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Awards recognize corporate citizenship and community impact
Local United Way corporate partners Publix Supermarkets, Bank of America and Wells Fargo were recently recognized in Nashville as Summit Award recipients during a dinner meeting at the United Way Community Leaders Conference. Publix Super Markets was highlighted for their success in community impact and philanthropic engagement, Bank of America for community impact and volunteer engagement and Wells Fargo for volunteer engagement.
Publix Super Markets raised $45.6 million nationwide for United Way in 2011 and its associates volunteered a total of 900,000 hours. Publix also promotes United Way on 220 million grocery bags and within its customer newsletters. The company ranks number one on the Corporate Social Responsibility Index in addition to being among Fortune's "Most Admired Companies" for 17 years.
Bank of America and its employees raised more than $35 million nationwide for United Way in 2011 and volunteered more than 1.5 million hours. The bank also supported free income tax assistance resulting in more than 530,000 completed tax returns and $800 million in total refunds.
Wells Fargo is United Way's top national campaign raising more than $56 million annually, and team members volunteered more than 1.5 million hours in 2011. The company also offers a unique Volunteer Leave Program that provides fully paid volunteer leave for up to four months for team members to work on a significant project impacting a non-profit organization or school. In 2011, Wells Fargo awarded volunteer leave to more than 26 team members representing more than 32.5 months of paid leave. Overall, the company gave $213.5 million to non-profits.
United Way also awarded Dr. Thomas F. Frist, Jr. with the inaugural United Way Lifetime Achievement Award. The United Way Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes an individual whose contributions, sustained over a lifetime, have helped create opportunities for a better life for all and advance the common good in communities around the world.
Dr. Frist established the United Way Alexis de Tocqueville Society in 1981. The society helps celebrate and deepen relationships between United Way and community leaders. During its 30-year existence, the Alexis de Tocqueville Society has grown from ten communities recruited by Frist before 1984, to over 500 communities across the United States and around the world. Since 1981, Alexis de Tocqueville Society members have invested an average of about $600 million annually. Society members include Bill and Melinda Gates, Warren Buffet and more than 25,000 other families around the world.
“The impact of these Global Corporate Leaders as well as Dr. Frist is incredible,” commented Brian D. Hercules, President and CEO of the local United Way. “Without each of their efforts, United Way would not be what it is today. Our local community is greatly strengthened by their dedication and hard work."
Other Summit Award recipients included Deloitte, General Motors, Microsoft Corporation, and Illinois Tool Works. Proctor & Gamble received the Spirit of America award for philanthropy, volunteer efforts and community impact.
The Spirit of America and Summit Awards program, celebrating its 25th year, is United Way's highest national honor for a corporation, recognizing United Way Global Corporate Leaders with the most comprehensive commitments to strengthening communities.
For more information about United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties, please visit www.uwrutherford.org.
Murfreesboro, TN – The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) is pleased to announce that the City of Murfreesboro, Tennessee has received the GFOA’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its fiscal year 2012 budget.
It is the first time the City has won the prestigious award.
The award represents a significant achievement by the City. It reflects the commitment of the government body and staff to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting. In order to receive the budget award, the City had to satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation. These guidelines are designed to assess how well an entity’s budget serves as:
- A policy document
- A financial plan
- An operations guide
- A communications device
Budget documents must be rated “proficient” in all four categories, and the fourteen mandatory criteria within those categories, to receive the award.
When a Distinguished Budget Presentation Award is granted to an entity, a Certificate of Recognition is also presented to the individual or department designated as being primarily responsible for its having achieved the award. This has been presented to Robert J. Lyons, City Manager.
“We sought this award because its criteria were going to improve the presentation to the City Council and community about the work and finances of the City,” City Manager Rob Lyons said. “In addition to the spreadsheets containing the budget amounts, we added departmental accomplishments, goals for the upcoming year and data about the City to help the reader learn more about their government.
