Courtesy of the Manni Awards planning committee
Over the years, Manitou Springs has actively clarified and committed to visions of a wonderful town to live, work and play. We created comprehensive master plans to guide us including the Rainbow Vision Plan, Manitou Springs Forward and Plan Manitou.
All of these plans recognize that people, government, business and our social institutions must work together to create a town we can be proud of. For a community to be caring, proactive and thrive, citizens need to be personally involved.
Most would agree that it is people, not institutions, that determine the character of the community.
In 2012, Manitou Springs started honoring visionary leaders in our community, including our school district.
The Manni Awards were created and then expanded to honor outstanding volunteers and community leaders who engage, collaborate and inspire others to become active volunteers helping our town. They embody 10 of the vision areas identified in the master plans.
The Manni Awards became the focus of an annual community potluck dinner at City Hall. The event is a coming together of our community to thank and honor the people who make Manitou Springs a special place.
This year’s ceremony will be at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 31. We are hoping to have both an in-person and live-streamed event so all can see and join in during this time of pandemic.
We need your help to identify who deserves a Manni Award for outstanding community service and volunteerism. Please nominate a worthy person you know and tell why they deserve recognition.
Previous winners are not eligible to win again.
The nominations will be narrowed to 30 finalists, who will be featured in the Pikes Peak Bulletin over the weeks before the event. The 10 Manni winners will be revealed at the March 31 ceremony.
The categories are:
• Rockey Artistic Endeavors;
• Education and Learning;
• Environmental Stewardship;
• Business and Economic Vitality;
• Public Services;
• Youth Visionary Leadership;
• Health and Wellbeing;
• Mover and Shaker (new category);
• Community Champion; and
• Visionary Leadership.
The selection process will be overseen by representatives of the five Manni Award sponsoring organizations: the Pikes Peak Bulletin, School District 14, Chamber of Commerce, city of Manitou Springs and the Manitou Springs Community Foundation.
We are delighted to have such wonderful collaboration among these organizations, demonstrating yet another example of why Manitou Springs is such a special community.
Make a Manni nomination at peaklivingmanitousprings.org/manni-awards or pick up a paper nomination form from the Manitou Springs Library, 515 Manitou Ave., or Chamber of Commerce, 354 Manitou Ave.
Nominations are due Friday, Feb. 11. For more information, call 321-5354.