MASON COUNTY — Everyone knows a person, club, organization or business that has generously given time, talent or financial support to improve the local community and residents now have the opportunity to nominate that person or group for the Spirit of Our Community Award.

Sponsored by the Mason County Community Foundation and the Point Pleasant Register, the Spirit of Our Community Program is geared to honor the special volunteers and donors in the county who do so much to improve the local community.

“This is a great way to honor those who are working hard for Mason County,” said Jane Winters, Our Community’s Foundation Regional Manager of Affiliates. “It will take just a few minutes to submit a nomination and in turn will give these special people an honor of a lifetime. The deadline of September 3 is quickly approaching, so take 15 or 20 minutes this week and submit a nomination.”

It was reported those who volunteer their time or financial support to help children, the elderly, or the ill might be candidates for the Spirit award. Volunteers who are involved in emergency services, animal welfare, or beatification of public spaces also should be considered. Winners will be selected in a wide variety of categories.

“Often those who make the greatest contributions are those who are most unassuming,” said Paul Simon, MCCF Marketing Committee Chairperson. “They are the quiet, everyday heroes who prefer to remain behind the scenes. For example, Donna Jean Sharp, one of last year’s winners was honored for her generous contribution to the Apple Grove area. Sharp’s love of cooking has led her to reach out with home cooked meals to the disabled, the ill and the needy.”

The four to six winners chosen for the 2012 Mason County Spirit of Our Community award will be honored at the annual Spirit of Our Community Benefit on Nov. 15. Honorariums of $5,000 each will be awarded to community grant funds in honor of this year’s recipients. These honorariums will be earmarked for Mason County Arts and Education, Youth, and the Mason County Community Foundation Scholarship Funds. Awards winners will also be featured in a special newspaper section the week of November 5.

To submit a nomination, fill out and send in a brief nomination form along with a written paragraph or two outlining why the nominee should be considered. It was reported that it’s important the judges be given a general understanding of the type of things nominees have done and how their actions have impacted the community.

Nomination forms are available online at Our Community’s Foundation website, www. pacfwv.com, by clicking on ‘News and Events,’ then click on the Mason County Spirit of Our Community Program story. Within the story is a link that allows you to download a nomination form. Forms may also be obtained by calling 304-372-8588. Nominations may be mailed to the Mason County Community Foundation, P.O. Box 66, Point Pleasant. The deadline for submitting a nomination is Sept. 3.