"The FY 12 proposed budget continues to fund city services that will meet the needs of our residents and businesses,” he continued. “It continues its focus on those goals established by City Council:
- safe and livable neighborhoods
- strong and sustainable economic and financial health
- excellent services with a focus on customer service
- engaging our community
“Civic Engagement is a new goal for this year even though we’ve been very active in it, he said. “We want to work hard to ensure that we are communicating with our residents and providing opportunities for input and dialogue.”
A copy of the budget is available on the City website’s home page (www.murfreesborotn.gov) and by hovering over the Open Government tab in the navigation bar to the left and clicking on Current Budget.
“A huge thank you goes to Melissa Wright, Erin Tucker and other members of the team in the City’s Finance Department for the quality and attention with which they worked on the budget,” said Murfreesboro Assistant City Manager Jim Crumley. “Normally, it takes three years of continuous improvement on the Budget document to qualify for the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award.
Murfreesboro’s budget qualified in only two years thanks to the knowledge and professionalism of the Finance staff, he said.
For budgets including fiscal period 2010, over 1,289 entities received the Award. Award recipients have pioneered efforts to improve the quality of budgeting and provide an excellent example for other governments throughout North America.
The Government Finance Officers Association is a nonprofit professional association serving nearly 17,400 government finance professionals throughout North America. The GFOA’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Awards Program is the only national awards program in governmental budgeting.
Awards ceremony coincides with National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week April 8-14, 2012
Murfreesboro, TN – Since being officially designated by Congress, public safety agencies across the country have recognized the instrumental role played by telecommunicators during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. Telecommunicators are the dedicated people who answer 9-1-1 calls, process calls for service and utilize technical skills to provide communications support to law enforcement, fire and emergency medical services. The second week of April is dedicated to these ‘first first responders’ who serve as public safety telecommunicators.
The Rutherford County Emergency Communications District (RCECD) hosted an awards breakfast on Friday, April 13 at the Embassy Suites Hotel & Conference Center to honor five telecommunicators who were being recognized by their respective public safety agencies for exemplary service.
“It has been a long standing tradition that the Rutherford County Emergency Communications District’s Board of Directors have taken time out each year to honor the outstanding men and women who answer the public’s calls to 911 seeking help”, said Steve Smith, Director of the RCECD/911.
The 2012 recipients of the Telecommunicator’s Award were Heather Pedigo of the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Department, Janie Lawrence of the Murfreesboro Police Department, Reasa Thibodeaux of the Smyrna Police Department, Priscilla West of the Lavergne Police Department and Suzie Cunningham of the Rutherford County Emergency Medical Service.
Lynn Questell, Executive Director of the Tennessee Emergency Communications Board was the keynote speaker. Questell expressed thanks to the award recipients as well as to all public safety telecommunicators in Rutherford County. “ The TECB and our staff will always continue working to ensure that Tennessee remains a national leader in 911 technologies, but those benefits could not be realized without your dedicated service.”
Created by public referendum in 1986, the Rutherford County Emergency Communications District provides Enhanced 9-1-1 emergency communications services through five public safety answering points (PSAPs) operating within Rutherford County.
Telecommunicators with Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office accepted the Meritorious Service Award Wednesday from the Sons of the American Revolution during National Telecommunicators Week April 8-14.
The Rev. Jim Diamond of the SAR’s Stones River Chapter presented the award in behalf of SAR President Glenn Taylor to Capt. Mike Fitzhugh and Lt. Candi McCluskey and their staff of 23 telecommunicators.
Telelcommunicators are “the heartbeat of this office,” Diamond said.
Diamond, who is a chaplain for Smyrna Police Department, said at the end of each shift he works he thanks the telecommunicators for their service.
“We’re proud of you,” Diamond told the telecommunicators.
Capt. Mike Fitzhugh supervises the Communications Division.
