks give freely of their time and resources,” said Hamilton. “Whether volunteering at our social service agencies, cultural organizations, neighborhood associations, or City boards and commissions, the people who show up and get involved are essential to keeping our community strong.”
Nominations may be submitted by members of the general public, community agencies, or family members. Awards are made in ten of twelve categories, including issue-oriented categories recognizing commitment to arts/culture, wellness/recreation/fitness, animal welfare, education/literacy, and environmental sustainability; and demographic categories recognizing volunteers who are under 18, 60 and above, and college students. Additional categories recognize those who volunteer as part of a group or with other family members and board member service. Finally, the Be More Bloomington Award recognizes an outstanding individual or group that has demonstrated a high level of community impact and embodies community goodwill. A complete list of categories is available at the Bloomington Volunteer Network website, where profiles of the 2019 award winners and nominees, together with links to ongoing volunteer opportunities are posted.
The Be More Awards ceremony will take place on Tuesday, March 31, 2020, from 7 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater, 114 E. Kirkwood Ave. Nominees and nominators will be invited to a private reception before the free, public awards presentation. Each of the ten Be More Award recipients will receive $500 from the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County for the nonprofit organization where they donate their time. Additional co-sponsors include the IU Credit Union, the United Way of Monroe County, the City’s Community and Family Resources Department and WTIU Public Television.
“The Be More Awards give every one of us the opportunity to say thank you to a volunteer by submitting a nomination,” said Lucy Schaich, director of the City of Bloomington Volunteer Network. “Taking the time to acknowledge and express gratitude to the many community members who give so generously of their time and talents is a great way to shine a spotlight on how essential the role of volunteers is in our community.”