The McKnight Foundation, Minneapolis, invites nominations for the 2005 Virginia McKnight Binger Awards in Human Service. The foundation gives 10 awards each year to Minnesotans who have demonstrated an exceptional personal commitment to helping others in their communities but who have received little or no public recognition. Nominations are due by July 11, and awardees each will receive $7,500 at a ceremony in November.

Nominees should be directly involved in providing human services, especially those working to make organizations more responsive to the needs of poor or disadvantaged people in Minnesota.

Last year's recipients included Minnesotans who are fighting for affordable housing and human rights; helping ex-offenders rejoin their communities by finding jobs and housing after prison; and supporting foster children through an emergency youth shelter.

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, which were first presented in 1985, 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.

For more information, visit McKnight's Web site.