The Governor's Service Awards pay tribute to outstanding volunteers, from across the state of Michigan, who demonstrate the power of giving and caring every day. This year, Flint has three outstanding community leaders that will be honored with this award. Samuel Wells (Mentor of the Year), Crim Fitness Foundation (Outstanding Volunteer Program), and Mott Community College (Education Service Leader) will all receive a Governor's Service Award, in August, at the Detroit Opera House, as a way to thank them for their commitment to the community.
Samuel Wells, Mentor of the Year, leads the Alpha Esquire Mentoring and Leadership Program. This program enrolls 40 young men from Genesee County and emphasizes the topics of education, community service, life skills and character building. Wells coordinates several events and workshops each year to help the young men in the program develop. Wells has also added a scholarship component to the program which awards 20 graduating seniors.
Crim Fitness Foundation, Outstanding Volunteer Program, has several initiatives that rely on thousands of volunteers to play a crucial role in the organization. Volunteers assist with Crim Fitness Foundation races and events hosted throughout the year. Volunteers also help run training clubs for adults and youth, promote mindfulness in the community, support community education in schools, and engage in the community through gardens, safe routes to school, coaching, and other activities. Additionally, Crim engages AmeriCorps members through the following programs: Flint Community Schools Corps, FoodCorps, Coach Across America, AmeriCorps LISC and Summer Associate VISTAs. These members have enabled Crim Fitness Foundation to make a massive impact on the Flint community by providing physical activity, nutrition education, parent support, homework help and other activities to families in 11 Flint Schools.
Mott Community College, Education Service Leader, is committed to integrating community service throughout their campus by engaging volunteers in three areas: Service Saturdays, campus-wide community service, and service learning for students. All of these projects work together to form an immersive take on service that reaches every corner of the college. Students, faculty and staff have hosted Toys for Tots drives, volunteered at food banks, conducted educational fairs, created memory boxes for the elderly, provided nutrition education at the Flint Farmer's Market, and dedicated countless hours to the Flint water crisis.
Congratulations to these recipients! We appreciate all you do for the Flint Community!
Click here for more information about the Michigan Governor's Service Awards.
