Each year in March, Manitou Springs City Hall fills with a few hundred folks bearing potluck dishes and goodwill who gather to watch the presentation of the Manni Awards. The awards honor citizens and organizations who volunteer their time and energy to support the community and make Manitou Springs such a vibrant and unique place.
The event itself is an example of collaborative community spirit sponsored by the Manitou Springs Community Foundation, the City of Manitou Springs, the Manitou Springs School District, Visit Manitou Springs (the Chamber of Commerce), Creative Alliance Manitou Springs (CRANE), the Manitou Springs Women’s Club, the Kiwanis Club of Manitou Springs and the Pikes Peak Bulletin.
The 2025 award categories are Rockey Artistic Endeavors (named for renowned Manitou artist Charles Rockey), Environmental Stewardship, Business & Economic Vitality, Community Wellbeing, Community Champion, Visionary Leadership, Public Service, Education and Learning, and Student Visionary Leadership – plus a new one, Beacon of Generosity, which was affirmed by Manitou Springs City Council proclamation to “Support the Infectious Generosity Movement” as part of a city-wide initiative on Jan. 21.
This year there were 156 nominees from which the Manni sponsors chose 30 as finalists. While nominations may be made for specific categories, nominees may be eligible in several and so finalists are not limited to one category only. There will be one winner in each of the 10 categories.
The finalists this year are Amanda Kerrigan, Ann Rodgers, Audrey Gray, David Valier, Doug Howell, Dustin Cady, Edie Greene, Erin Rinsgred, Evan Fugate, Gabrielle Waters, George Whitt, Gillian Rossi, Gus Moen, Jenna Gallas, Manitou Springs Kiwanis Club, The Loft, Logan Moore, Lori Adams-Miller, the Manitou Arts Center, MaKenzi VerVaecke, Marion Ceruzzi, Michael Howell, Mike Mazzola, Mike Willie, the Pikes Peak Bulletin, Rick Good, Ron Ilgen, Shirley Wade, Sofia Hernandez Crade, and Steve Bethke.
Event organizer Shanti Toll told the Bulletin about the sponsors’ judging process.
Each person who wins a Manni knows he or she has helped make Manitou Springs a better place. – Ralph Routon
“We look over what the person has done this year, and what they’ve done in previous years,” he said, noting that frequently there are multiple people who “should win” in a category. How many times a person has been nominated and life events like retirement factor in to whether someone wins an award in a given year.
“We talk it over until we have general consensus,” Toll said.
Ken Jaray and the Manitou Springs Community Foundation started the Manni Awards in 2012.
“The Manni Awards were created as part of the creation of the 2012 community-led Vision and Planning Guide,” Jaray told the Pikes Peak Bulletin. “Once we determined the visions for our community, it was decided that the best chance we would have of achieving these visions were to identify community champions who would be willing to lead the effort.”
For the first few years, there were only two award categories, the Adult Visionary Leadership Award and the Youth Visionary Leadership Award. Then, when John Weiss purchased the Pikes Peak Bulletin in 2014, with Ralph Routon as executive editor, they identified community honors as a top priority. Routon began writing columns on this topic and soon started working together with Jaray, Toll and the Community Foundation. They expanded the awards to include more of the 10 vision areas.
“We have also created lifetime achievement awards for folks who have contributed to our community over a long period of time,” Jaray noted.
The number of sponsor groups grew as well to its present number. Also, starting last year, the Manitou Arts, Culture and Heritage Board recommended $2,000 in annual support, which City Council approved from the MACH tax revenue.
Routon, who today serves on the Manni Awards organizing committee, praised the event’s founders.
“Ken Jaray and the Community Foundation started the Manni Awards and still deserve the credit for such an important undertaking,” he said. “When the Bulletin became involved, we saw it as a great way to honor even more of our community volunteers as well as educators and city staffers who quietly make such a lasting impact on Manitou Springs.”
He added, “Just seeing how much it means each year to the finalists, and especially the winners, validates the Manni Awards’ permanent stature across the city. Each person who wins a Manni knows he or she has helped make Manitou Springs a better place.”
Jaray passes mic to Epstein as Manni Award MC
Jaray not only had a big role in founding the Manni Awards, he’s also been the MC every year – until this one. Now he’s handing the mic to local journalist, playwright, and standup comic Warren Epstein.
“When I was asked to help host the Manni Awards, I thought it was some ‘male nanny’ thing,” Epstein joked to the Bulletin. “Turns out, it’s a way to honor the coolest, most generous, most extraordinary people who make Manitou the best place to live, work and visit.
“For that, I was all in, even knowing that Ken’s would be a tough act to follow.”
Join the fun
The Manni Awards will be held March 19 at Manitou Springs City Hall (606 Manitou Ave.). Live music led by Michael Galvin. Potluck starts at 5:30 p.m. and the Award Ceremony starts at 6:30 p.m.
