The Chick-fil-A Foundation is honored to announce the recipients of Chick-fil-A’s 2019 True Inspiration Awards. The 22 deserving not-for-profits, located in 18 states throughout the country, are receiving a combined $1.23 million in grants to further their work in fostering leadership, education and an entrepreneurial spirit in children living in their local communities.
Now in its fifth year, the True Inspiration Awards were created to carry on Chick-fil-A Founder S. Truett Cathy’s legacy of generosity, community service and dedication to inspiring children to become future leaders. The grants range from $20,000 to $100,000. The recipients either applied for an award directly or received a nomination from a local Chick-fil-A restaurant franchisee based on the group’s work in their local community.
Mentoring to Manhood, a youth mentorship-focused organization located in Prince George’s County, Maryland, has been named this year’s S. Truett Cathy Honoree. Each year, the S. Truett Cathy Honoree is awarded a $100,000 grant for being recognized as an organization that embodies the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit of Chick-fil-A’s late founder. Founded by four men who wanted to make a difference in the lives of young African-American boys in their community, Mentoring to Manhood provides weekly tutoring, group mentoring and family support to more than 150 middle and high-school aged boys.
“We’re honored to help these organizations extend their impact on young people across the country,” says Rodney Bullard, vice president of Corporate Social Responsibility for Chick-fil-A, Inc. and executive director of the Chick-fil-A Foundation. “While money is important, we realize it takes so much more to run a successful non-profit. Along with the grant funding, we bring our honorees together each year for several days of learning and connection with our leaders at Chick-fil-A. Our aim is to invest in these organizations—in more ways than one—as they invest in our future generation.”
The awards are given based on the following categories: Emerging Leader Development, Innovative Education, Youth Entrepreneurship, S. Truett Cathy Honoree and regional winners. The Innovative Education category awards organizations that focus on improving teaching and learning through ground-breaking practices and visionary leadership; the Youth Entrepreneurship grants are given to organizations that develop business knowledge, entrepreneurial skills and financial literacy to those in need; and the Emerging Leader Development category awards organizations that focus on character development, positive community and cultural involvement and effective civic engagement.
The True Inspiration Awards are one way the Chick-fil-A Foundation is fulfilling its mission to help every child become all they can be. The 22 organizations will be honored by the Chick-fil-A Foundation at the fifth annual True Inspiration Awards celebration in Atlanta this spring.
Below is the full list of the 2019 True Inspiration Award winners:
“Emerging Leader Development” Category Winners
- National CASA – Seattle, Washington
- Girls on the Run Rockies – Aurora, Colorado
- Thrive Support & Advocacy – Marlborough, Massachusetts
“Innovative Education” Category Winners
- Covenant House California – Los Angeles, California
- Folds of Honor – Owasso, Oklahoma
- Friends of the Children – Portland, Oregon
“Youth Entrepreneurship” Category Winners
- Under 21, Inc. – New York, New York
- Heritage Academy Augusta – Augusta, Georgia
- Junior Achievement of Northern New England – Waltham, Massachusetts
“STC” Honoree
- Mentoring to Manhood – Hyattsville, Maryland
Atlantic Regional Winners
- Ezekiel Ministries – Columbia, South Carolina
- Isaiah 117 House – Elizabethton, Tennessee
Midwest Regional Winners
- Dutton Farm – Rochester, Michigan
- Kids Alive International, Inc. – Valparaiso, Indiana
Northeast Regional Winners
- Cathedral Kitchen – Camden, New Jersey
- The Reading Road Show “Gus Bus” – Harrisonburg, Virginia
Southeast Regional Winners
- NG3 – Lawrenceville, Georgia
- Place of Hope – Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Southwest Regional Winners
- Familypoint Resources – Houston, Texas
- Friends of Down Syndrome – Houston, Texas
West Regional Winners
- Thanksgiving Point – Lehi, Utah
- Outreach United Resource Center – Longmont, Colorado
To learn more about the True Inspiration Awards, visit www.chick-fil-afoundation.org/true-inspiration-awards
The Chick-fil-A Foundation is the corporate foundation of Chick-fil-A, Inc. A not-for-profit organization, the Foundation’s purpose is to lead the company’s commitment to support youth and education in Chick-fil-A’s local communities. The Foundation’s work is focused on developing and educating young people so they can build a positive legacy and become all they can be. For more information, visit https://www.chick-fil-afoundation.org/
Devoted to serving the local communities in which its franchised restaurants operate, and known for its original chicken sandwich, Chick-fil-A serves freshly prepared food in more than 2,300 restaurants in 47 states and Washington, D.C.
