The 21st Century Council and the FSU College of Education announced the winners of the 2020 Gant and Kaufman Award winners at the United Partners for Human Services 2020 virtual conference. There were a number of applications for each award and the review committee, from the Council and the College of Education, were challenged to select awardees.
The Jack Gant Innovative Community Program Award highlights a highly effective or innovative practice that addresses a critical need in the community. Jack Gant was the first African-American dean of the FSU College of Education and charter member of the Council.
This year the Council and FSU decided to give two $500 awards thanks to the generosity of two Council members. One recipient is the Sickle Cell Foundation’s Project Thrive, The second is 2-1-1 Big Bend for its Covid-19 efforts. Congratulations to both fine organizations for their efforts to improve the quality of life for those at risk in our community.
The Roger Kaufman Exemplary Community Agency Award honors FSU Professor Emeritus Roger Kaufman who also supported several of the Council’s past projects. The Award recognizes the effective use of needs data and the reporting of demonstrable program impacts and outcomes.
The 2020 recipient of the $1000 Kaufman Award is Elder Care Services. They were notable for being able to document their success in keeping at-risk seniors from hospitalization and long-term institutional care.
Jim Croteau from the 21st Century Council and Kevin Derryberry of the FSU Foundation expressed their congratulations as part of the UPHS conference online awards recognition along with Amber Tynan, UPHS Executive Director.