City of Bloomington Celebrates 2024 Be More Award Recipients

The City of Bloomington today announced the recipients of the 2024 Be More Awards. The annual Be More Awards honor exceptional volunteers and promote volunteerism and civic engagement in the Bloomington community. 

 

In honor of the volunteer’s outstanding service, each non-profit agency represented by one of the eight Be More Award recipients will receive a $1,000 cash award provided by the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County.

 

“Volunteers are the heartbeat of local non-profits, helping them provide vital and meaningful programs to our neighbors,” said Mayor Kerry Thomson. “When we collaborate to build a better Bloomington together, we achieve amazing results. Please join us at the ceremony to celebrate these outstanding community members.”

 

The following recipients will be honored on Thursday, April 25, at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater. The event begins with a meet & greet from 5:45 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., and the awards ceremony begins promptly at 6:30 p.m. The celebration is free, family-friendly, and open to members of the community. 

 

Be More Bloomington Award is presented to an individual or group demonstrating excellence in response to community challenges in 2023.  

Winner: El Centro Comunal Latino Volunteers

 

Be More Creative Award honors volunteer work within the arts community. 

Winner: Sandra Freund, for her work with Area 10 Agency on Aging's Sing for Joy! Community Choir

 

Be More Dedicated Award is presented to an individual or couple over the age of 60 for their lifetime of service.

Winner: Phillip Trimble, for his lifetime of dedication to the community through his work with Wheeler Mission—Bloomington

 

Be More Energized Award honors an individual or group under the age of 25. 

Sriram Srinivasan, for outstanding work with Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Indiana

 

Be More Impactful Award/Group honors the volunteer group of the year.

Winner: SCCAP Thriving Connections' Talking About Change Advisory Group

 

Be More Impactful Award/Individual honors the volunteer of the year.

Winner: Lauren McCalister, for her work with People's Cooperative Market

 

Be More Phenomenal Award is presented to outstanding leadership through board, commission, or committee involvement.

Winner: James Sanders, for his outstanding involvement with the City of Bloomington Commission on the Status of Black Males

 

Special Group Recognition Award is the selection committee’s special award spotlighting the outstanding efforts of volunteer groups in the community.

Winner: Indiana Recovery Alliance Volunteers

 

Bloomington Volunteer Network Coordinator Michelle Moss noted that the Be More Awards are made possible due to support from the City of Bloomington Community and Family Resources Department,  the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County, IU Credit Union, United Way of South Central Indiana, and WTIU Public Television.

 

For additional information about the Be More Award recipients or the awards ceremony, contact Michelle Moss at michelle.moss@bloomington.in.gov or by phone at 812-349-3433.