Walton Options for Independent Living is pleased to announce the finalists for its Most Valuable Partner Community Awards. Designed to recognize and honor those that have worked to create a more inclusive community for persons with disabilities, the MVP Community Awards finalists represent a wide range of organizations, businesses, programs, and advocates from the CSRA.
 
The MVP Community Awards finalists are:

Inclusive Community Award: Barney’s Pharmacy, Dyas Human Resource Development, Chick-fil-A (North Augusta), and North Augusta High School’s Varsity Football Program;
Outstanding Service Organization Award: Marty Turcios Therapeutic Golf, Signature Speech Services, Dreamcatchers Support Group, and The Master’s Transportation Ministry;
Outstanding Individual Advocate Award: Gerald Powell, Bryan Hensley, Mallory Lanier, and Lisa Tindal.
 
“This year’s nominations presented us with a unique set of candidates,” said Tiffany Clifford, Executive Director at Walton Options for Independent Living. “Many of the nominees’ activities and actions crossed our category lines with their inclusive programs and practices. Our selection committees felt many of the nominees fit into multiple categories and as a response, we created the Inclusive Community Award which combines the ideals of the Inclusive Employment, Community Government and Public Accommodation Awards into a more suited, rounded category.”
 
Walton Options is also pleased to announce the MVP Community Awards finalists & winners will be honored on Wednesday, October 25 at the Legends Club on Washington Road during a Celebration Luncheon hosted by WJBF’s Barclay Bishop. In addition, to speak more on the power of inclusion and innovation, Walton Options welcomes Jeff Eiseman, the president of the Augusta GreenJackets (Agon Sports & Entertainment), as the guest speaker for the Celebration.
 
Members of the community are invited to attend the Celebration Luncheon, meet the finalists, and network with those working to use innovation to drive inclusion in the CSRA. Event registration is a $25 contribution per attendee. For more information about the Finalists and the Luncheon, visit www.waltonoptions.org/2017mvplunch/ or call 706-724-6262.
 
The MVP Community Awards are unique as they are the only Public Awards in the CSRA designed to honor those who are working towards an inclusive community for persons with disabilities. Across the area, individuals, businesses, organizations, and a variety of support networks are working to create a community that embraces the spirit of inclusion, independence and equality set forth in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The MVP Community Awards were started in 2015 during the ADA’s 25th Anniversary.