2017 COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARDS NOMINEES
Nominees for Organization of the Year
Cooperative Christian Ministries and Clinic
Since its inception under the original name of the Charitable Christian Medical Clinic in 1997, CCMC has provided medical care for approximately 11,000 lives.
CCMC is able to facilitate medical services for low-income households; this includes medication, referrals to specialists, dental, vision and general medical care. Additionally, it has operated solely on private funding since its inception with the ability to prove conservative stewardship and use of the donated funds.
Garage Church
The Garage Church was founded in April 2010 with a mission to be an effective church that is especially relevant to people whose lives are dysfunctional due to lifestyle choices or poverty.
The largest ministry of the Garage Church is teaching anger management. The church has helped more than 3,000 students. It also works with Cooperative Christian Ministries and Clinic in its Getting Ahead in Just A Getting By World and Getting Ahead While Getting Out programs.
Garland County Habitat for Humanity
Garland County Habitat for Humanity is dedicated to eliminating substandard housing locally and worldwide through constructing, rehabilitating and preserving homes, by advocating for fair and just housing policies and by providing training and access to resources to help families improve their shelter conditions.
GCHFH has built 132 homes since the organization began in 1995 and has helped improve the lives of more than 500 people to date.
Oaklawn Center on Aging
Oaklawn Center on Aging is an education resource center and a program of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and the Reynolds Institute on Aging. OCOA began offering programs in April of 2009.
A satellite of the Reynolds Institute on Aging, it offers educational programs for the community, healthcare professionals and students regarding geriatrics and aging well. The mission of OCOA is to “Provide a dynamic comprehensive environment where citizens find wellness, education and health services that enrich their quality of life and optimizes healthy aging.”
Ouachita Children’s Center
The mission of the Ouachita Children’s Center is to advocate for children, provide emergency shelter and quality services for youth and families and empower them to achieve lifelong success.
OCC provided a safe haven for more than 235 children in 2017. It has been a valued agency in the community since 1977, having recently celebrated its 40th year of serving children and families.
Quapaw House Inc.
Quapaw House Inc. is a private, nonprofit, community-based substance abuse treatment provider that was established in 1980 in Hot Springs, Ark. It has grown to become the largest and premier provider of substance abuse treatment services in the State of Arkansas.
The organization has a range of programs from medical detoxification to residential and outpatient programs, as well as DASEP (Drug and Alcohol Safety Education Program), prevention services, primary healthcare services, community health center and childcare services.
Suicide Prevention Allies
Suicide Prevention Allies is dedicated to reducing the frequency of suicide attempts and deaths and ameliorating the pain for those affected by suicide deaths through research projects, evidence-based educational programs, intervention services and bereavement services.
It is developing survivor specific methods and innovations that can aid the community in promoting healing and understanding for those who have suffered from the many effects of suicide. It promotes open and frank conversations about mental health and substance misuse.
Tri-Lakes CASA
Tri-Lakes CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), formerly Garland County CASA, envisions a community where every child is given the opportunity to thrive in a safe, loving and permanent home free from abuse and neglect.
It pursues this vision through its mission: To provide trained advocates to safeguard the best interests of all abused and neglected children by providing factual information to the court to guide decisions made on their behalf.
Women’s Chamber of Commerce
The Women’s Chamber of Commerce devotes its entire energy to the advancement of civic, commercial and cultural interests in the Hot Springs and Garland County area.
The Women’s Chamber of Commerce, with membership open to any area resident, encourages its members to awaken their natural abilities to serve others through their combined efforts, learn more about their community and incorporate what they learn and share to develop the leadership and humanitarian potential in each of them.
LakePointe City Church
The mission statement for LakePointe City Church is simply, “LakePointe is a place to belong as you change, change as you follow Jesus.”
LakePointe is called a “City Church” because from the beginning it was created for Hot Springs and Garland County. Its goal is to make a significant positive impact for all who live in the community. LakePointe is committed to meeting the needs of the community while sharing the love of Jesus.