The McKnight Foundation, Minneapolis, invites nominations for the 2004 Virginia McKnight Binger Awards in Human Service. The foundation gives 10 awards each year to Minnesotans who strive to make life better for other people but receive little or no public recognition or payment in return. Nominations are due by July 12, and awardees each will receive $7,500 at a ceremony in November.

Nominees should demonstrate exceptional commitment to human services in Minnesota, addressing concerns in areas such as adoption, chemical dependency, child care, corrections, counseling, employment, family violence, foster care, geriatrics, disabilities, health care, housing, mental health, neighborhood or community improvement and youth activities.

The awards are now in their 20th year. Last year's recipients included a woman who took up sign language at age 50 and later founded a hospice program for deaf people and their families; a woman whose own family struggles inform her work as a volunteer and lobbyist for those with developmental disabilities; and a man who brings yoga and meditation techniques to people facing challenging life conditions in prisons, mental hospitals, treatment centers and hospices.

Nominations are open to the public, but individuals may not nominate themselves. Nominations are confidential. A statewide committee of people active in the human services field reviews the nominations and recommends candidates to The McKnight Foundation's board of directors.

The awards are named for the late Virginia McKnight Binger, who was the foundation's first board chair and daughter of the founders. Although she passed away in December 2002, the awards help commemorate Binger's enduring spirit of compassion, humility and generosity.

Download a nomination form from McKnight's Web site (PDF, 4 pages).

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