Nominations Open for 2010 CBG Don King Community Service Awards

By: Charlotte Business Guild
Publication: 07/12/2010
Author: Bert Woodard

2010 Charlotte Business Guild/Don King Community Service Awards nominations open

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 12, 2010

CONTACT: Melissa Woods, Charlotte Business Guild President, 704-565-5075, businessguild@yahoo.com

Award annually recognizes service to the gay and lesbian community

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Nominations open through July 31, 2010 for the 2010 Charlotte Business Guild/Don King Community Service Awards. To make a nomination or to request a form, please e-mail businessguild@yahoo.com or call 704-565-5075.

Named in honor of local gay community leader Don King and sponsored by the Charlotte Business Guild, the Don King Award originated with the organizing committee of the 1993 Charlotte Pride Committee. The award is to acknowledge the service and commitment to community and individual visibility that Don King has consistently shown over the years. The award is to give public recognition to leaders in the Charlotte LGBT community and straight allies.

The 2010 awards will be officially presented on September 15 at a special ceremony at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Uptown Charlotte.

The Charlotte Business Guild (CBG), a networking organization for lesbian and gay professionals, sponsors and manages the annual award.

The 2010 Charlotte Business Guild/Don King Community Service Awards will be presented to an individual and business, as well as a “Bridge Builder” Award given to a “straight ally,” based on nominations submitted to and reviewed by the Charlotte Business Guild’s Board of Directors. Members of the Charlotte community are encouraged to submit nominations to the selection committee by July 31, 2010.

Nominations are welcome from any individual or organization. The nominee should be from the Charlotte area, working on a regular basis to achieve progress and/or visibility on behalf of all LGBT people. The award is usually presented to someone or a business who has contributed FIVE OR MORE YEARS to projects in the community.

Nominations should be submitted via U.S. mail or e-mail to: Melissa Woods, Charlotte Business Guild President, P.O. Box 33371, Charlotte, NC 28233, or businessguild@yahoo.com.
Nominations should include a narrative explaining why you think this person or business should receive the award, and examples of some of the work this person or business has performed in service to the Charlotte LGBT community. Nominations are due by July 31, 2010.

Past recipients of the Award are: Don King (1993); David Ferebee (‘94); Sue Henry and Dan Kirsch (‘95); Sue DuChanois and John Quillin (’96); Kimberly Melton and Randy Votsch (’97); Diana Travis and the founders of the Charlotte Gay & Lesbian Film Series (’98); David Lari and Connie Vetter (’99); Phil Wells and the late Billie Rose (2000); Tonda Taylor and Jeff Schmehl (’01); Susan Shackelford and the late Alan Rosenberg (’02); Rev. Tonyia Rawls and Tom Warshauer (’04); Linda Breen, Shane Windmeyer, Q-Notes Newspaper (’05); LaWana Mayfield, Darryl Logsdon, Southern Estates (VanLandingham Estate, Morehead Inn) (’06); Curtis Tutt, Candice Whiteside, The Charlotte Eagle (’07); Frank Kalian, Kelley Doherty, Rev. Debbie Warren, Dr. Stephen Shoemaker, Rabbi Judy Schindler and Tyvola Design (’08); and 2009: Scott Vitez, Sabrena Gray, Denise Palm-Beck and Hartigan’s on Cedar (’09). There were no awards given in 2003.

The Charlotte Business Guild (www.charlottebusinessguild.org), founded in 1992, conducts social and networking programs throughout the year for its 200-plus members. The Business Guild is a participating member of the Charlotte Chamber’s Diversity Advisory Cabinet.

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