"Bringing the community
together."
"Building understanding across our differences."
"Making Jacksonville a better place."
These are reasons past recipients of the Humanitarian Award gave
when asked why they worked so hard in the corporate, civic, religious
and community life of Jacksonville.
The annual Humanitarian Award has been presented by the National
Conference for Community and Justice for 32 years to recognize service
that promotes understanding and respect among all people.
This year, Delores Kesler, Howard Korman, Carol Thompson and Nathaniel
Washington will be recognized with the award at 6 p.m. Tuesday during
a dinner at the Prime Osborn Convention.
More than 900 corporate and community leaders are expected to join
them for the black-tie dinner and ceremonies. During the evening,
participants will hear the Ritz Voices, watch videos about the honorees'
contributions to Jacksonville and engage in a theatrical presentation
of United We Stand, sharing NCCJ's mission with the community.
Korman will be presented his second Humanitarian Award, an honor
accorded only two other Jacksonville residents. He received the
1995 Silver Medallion in the same year Robert Shircliff was elevated
to the Gold Medallion. The Gold is given for service above and beyond
the work for which the Silver Medallion is awarded.
This year, Shircliff will present the Gold Medallion to Korman,
in recognition of his outstanding contributions to children and
Jacksonville.
"I can't believe I am being honored in the same capacity as stellar
individuals such as Bob Shircliff and Alexander Brest," Korman said.
For Kesler, community service represents a way of life.
"I've worked hard and been fortunate," she said. "Now that I can
give back to the community, I do it through processes that work,
such as the United Way of Northeast Florida and the Mentoring Institute,
to share positive influences with our youngest children."
Thompson says Baptist Health Systems plays a key role in supporting
her in her work as a community change agent.
"Jacksonville is very different from what it was when I joined
Baptist Health Systems 25 years ago," she said. "It has meant a
great deal to me to be a part of the change and help bring people
together."
May 14 will be special to Thompson for a couple of reasons. In
addition to receiving the Humanitarian Award, the date coincides
with her 25th anniversary at Baptist Health Systems.
"What a way to celebrate with my co-workers, family and friends,"
she said.
Washington remembers his days as a teacher and coach in the Duval
County Public Schools and the volunteer work he does today.
"I encourage the young people as much as I can, because I see myself
in them," he said. His home is extensively decorated with photographs
and mementos of a 35-year career in service to children.
Washington is determined to share every positive influence with
his young charges. He has arranged to seat 15 children through his
volunteer work at United Christian Outreach Ministry to join him,
his family and Jacksonville's leadership at the dinner.
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Kesler
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Individual seating tickets to the dinner are $180. To make reservations,
call 306-6225.
2002 NCCJ Annual Humanitarian Award Recipients
Delores Kesler:
Kesler is awarded the Silver Medallion for her work in the
community through charitable acts based on corporate enterprise,
modeling the highest level of integrity. Founder and past chairwoman
of AccuStaff Inc., Kesler leveraged her business acumen into philanthropy.
She served as a 2001 co-chairwoman for United Way Alexis de Toqueville
Society and founded the Kesler Mentoring Connection.
She serves on the boards of numerous charitable endeavors, including
the Alliance for World Class Education, the Hospice Foundation for
Caring of Community Hospice Northeast Florida and Florida Council
of 100.
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Thompson
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Carol C. Thompson:
Thompson is a health care executive who is awarded the Silver
Medallion for her service to Jacksonville above and beyond the call
of corporate philanthropy. She serves on the boards of The Bridge
of Northeast Florida, Community Hospice of Northeast Florida, the
Alliance for World Class Education, the Super Bowl Host Committee
and WJCT.
She is chairwoman of the board of trustees for the University of
North Florida. She served as the 2001 chairwoman of the Jacksonville
Chamber of Commerce and was the first female president of that organization.
Thompson has received the EVE Award in the Employment category
and the Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award from UNF. She is
a Woman of Distinction honored by the Gateway Girl Scout Council.
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Washington
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Nathaniel Sweetman Washington:
Affectionately known as Coach "Nat" Washington, he receives
the Silver Medallion for his service to Pine Forest on the Southside,
bringing this tightly knit community into the spotlight.
He is a retired educator with 35 years' service to Duval County's
public schools. He has served Jacksonville through such entities
as the Jacksonville Children's Commission and the United Community
Outreach Ministry, a non-sectarian relief agency made up of a coalition
of Christian churches reaching out to relieve suffering.
He is a deacon at Historic Bethel Baptist Institutional Church,
founder of the nationally recognized Bob Hayes Invitational Track
Meet and member of the 100 Black Men Association of Jacksonville.
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Korman
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Howard I. Korman:
Korman is awarded the Gold Medallion for service to the
community above and beyond the Silver Medallion Award. He joined
the Circle of Honorees in 1995, at the same occasion when the Gold
Medallion was presented to Robert T. Shircliff, the last recipient
of this level of award.
Korman was the recipient of the Joe P. Safer Jacksonville Jewish
Federation Award in 2001. He has served on numerous boards, including
the United Way of Northeast Florida, JEA, Dreams Come True, Quigley
House and Jacksonville Jewish Federation. He currently serves as
the chairman of the Jacksonville Children's Commission.
