ENID, OK - Loaves and Fishes of Northwest Oklahoma and The Enid Symphony Orchestra are two of twenty four Oklahoma organizations that are now finalists for a $10,000 award and the title of the state’s top nonprofit, thanks to the prestigious Oklahoma Nonprofit Excellence (ONE) Awards, annually presented by the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits.
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“As a fairly young hunger-relief organization, in operation less than 5 years, we are honored to be a finalist at the ONE Awards and recognized as a leading nonprofit,” reports Carrie Sanders, Executive Director of Loaves and Fishes.
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“The Enid Symphony Orchestra strives to offer performances and educational opportunities of the highest caliber to the community.” As explained by ESO Music Director Douglas Newell, “Preserving the cultural achievements of past generations is only one aspect of our mission. ESO programming promotes symphonic music of American composers of the present and more recent past including music composed for film and stage. This includes commissioning and premiering new symphonic music by Oklahoma composers in particular. As a model project for corporate/non-profit alliances, the facilities of the Enid Symphony Center and the ESO’s unique initial partnership with Advance Food Company are a frequent topic at regional and national conferences focused on the corporate community involvement and the preservation of historic properties.”
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On April 29, 2017, the 24 finalists will join supporters at Tulsa’s Renaissance Tulsa Hotel & Convention Center to celebrate and hear the announcement of winners at The Tenth Annual ONE Awards. Finalists are divided into eight mission categories and receive $5,000, with category winners receiving $7,500. At the end of the evening, an overall winner receives $10,000 and the title of the top nonprofit in the state. In total, organizations receive $150,000 to recognize the impact of their charitable work throughout the state. In April, the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits will have given $1.5 million dollars to more than 150 Oklahoma nonprofits thanks to the ONE Awards.
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This year, the Center will recognize the work of all past winners as part of the 10-year anniversary celebration. The 2017 ONE Awards are being chaired by Tulsans Billie and Howard Barnett. The Barnetts, no stranger to nonprofit leadership in Oklahoma, said they were honored to chair the prestigious event, the only one of its kind in the state.
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“This is one of the best nights of the year for nonprofits,” Billie Barnett said. “Every single person in the room is so enthusiastic. There is such an energy there. It’s indescribable. And best of all, every nonprofit honored goes home a winner thanks to the generosity of our visionary sponsors.”
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“We work hard every day to serve emergency food assistance to our hungry neighbors in Enid and it’s always rewarding when others recognize our impact, “Sanders said. “Winning a financial award with this honor and gaining statewide recognition will enables us to fulfill our mission and continue the work of Fighting Hunger…Feeding Hope through healthy food choices.”
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“The Enid Symphony Orchestra is honored to receive a 2017 ONE Award for its efforts to serve the citizens northwest Oklahoma. Music is a universal language of peace and understanding. Our recently expanded efforts to impact the lives of young people through the resources of the Carnegie Hall Link Up music education program may be evidenced for years to come as these children grow to take their rightful place in a world that is desperate for global harmony.” Douglas Newell
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Out of almost 19,000 nonprofits statewide, only 24 were named finalists.
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Awards are presented in the following eight categories:
Arts and Humanities
Community
Education
Health Services
Self-Sufficiency
Seniors
Youth Development
Open
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The ONE Awards Selection Commission, a group of prestigious community leaders from across Oklahoma, determine the finalists. The Commission, chaired by David Hogan, includes, Kathie Coyle, Nance Diamond, J. Jerry Dickman, Lisa Greenlee, Kim Henry, Phil Lakin, Jr., Frank Merrick, Polly Nichols, Meg Salyer, Wendi Schuur and Mary Kate Wilson.
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“The finalists are recognized, not merely for their efforts to better their community, but for their quality of process toward that effort,” said David Hogan, Chairman of the ONE Awards Selection Commission. “From top level management to part time staff, these are committed individuals working together for the greater good of all Oklahomans.”
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Loaves and Fishes runs a client-choice food pantry and has a nutrition focus committed to increasing the access to high-quality food. Client leave with an entire grocery cart full of fresh produce, dairy foods, meat, whole grains, and other dry and canned goods of their choice.
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The mission of the Enid Symphony Association is to maintain a symphonic ensemble which will enrich the quality of life in the Greater Enid area and serve as a cultural ambassador to the region and state. This is to be accomplished through the presentation of predominately classical symphonic music to an ever increasing audience representative of the diverse population of our constituent community.
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To purchase tickets or for sponsorship information for the 2017 ONE Awards, please call (800) 338-1798 or visit www.okcnp.org. The Renaissance Tulsa Hotel and Convention Center is located at 6808 South 107th East Avenue, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74133.
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The ONE Awards sponsors include the Potts Family Foundation, The Barnett Family Foundation, Boeing, The H.A. and Mary K. Chapman Charitable Foundations, The Chickasaw Nation, Chahta Foundation, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Cherokee Nation, Moran Family Foundation, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation and The Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation.
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Two Enid Nonprofits Finalists for ONE Awards