“It is extremely gratifying that the Sons of the American Revolution recognize the valuable services that the dispatchers of the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office provide to the citizens of the county,” Fitzhugh said. “The proclamation and the Meritorious Service Medal that Brother Jim Diamond presented to us on behalf of the SAR is most appreciated and will be displayed with pride in our Communications Center.”
Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Randy Garrett said the presentation was given during the annual National Telecommunicators Week.
“You all do a magnificent job,” Garrett said, adding the sheriff’s office appreciates the telecommunicators.
“You’re the first call for help,” Garrett said. “People depend on you.”
Sheriff’s telecommunicators work 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. In 2011, telecommunicators answered 32,014 911 calls, 76,504 calls for service and 259,345 administrative calls.
Murfreesboro, TN – Loosely based on its Civic Pride awards of a few years ago, the City of Murfreesboro’s Urban Environmental Department has announced its new Community Landscaping Award.
Nominations will be accepted beginning April 15 for May’s awards and the new program has rules that are trimmed down, are more efficient and easier to understand and will apply to all types of landscaping, urban Environmental Landscape Specialist/Inspector Brad Barbee explained.
Nominated properties will be judged by the Murfreesboro Urban Environmental Commission and a sign will be provided for the winners to post on their property as well as being displayed on the City’s website, said.
Winning properties will be selected during the months of May, June, July and August.
Nominated properties must be inside city limits.
The panel of judges will include urban environmental commission members, city officials, representatives of local landscape and commercial businesses and others.
The program is designed to publicly commend landscaping projects of outstanding aesthetic and artistic appeal, as well as projects that feature sound environmental practices, UE officials have pointed out. Entering the Civic Pride Award program is an easy and fun way to demonstrate neighborhood and civic pride, and help connect with the community of Murfreesboro.
Categories for entry include:
Single Family – Properties such as a house where one family resides. Nominated properties in this category should be maintained by the residents in order to be eligible.
Multi-Family – Properties such as a duplex, triplex, apartment or other similar properties that are either maintained by the residents or by a professional company.
Commercial/Industrial – Commercial businesses or industrial sites that are either maintained by the residents or by a professional company.
Residential HOA – This category is for properties with a Home Owners Association that maintains landscaping located on common areas inside the subdivision or community. Nominations in this category may be maintained by the residents or a professional company.
“Many of our residents and business owners maintain beautiful landscapes,” Barbee said. “These landscapes contribute greatly to the quality of life enjoyed by our citizens and visitors.”
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Murfreesboro, TN - The City of Murfreesboro has revamped its Civic Pride Awards program effective for the month of May this year.
Nominated properties will be judged by the Murfreesboro Urban Environmental Commission and a sign will be provided for the winners to post on their property as well as being displayed on the City’s website, UE’s Landscape Specialist/Inspector Brad Barbee said.
Winning properties will be selected during the months of May, June, July and August. Nominations for the May award will begin April 15, he added. Nominated properties must be inside city limits.
The panel of judges will include urban environmental commission members, city officials, representatives of local landscape and commercial businesses and others.
The program is designed to publicly commend landscaping projects of outstanding aesthetic and artistic appeal, as well as projects that feature sound environmental practices, UE officials have pointed out. Entering the Civic Pride Award program is an easy and fun way to demonstrate neighborhood and civic pride, and help connect with the community of Murfreesboro.
Categories for entry include:
Single Family – Properties such as a house where one family resides. Nominated properties in this category should be maintained by the residents in order to be eligible.
Multi-Family – Properties such as a duplex, triplex, apartment or other similar properties that are either maintained by the residents or by a professional company.
Commercial/Industrial – Commercial businesses or industrial sites that are either maintained by the residents or by a professional company.
Residential HOA – This category is for properties with a Home Owners Association that maintains landscaping located on common areas inside the subdivision or community. Nominations in this category may be maintained by the residents or a professional company.
Nominated properties must be within city limits.
