Alford-Axelson Award Won by Girls in the Game and CommunityHealth
CHICAGO, IL, May 14, 2009 — At its 10th annual nonprofit symposium on Wednesday, May 13th, at North Park University, The Axelson Center for Nonprofit Management awarded its prestigious Alford-Axelson Awards for Nonprofit Managerial Excellence. Girls in the Game won this year's award in the small nonprofit category and CommunityHealth won in the large nonprofit category. Family Service and Mental Health Center of Oak Park and River Forest (whose name was recently changed to Thrive Counseling Center) and Christopher House received the honorable mention awards (in the small and large categories, respectively).
The award winners were especially outstanding in the following areas:
-- Clear mission and demonstrated impact of programs on target groups
served;
-- Creative strategies to generate revenue;
-- Strong budget and financial policies;
-- Evidence of strategic innovation;
-- Attention to support for the growth and development of staff;
-- A governing board that is demonstrably engaged with the organization,
contributes financially to support the mission, and ensures organizational
accountability; and
-- Engagement with their community.
Established in 2002, the Alford-Axelson award program is sponsored by CHASE and ShoreBank. The award is given annually to two nonprofit organizations that exemplify extraordinary managerial excellence. The award is named in honor of leading nonprofit thinker, Jimmie R. Alford, and devoted community healthcare leader, Nils G. Axelson. In choosing this year's winners, a panel of evaluators consisting of a group of Chicago's top nonprofit and philanthropy leaders reviewed an applicant pool of 42 nominees. The award comes with a $5,000 unrestricted grant for the two winning organizations.
Girls in the Game -- whose award was presented by Kimberly Jones, Business Development Officer at ShoreBank -- provides and promotes sports and fitness opportunities, health and nutrition education, and leadership development programs to enhance the overall health and well-being of all girls. Girls are encouraged to get in the game -- any game -- so they can learn teamwork and determination, and to make choices that lead to a happier, healthier life. Girls in the Game was founded in 1995, and is located at the Union Park Fieldhouse, 1501 W. Randolph Street in Chicago.
