April 30, 2019 – Middle Tennesseans were honored for their volunteerism at Hands On Nashville’s 33rd Annual Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Awards, presented by Advance Financial Foundation.
The award recipients are as follows:
- Lily Hensiek – Capacity-building Volunteer Award
- Cross Point Church – Civic Volunteer Group Award
- Uncle Classic Barbershop – Corporate Volunteerism Award
- Ella Delevante – Direct Service Volunteer Award (Ages five to 20)
- Marc Pearson – Direct Service Volunteer Award (Ages 21 to 49)
- Charles Black – Direct Service Volunteer Award (Ages 50+)
More than 600 volunteers and community members attended the luncheon and ceremony at Music City Center. The annual event recognizes volunteers for their outstanding contributions to the community, and celebrates the life of Mary Catherine Strobel, a Nashvillian with an outstanding dedication to service.
Nashville musician Tristan McIntosh began the ceremony with a celebration of service.
Former “American Idol” contestant Tristan McIntosh — a member of the local volunteer collective Musicians On Call — opened the awards ceremony with a performance in recognition of the award nominees and finalists. Great-grandson of Mary Catherine Strobel, Benjamin Strobel, shared an invocation prior to the meal; Charles Strobel, son of Mary Catherine Strobel and founding director of Room In The Inn, closed the ceremony with remarks about his mother’s legacy and the value of service.
“For Mary Catherine Strobel, giving back wasn’t even something she did; it was who she was,” said Lori Shinton, President and CEO of Hands On Nashville. “That same spirit lives on when each of these volunteers gets up in the morning and thinks about how they can make someone else’s day better — how they can serve others using their hands, their tools, their knowledge, their creativity.”
Community members submitted more than 130 nominations for the 2019 Strobel Volunteer Awards.
Mary Catherine Strobel’s children — Jerry (from left), Alice, Veronica, and Charles.
“This luncheon emphasizes the highest ideals of human life and the spirit of giving,” said Charles Strobel. “We are delighted that all of the nominees — both those who are finalists and those who were nominated — are receiving this special recognition for embracing that spirit.”
Below is a list of award recipients for each category and a brief description of the volunteer work for which they are recognized.
Lily Hensiek
Lily Hensiek received the 2019 Capacity-building Volunteer Award for her work with Lily’s Garden, which has raised more than $2 million for pediatric cancer research and treatment at Monroe Carrell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. The award honors individuals who provide significant operational or administrative support to a nonprofit agency, faith-based ministry or community organization.
Sarah Stephanoff of Cross Point Church
Cross Point Church, whose members support children in Youth Villages group homes, received the 2019 Civic Volunteer Group Award. The category honors representatives of civic, membership, faith-based or non-corporate groups that volunteer together for a specific cause or issue.
Amy Tanksley and Trisha Lou Meinzer of Uncle Classic Barbershop
Uncle Classic Barbershop received the 2019 Corporate Volunteerism Award in honor of its ongoing service to Park Center. The award pays tribute to businesses that have robust employee volunteer programs with high levels of participation and impact.
Stephen Francescon, Community Relations Manager at Piedmont Natural Gas; Ella Delevante; Lori Shinton
The Direct Service Volunteer Awards recognize individuals who have contributed significant volunteer time, energy and/or resources to support an agency’s constituents. Ella Delevante, a volunteer for Nations Ministries, Metro Nashville Public Schools and Nashville International Center for Empowerment, received the 2019 award for the category honoring nominees of ages five to 20.
Mark Czuba, Business Unit Leader at U.S. Smokeless Tobacco; Marc Pearson; Lori Shinton
Marc Pearson, a volunteer with PENCIL/John Overton High School, received the 2019 Direct Service Volunteer Award for ages 21 to 49. Pearson leads efforts to prepare students for engineering careers through mock interviews, a job shadow program, and more.
Charles Black (center)
Charles Black, a volunteer with Dismas House, received the 2019 Direct Service Volunteer Award for ages 50 plus. Black is an ambassador, mentor, and driver for the men of Dismas House, where he was once himself a client.
Click here to view a photo gallery of the event.
All photos are credit of Kerry Woo Photography.
For More Information
Please contact Lindsey Turner at Hands On Nashville: (615) 298-1108 ext. 415; lindsey@hon.org.
About the Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Awards
The Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Awards are named in memory of the late Mary Catherine Strobel, known for her extensive and charitable efforts toward improving the lives of Middle Tennessee’s homeless, impoverished and less fortunate populations. The annual awards ceremony celebrates her service and recognizes those who continue her legacy. View all nominees for the 2019 awards.
About Hands On Nashville
Hands On Nashville (HON) builds capacity for individuals and agencies to meet needs through service. Its programs connect volunteers to opportunities supporting 140-plus nonprofits, schools, and other civic organizations; help these partners reimagine volunteer potential; and bring awareness to the challenges facing the people and places in our community. For more information, visit HON.org or call (615) 298-1108.
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