2012 Excellence Awards

2011 Winners

Excellence in Advocacy Award

This award recognizes a nonprofit organization whose work has affected significant public policy change through the education and mobilization of constituents, the general public, and/or public policy decision makers.

2012 Excellence in Advocacy Finalists

  • EPOCA – Worcester
  • MassEquality – Boston
  • MotherWoman – Amherst
  • Youth Jobs Coalition – Dorchester

Winner: MotherWoman

Excellence in Board Leadership Award

This award recognizes a nonprofit organization that exemplifies best practices in board governance and effectively partners with staff resulting in improved outcomes and/or increased resources.

  • Acre Family Child Care – Lowell
  • Friday Night Supper Program – Boston
  • Friends of Resiliency for Life – Framingham
  • Lawyers Clearinghouse – Boston

Winner: Friday Night Supper Program

Excellence in Collaboration Award

This award recognizes two or more nonprofit organizations that have partnered to achieve an outcome that furthers the mission of each organization and could not have been achieved separately.

2012 Excellence in Collaboration Finalists

  • Acre Family Child Care – Lowell
  • The Civitan Club of Pittsfield – Pittsfield
  • Inquilinos Boricuas en Accion (IBA) – Boston
  • Boston Youth Arts Evaluation Project (BYAEP) – Boston/Lynn

Winner: Boston Youth Arts Evaluation Project

Excellence in Communications Award

This award recognizes a nonprofit organization that effectively used new and/or traditional media to increase the use of programs and services, or to create awareness of a specific issue or need.

2012 Excellence in Communications Finalists

  • Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Boston – Boston
  • Crittenton Women’s Union – Boston
  • The School for Field Studies – Beverly
  • The Cotting School – Lexington

Winner: The School for Field Studies

Excellence in Innovation Award

This award recognizes a nonprofit organization that has made substantial progress toward key outcomes through use of new approaches or strategies.

2012 Excellence in Innovation Finalists

  • 119 Gallery – Lowell
  • Families United in Educational Leadership (FUEL) – Boston
  • Ethos – Jamaica Plain
  • The Immigrant Learning Center, Inc. – Malden

Winner: Families United in Educational Leadership

Excellence in Leadership Award

This award recognizes a nonprofit leader whose strategic vision, passion, perseverance and collaborative style have led to extraordinary organizational or programmatic results.

2012 Excellence in Leadership Finalists

  • Robin Organ, Green Schools – Mansfield
  • Sister Lena Deevy, Irish International Immigrant Center – Boston
  • Dorcas Grigg-Saito, Lowell Community Health Center – Lowell
  • Ronald Willoughby, Springfield Rescue Mission – Springfield

Winner: Dorcas Grigg-Saito

Young Professional Award

This award recognizes a nonprofit leader whose strategic vision, passion, perseverance and collaborative style have led to extraordinary organizational or programmatic results.  This award is targeted to individuals 35 years of age or younger.

2012 Young Professional Finalists

  • Nicki Eastburn, Assabet Valley Collaborative/Family Success Partnership – Marlborough
  • Marquis Cabrera, Foster Skills, Inc. – Woburn
  • Joanne Patterson, REACH Beyond Domestic Violence, Inc. – Waltham
  • Jon Feinman, Inner City Weightlifting – Boston

Winner: Nicki Eastburn