The first iteration of the Caring Awards is looking to celebrate the generosity and influence of what the awards call “caring heroes” — those who do important work in their community to better the lives of those around them.
Ultimately the brainchild of The Caring Place in Regina — a nonprofit that serves the mental health of the community — and the Humboldt Broncos, the idea of the awards is to spotlight the unsung heroes taking care of their community.
The Caring Place's executive director Gwendolyn Friedrich was interested in how the Humboldt Broncos handled their push onto the international stage with such dignity, following such a devastating situation. She then began wondering about the everyday heroes who exude leadership skills in their own community work.
Upon deciding that a provincial award and gala would put these people into the proper spotlight, the Caring Awards outlined four categories to take nominations.
The Youth Caring Award is for those under 18 who are working in their school or community, on a local, national or international level. The Community Caring Award is for those volunteering and making a difference in their community, while the Leadership Caring Award is for someone using their professional title to facilitate change.
The Wind Beneath Your Wings Award is unique, in that it focuses on the individuals whose efforts are making a change, while they themselves remain in the shadows.
Friedrich wants the awards to be a moment of recognition and celebration, for those putting so much effort into bettering the lives of those around them.
“We live by the principle of not giving back to the person who gives to us, but giving back to the person that we can pour the most into,” said Friedrich. “I think the caring heroes are really the people who inspire us to do that. They show us, they lead the way, they illuminate that path for us.”
She also hopes that by putting these deeds on a public platform, others may be inspired to do some good of their own.
“If somewhere down the line, someone was nominated and said, ‘I was inspired by one of your previous heroes and that's why I began my work,’ that's something that would really show how we're passing it on, how we're paying it forward,” said Friedrich.
Three semi-finalists will be selected for each award and will be invited to attend The Caring Awards gala in Regina on Sept. 21.
The winner of each award will be gifted $1,000 towards their project of charity, as well as an award hand-carved by Kenyan farmers working with 10,000 Villages.
The Caring Awards are taking nominations from across the province until July 15. Nomination forms are available on The Caring Place’s website or at their office in Regina, and can be submitted by email to [email protected] or delivered as a hard-copy to their office.
Friedrich urges people to submit a nomination for the person that comes to mind hearing the phrase “caring hero.”
“It's our first year doing this,” said Friedrich. “We would love to see nominations coming in from all across Saskatchewan.”
