True Inspiration Awards

22

Award Recipients

Helping every child become all they were created to be

At Chick-fil-A we believe in hard work and leading by example, and we’re passionate about helping our nation’s youth be everything they can be and more. All we do represents the generous spirit that flowed through our founder, Truett Cathy.

The True Inspiration Awards represent that spirit and the Chick-fil-A Foundation’s mission. Each year, we recognize organizations from across the country that help inspire and motivate our future leaders.

The organizations recognized by the True Inspiration Awards go above and beyond in the fields of innovative education, leadership and youth entrepreneurship. They are working hard to make a lasting difference in their local communities.

We must motivate ourselves to do our very best, and by our example lead others to do their best as well.

S. Truett Cathy

Meet Our 2017 Award Recipients

Innovative Education

Improving teaching and learning through ground-breaking practices and visionary leadership.

Friends of the Children - Portland

We provide our most vulnerable children a nurturing and sustained relationship with a professional mentor, called a Friend, who teaches positive values and attainable expectations from kindergarten through graduation.

friendspdx.org
Door of Hope After-School Program

Our goal is to provide a well-balanced child care program, meeting the needs of each individual in a nurturing, Christian environment.
Lekotek of Georgia

Using adapted toys, educational materials, computer equipment and iPads, Lekotek provides opportunities for kids to have fun and learn along the way.

lekotekga.org

Emerging Leader Development

Focusing on character development, positive community and cultural involvement, and effective civic engagement

Urban Ventures

Urban Ventures is breaking the cycle of poverty through innovative programs and social enterprises that empower families to take control of their futures.

urbanventures.org
Teach for America - Atlanta Initiative

Our mission is to enlist, develop, and mobilize as many as possible of our nation's most promising future leaders to grow and strengthen the movement for educational equity and excellence.

atlanta.teachforamerica.org
No Greater Sacrifice

No Greater Sacrifice is dedicated to the children of our nation’s fallen and wounded Service members delivering scholarships and resources to improve their quality of life through the pursuit of higher education.

nogreatersacrifice.org

Youth Entrepreneurship

Developing business knowledge, entrepreneurial skills, and financial literacy

Orange County Rescue Mission - Children's Business Fair

We help children develop a brand, create a product or service, build a marketing strategy, and then open for customers at our one-day marketplace

rescuemission.org
SEED Spot

We exist to educate, and invest in entrepreneurs who are creating solutions to social problems.

seedspot.org
Youth Entrepreneurs Kansas

Youth Entrepreneurs Foundation provides students with values-based entrepreneurial experiences and education that not only instill practical knowledge but also inspire them to prosper.

S. Truett Cathy Honoree

Embodying the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit of Truett Cathy

The Leaven
Fairfield, CA
Nominated by Chick-fil-A Operator Ryan Osbrink

Working in partnership with members of the local community to bring after-school mentoring and tutoring programs as a revitalization tool to struggling neighborhoods where drop-out rates are out of control and gangs threaten the peace of the community.

In 2005, community leaders from Parkway Community Church, City of Fairfield, and the County of Solano identified a need to improve the quality of the most under-privileged neighborhoods in the City of Fairfield. They created The Leaven, an after-school tutoring and mentoring program, as a way to show care and compassion for and proactively address the needs of at-risk and under-performing youth. The Leaven program catapulted a dynamic volunteer force eager to engage in active service to help their neighbors. Together these volunteers, through grassroots effort, launched the first Leaven neighborhood after-school tutoring center.

Regional Award Winners

Atlantic Region

YMCA of the Triangle

Raleigh, NC

Our mission is to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all.

Nominated by Chick-fil-A Franchised Operator Dave Butts

ymcatriangle.org

Lexington Leadership Foundation

Lexington, KY

We develop leadership and capacity in people and organizations in an effort to engage those entities in meaningful service to the city.

Nominated by Chick-fil-A Franchised Operator Jeff Stryker

lexlf.org

Southeast Region

Christ's Starfish Foundation

Jacksonville, FL

We work with children confined to local children’s hospitals by providing assistance to them through the child life specialists. We also assist families of non-cancer patients who are experiencing financial hardships due to their child’s illness.

Nominated by Chick-fil-A Franchised Operator Jeromy Williams

christstarfish.org

Cobb County Safety Village

Atlanta, GA

The most comprehensive safety training environment in the region where our residents and business community gain knowledge through hands on experiences.

Nominated by Chick-fil-A Franchised Operator Zach Thomas

cobbcounty.org

Midwest Region

Hillcrest Transitional Housing Youth Program

Kansas City, MO

Our mission is to be a transitional housing program providing a Christian environment that helps homeless families become self-supportive, self-reliant contributors to society.

Nominated by Chick-fil-A Franchised Operator Jared Johnson

hillcresttransitionalhousing.org

REbel, Inc.

Overland Park, KS

We are REbeL, a student-driven, peer education program designed to address body image issues and disordered eating.

Nominated by Chick-fil-A Franchised Operator Randy Harris

re-bel.org

Southwest Region

The Little Light House

Tulsa, OK

Our mission is to glorify God by improving the quality of life for children with special needs, their families and their communities.

Nominated by Chick-fil-A Franchised Operator Arthur Greeno

littlelighthouse.org

Katy ISD Education Foundation

Katy, TX

We serve as a catalyst for extraordinary teachers to create extraordinary classroom experiences for their students.

Nominated by Chick-fil-A Franchised Operator Rusty Wylie

katyeducationfoundation.org

Northeast Region

Pure Water for the World

Rutland, VT

We envision a world in which all people have safe water, proper sanitation, and the knowledge to sustain it for future generations.

Nominated by Chick-fil-A Franchised Operators Wade Bradford and Michael McFerren

purewaterfortheworld.org

Girls on the Run - Montgomery & Delaware Counties

Amber, PA

We inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running.

Nominated by Chick-fil-A Franchised Operator Sam Class

gotrpa.org

West Region

Angels of America's Fallen

Colorado Springs, CO

We are dedicated to honoring the legacy of our fallen military and first responders by helping their children grow and develop into strong and successful adults.

Nominated by Chick-fil-A Franchised Operator Randy Watson

aoafallen.org

Boys Republic

Chino Hills, CA

We seek to give adolescent youth with behavioral, educational, and emotional difficulties an opportunity to achieve their maximum potential for responsible, self-directed life within the community.

Nominated by Chick-fil-A Franchised Operator David Dinasan

boysrepublic.org

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