On November 27, 2018, the Cobb Collaborative (CC) hosted its 25th annual Human Services Award Luncheon.
The lunch and awards ceremony took place at the Mansour Conference Center, 995 Roswell Street in Marietta and recognized nominees from local Cobb County businesses and nonprofit organizations.
Milton J. Little Jr., president and CEO of United Way of Greater Atlanta, delivered the keynote address, highlighting the need to remember and serve all children and their families for the good of the community.
Nominees were recognized for their dedication to working with or volunteering with those less fortunate in the community, professionalism within the community, collaboration with others and involvement in the community.
The Collaborative awarded Rev. Harden Perry of the Harmony House with the volunteer award and Tara Riddle with Cobb Legal Aid with the professional award.
The William E. “Bill” Hanson Collaboration Award was presented to Rev. Roger Vest, lead pastor with Powder Springs First United Methodist Church.
The nine nominees in the volunteer category included Monica Delancy, nominated by We Thrive in Riverside Renters Association; Leroy “Tre” Hutchins, nominated by Bryant Elementary School PTA; Barbara and Lance LoRusso, nominated by SafePath Children’s Advocacy Center; Tedd Mendelsohn, nominated by WorkSource Cobb/CobbWorks; Natalie Moore, nominated by Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Metro Atlanta; Rev. Perry nominated by Harmony House; Mallory Price, nominated by Rescuing Hope and Shelby Torbert, nominated by Cobb Senior Services.
Professional nominees included Shayla Jones, nominated by Communities in Schools of Georgia in Marietta/Cobb County; Riddle nominated by Cobb Legal Aid; Danine Walker nominated by Habitat for Humanity and Camilla Worrell nominated by Family Promise Cobb County.
“We are thrilled that so many individuals were recognized this year for their commitment and dedication to the great citizens of Cobb County,” said Irene Barton, Cobb Collaborative executive director. “The nominating organizations are representative of the enormous role that nonprofits play in creating the caring community that is Cobb County.”
The Jack Vaughan Jr. Human Services Award was established in 1994, in memory of his unselfish dedication to public service. Vaughan was a state representative and member of the Cobb Collaborative who strongly advocated for those less fortunate in the community. In memory of his service, the Collaborative honors a volunteer and a professional who have gone above and beyond to serve those in need.
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. He 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.
For more information, visit www.cobbcollaborative.org.