The Caring for Community Awards shine a light on outstanding individuals and organizations doing incredible work to make our community a better place for everyone. We announced the honorees of the 2024 Caring for Community Awards, presented by Woodard Properties, at this year’s Day of Caring Kickoff Breakfast. These awards are given out based on open nominations and voting in our community.
Congratulations to this year’s honorees:
· Zyahna Bryant – Above and Beyond Voice for Equity, presented by Dominion Energy
· Raylaja Waller, City of Promise – Above and Beyond Voice for Community Collaboration, presented by Sentara Health
· Shymora Cooper, Financial Opportunity Center – Above and Beyond Voice for Financial Empowerment
· Barrett Early Learning Center – Above and Beyond Voice for Early Education, presented by Sentara Health
· City of Promise – Above and Beyond Nonprofit
· Krissy Cakes – Above and Beyond Business (Non-Childcare Provider)
· On Our Own – Above and Beyond Healthcare Provider
· Charlsie Stratton, City of Charlottesville Department of Human Services – Above and Beyond Employee (Non-Childcare Worker), presented by Woodard Properties
· Pilgrim Baptist Church – Above and Beyond Faith-Based Community or Group
Honorees should be incredible proud of the service they have given to our community that got them here. Zyahna Bryant, honoree for the Above and Beyond Voice for Equity award, presented by Dominion Energy, stated “Care is a foundational element of community. It means the world to me to know that we have organizations like the United Way of Greater Charlottesville that prioritize the work of celebrating and uplifting those who care for our region. As a 2024 Caring for Community honoree, I am grateful for the support and partnership that the United Way has provided. I am grateful to be in such good company.”
Raylaja Waller, honoree for the Above and Beyond Voice for Community Collaboration award, presented by Sentara, encouraged everyone to get inspired by the awards and do the work to make our area better, no matter how big of an impact you think you can make: “Being active in my community is very important to me. I always say ‘community faces change spaces’ because people respond better and get more involved when they see someone who looks like them, coming from the same area, who has faced the same difficulties that they have, are out here still pushing forward, doing the heart work, and giving back, even when facing challenges of their own. You don’t have to have a huge following or come from a notable financial background to be active in your community.”
We also announced the Volunteer of the Year, who is personally nominated by a local nonprofit. Congratulations to the 2024 Volunteer of the Year, Carolyn Achenbach, for her work at Botanical Garden of the Piedmont! Carolyn is a Garden donor and Board member, Advisory Council member, the Development Committee Chair, member of multiple other committees, a donor steward, and a weed puller. Since 2017, she has given the Garden over 2,900 hours in service.
Thank you to our 2024 Caring for Community Awards sponsors, who help make it possible to celebrate the unsung heroes in our area:
· Woodard Properties, Presenting Sponsor
· C-VILLE Weekly, Supporting Sponsor
· Sentara, Supporting Sponsor
· Dominion Energy, Supporting Sponsor