Date: February 4, 2003

Miami Beach Seeks Community Heroes Nominations

Miami Beach, FL– The City of Miami Beach is seeking nominations for the fourth annual Community Heroes Awards, a program to commemorate the achievements of individuals and organizations benefiting the residents of Miami Beach. It is an annual awards program with a celebration that coincides with the Community Development Week celebration in Miami Beach. This year, National Community Development Week will be held on the week of April 21 - 27. This annual national celebration is when entitlement cities across the country commemorate the myriad achievements made possible through the use of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. Deadline for nominations is March 8, 2003. Awards will be presented April 25, 2003, during the celebration of Community Development Week 2003 in Miami Beach.

"As it moves forward with the third year of this successful program, the City wants to celebrate the important contributions that individuals and organizations have made to our community," said Miami Beach City Manager Jorge M. Gonzalez.

The City of Miami Beach expects to receive approximately $2.1 million in CDBG funds for fiscal year 2003. These funds will provide broad-based community services that run the gamut from hot meals to neighborhood revitalization; from programs that assist the homeless to child care services; from elderly services to vocational tuition waivers to home-delivered meals. The programs funded with CDBG funds benefit one in every eight of the City's residents.

Criteria for nomination include: Any individual, public or private nonprofit organization, governmental agency, voluntary organization, or for-profit organization that has received Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) or HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) funds in the past and has made significant contributions to the Miami Beach community. Four awards will be given, in the following categories: Individual, Organization, Government agency, and Business Partner.

Criteria for selection of award recipients include: Outstanding volunteer work, serve as community leaders or role models, demonstrate acts of generosity or kindness and/or perform extraordinary accomplishments. Any Miami Beach resident, company, voluntary/non-profit or governmental organization or agency operating in the City of Miami Beach can make nominations. A panel comprised of members of the Community Relations Board reviews the nominations and selects the award winners.

For more information, or for a list of funded projects, contact Housing and Community Development Director Joanna Revelo at 305-673-7260.

Nomination Form (Acrobat)

List of Past Winners (Acrobat)

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Call 305-673-7575/VOICE to request material in accessible format, sign language interpreter (five days in advance), or information on access for persons with disabilities.