“Many of our residents and business owners maintain beautiful landscapes,” Barbee said. “These landscapes contribute greatly to the quality of life enjoyed by our citizens and visitors.”
For more information, contact Brad Barbee ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) or Cynthia Holloway ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) or call 895-8059.
Out of over 3,500 Clubs from across the country, the Boys & Girls Club, Smyrna Unit has won the award for Best Overall Participation and Attendance by conducting a comprehensive program that helped increase the average daily attendance.
The Honor Awards are Boys & Girls Clubs of America's (BGCA) most coveted and prestigious awards. This program recognizes local Clubs from throughout the Movement for their achievements in outstanding local program development. Award-winning programs are fun, demonstrate imagination and are linked to observable youth development outcomes. And, year after year, they set new standards for program excellence.
“It is an absolute honor for the community, organization, Smyrna Unit, staff, and all of the volunteers and supporters,” said Todd Bale, Chief Professional Officer of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Rutherford County. “There is only one honor award recipient annually in the nation in that category. It is truly an incredible accomplishment, and we are all ecstatic and humbled to be selected this year. It is all of our hopes, dreams and aspirations come true for the youth in this community.”
On August 30, 2010, the Boys & Girls Club opened the doors to a new facility in Smyrna and they immediately increased their average daily attendance by 100 percent. They set a goal to reach an average daily attendance of 250 members by May 2011. By March they had exceeded the goal and were averaging 262 youth each day and by May 288 youth.
At the beginning of this school year they anticipated serving 250 members; however after the first month they were averaging 352 members per day with their highest daily attendance being 397 members. In August 2011, 467 members participated in Club programs forcing them to place new potential members on a waiting list.
“We knew that our numbers would increase with the opening of the new facility,” said Kelly Rubin, Boys & Girls Clubs of Rutherford County, Smyrna Unit Director. “Our staff did an amazing job recruiting members at local schools and implementing open houses, bring-a-friend day, parent’s night out, and family nights. Our biggest success for teen recruitment was through Smyrna West Alternative School. The school brought all of their students and faculty to our Club to offer hands on experience of Club life. Within days of their Club visit, more than twenty of their teens joined our program.”
With the dramatic increase to their membership and average daily attendance, the Smyrna Unit now ranks number one in the state of Tennessee for serving the most youth each day.
The mission of the Boys & Girls Club is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible citizens. To learn more about the Boys & Girls Club or any of their programs, visit www.bgcrc.net or call 893-KIDS.
Murfreesboro, TN – The Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce was recently notified that the Amazon fulfillment center project in Murfreesboro is on Trade & Industry Development magazine’s 7th annual list of CiCi (Corporate Investment & Community Impact) Award winners.
The Amazon project, which also includes the fulfillment center in Lebanon, is one of only 30 economic development projects nationally to receive the distinction. The project will bring over 1,000 jobs to Rutherford County.
“We are thrilled to receive this award for a project that so many people in our community worked together to bring to fruition,” said Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce President Paul Latture. “We appreciate Trade & Industry Development’s recognition of the positive impact the Amazon fulfillment center will have on Rutherford County.”
The CiCi Awards are unique in that they are a dual-awards program. They not only highlight the largest corporate investment projects, but also recognize those projects that may not involve large investments, but make the most notable impact on communities. There are a number of criteria considered for the impact division, including: number of new jobs created, number of current jobs retained, unemployment figures, income level of the region and plant closings.
According to the magazine’s editors, hundreds of submissions were received, from which only those that were announced and confirmed in 2011 were considered. The submissions were carefully scrutinized in both Corporate Investment and Community Impact categories, and the editors honed the selection to just 30 companies—based solely on verifiable information and without monetary influence. A full list of award winners is available at www.tradeandindustrydev.com.
