CC HUMAN SERVICES AWARDS

On Tuesday, November 28, the Cobb Collaborative (CC) hosted its 24th Annual Human Services Award Luncheon. The lunch and awards ceremony took place at the Mansour Conference Center, and recognized nominees from local Cobb County businesses and nonprofit organizations. Nominees were recognized for their dedication to working with or volunteering with those less fortunate in our community, professionalism within the community, collaboration with others and involvement in the community. Pictured above are all the nominees.

Brenda Rhodes

Missy Owen

The Council awarded Brenda Rhodes with Simple Needs GA with the volunteer award and Missy Owen with the Davis Direction Foundation with the professional award.  The William E. “Bill” Hanson Collaboration Award was presented to Campus Awareness, Resource & Empowerment (CARE) Services of Kennesaw State University.

The twelve volunteer category nominees included Steven Bell, nominated by A. W. Tony Matthews Boys & Girls Club; Jenny Bodycomb, nominated by Loving Arms Cancer Outreach; Michael Christian, nominated by Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Metro Atlanta; Joy Doss, nominated by The Center for Family Resources; Dawn Levine, nominated by Legal Aid of Cobb County; Erin Mulgrew, nominated by Keep Cobb Beautiful; Chip Nelson, nominated by SafePath Children’s Advocacy Center; Renee Newell, nominated by the Davis Direction Foundation; Stephanie Pereda, nominated by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta; Rhea Pridgen, nominated by The Extension; Brenda Rhodes, nominated by Simple Needs GA and Waymon Story, nominated by the South Cobb Lion’s Club.

Professional nominees included James Ausenbaugh, nominated by Legal Aid of Cobb County; Captain Everett Cebula, nominated by the Cobb County Policy Department; Sandy Mitchell, nominated by Marietta YELLS, and Missy Owen, nominated by the Davis Direction Foundation

The Jack Vaughan, Jr. Human Services Award was established in 1994 in memory of his unselfish dedication to public service. Jack Vaughan, Jr. was a state representative and member of the Cobb Collaborative who strongly advocated for those less fortunate in our community. In memory of Jack’s service, the Collaborative honors a volunteer and a professional who have gone above and beyond to serve those in need. Otis Brumby stated, “Vaughan always gave his best and what remains is the memory of an earnest young man eager to serve -one whose motto was selflessness, not selfishness.”

The William E. (Bill) Hanson Collaboration Award was established in 2008 to honor Bill Hanson for his more than 25 years of service to Cobb County. He is recognized for his collaborative spirit and bringing the Cobb nonprofit organizations together to tackle issues and concerns. Bill was one of the founders of the Cobb Human Services Coalition, a forerunner of the Cobb Collaborative and served in a variety of leadership positions with the CC. Each year the CC identifies a person or organization that represents the true meaning of collaboration.