Heart of the Community accepting nominations

Nominations are being accepted for the annual program that honors individuals who have worked tirelessly to improve the community through volunteerism.

The Heart of the Community Foundation Inc. and its Board of Governors are accepting nominations of potential recipients for the 31st anniversary of the Heart of the Community Awards of Honor. The deadline for nominations is Oct. 23.

According to Michelle Picon, chair of the board of governors, the awards committee searches for indi- viduals who have given their time and talents to make this community a better place in which to live through their selfless dedication to volunteer and community service.

“Candidates who should be considered for the award are those ‘unsung heroes’ who have distinguished themselves through volunteer services that have greatly impacted the lives of children, the elderly, disadvantaged or the community-at-large. Their service could be in any or several of the following areas: education, religion, health and medicine, government, community, humanitarian, youth, arts, general leadership, retired/past service, conservation, or others,” he said.

Categories for nominations include: Board of Governors Award, Awards of Honor, a Young Heart Award — for those 40 years of age or younger — and an Employer Community Service Award.

Over the past 31 years approximately 234 individuals Michelle Picon have received these awards.

“In order for us to continue our long-standing tradition of honoring some of Rome’s unsung heroes, we need the community to support our efforts by nominating deserving individuals that have touched their lives or the lives of others. Please look around in our community and recommend those you see who are going the extra mile in giving back through their community service. You know there are outstanding volunteers working diligently behind the scenes, don’t let a deserving individual go unnoticed,” Picon said.

Award recipients will be selected by an anonymous committee in November and announced in January.

They, along with the Board of Governors’ Award recipient, will be honored at the 32nd annual black tie event, An Affair of the Heart, which will be held on Feb. 17, 2018, at the Forum River Center in downtown Rome.

Nomination forms are available at Redmond Medical Center, the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce, and the Greater Rome Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Nomination forms can also be found at www. theheartofthecommunity. org or the Heart of Community Foundation Facebook page.

For questions or additional information: Call Wanda Whitten at 706 802-3924.

Redmond Regional Medical Center is the sponsor of the Heart of the Community Awards of Honor. Single ad, with photo: $25

Single ad with Military Branch Seal: $25