Trade & Industry Development serves executives within specific vertical industries. Its mission is to help companies perpetuate success by providing clear and crucial insight into the challenge of site selection and facility planning. By working with thought leaders and experts in various fields, Trade & Industry Development provides actionable content that is both innovative and forward-looking. It is committed to being a valuable and trusted partner for C-suite executives, corporate real estate professionals and site consultants, enabling them to make the best possible decisions – for themselves, their companies and their shareholders.
The Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce seeks to promote economic development and a quality of life to benefit all residents of Rutherford County. Programs, events and services are offered to both members and non-members. The Chamber operates out of a main office on Medical Center Parkway in Murfreesboro, and branch offices in Smyrna and La Vergne. Learn more at www.rutherfordchamber.org.
Murfreesboro City Schools honored their Building Level and System Level Teachers of the Year at a reception in their honor last night. Below are photos of the 21 Teachers of the Year from each school and our two system level Teachers of the Year. Teachers of the Year are divided into categories by grade level. Murfreesboro City Schools recognizes one teacher from grades pre-k through 4 and one teacher from grades 5 & 6 according to state guidelines. These are exceptional teachers nominated by their peers.
Building Level Teachers of the Year are:
Bellwood-Bowdoin Preschool - Stacy Poston
Black Fox - Karen Hartley & Kandy Powers
Bradley Academy - Diana McKnight & Kathy Urbina
Cason Lane Academy - Laura Roark & Sherri McElroy
Discovery School at Reeves-Rogers - Chandra Verbic & Stacey Burt
Erma Siegel Elementary - Cindy Peaster & Buffy Davenport
Hobgood Elementary - Tres Holmes & Guna Magnuson
John Pittard Elementary - Jennifer Grimes & Francina Jean Austin
Mitchell-Neilson Schools - Peggy Currier & Dionne McCullough
Northfield Elementary - Sheri Arnette & Kristi Knitter
Scales Elementary - Julie S. Ennamorato & Mala Womack
Dr. Cheryl Slaughter Ellis, professor of community and public health in MTSU’s Department of Health and Human Performance, is the recipient of the University’s 2012 John Pleas Faculty Recognition Award.
The award is presented each year to an MTSU faculty member who has contributed significantly to the teaching, research and service of African-Americans. The celebration of each honoree’s work is a regular part of the University’s observation of Black History Month.
Ellis was recognized during a special Feb. 28 ceremony at the MTSU Foundation House in Murfreesboro.
She and Pleas, a psychology professor emeritus at MTSU, joined the University faculty in 1985 as part of an effort to better diversify the faculty with nine new African-American professors. Ellis instigated the Pleas Award in 1997 to honor her fellow educator for his contributions to MTSU through teaching, mentoring, public service and obesity-treatment research.
“She exemplifies the professional educator at her best,” said Dr. Gloria Bonner of MTSU’s Office of Community Engagement and Support, a friend of Ellis’s as well as her former dean at the University.
“One of the things that impressed me most about Cheryl is her unquenchable search for knowledge,” added Pleas of his longtime colleague. “When I’m asked about professors at MTSU, I always hear [from former students] ‘She helped me a lot.’ She has a great deal of compassion for her students as well as her community.”
Pleas joked that his colleague “would have gotten this award sooner, but she always deferred to someone else. It was always, ‘Oh, I haven’t done enough. I need to do more. Give it to someone else.’ … Well, Cheryl, it’s your time.”
In addition to her extensive community health- and wellness-education efforts, including the popular National Youth Sports Program at MTSU, Ellis is a member of the honors and graduate faculty at MTSU. She is a native of Jackson, Miss., and a graduate of Jackson State University, the University of Southern Mississippi and the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.
As an advocate for community and public health, Ellis, a certified health-education specialist, has appeared as a guest on numerous radio and TV programs. In collaboration with Nashville’s Meharry Medical College and MTSU, she has presented and coordinated hundreds of health-education programs, including workshops, fairs and seminars, in nearly two dozen Tennessee counties.
Watch a brief video about the 2012 award presentation below.
