Alabama State University, Guardian Credit Union and the Montgomery Zoo were honored this week in business categories with 2019 MGM Impact Maker Awards.
Individual honors went to Charles Lee for his That’s My Child program and the nonprofit award to the Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama.
“We are trilled to be able to recognize these impact makers who are helping to support our mission to improve the economic well-being and enhance the quality of life in our area,” said Montgomery Chamber Chairman Willie Durham.
Some 75 individuals and business were nominated for the awards that recognize work in talent recruitment, education, strengthen and diversifying the local economic, transforming the city’s image and increasing community capacity.
About the winners:
- Alabama State University — A historically black university founded in 1867 in Montgomery. The 172-acre campus, in walking distance of the Capitol, serves nearly 5,500 students.
- Guardian Credit Union — Founded in 1958 to provide financial services to those in the National Guard, the credit union now ranges across 13 counties in central Alabama. It is currently the 12th largest credit union in Alabama.
- Montgomery Zoo — Beginning as a small children’s zoo in the 1920s, the Montgomery Zoo now covers several acres with exhibits of eagles, tigers, bears, wolves, elephants, otters, giraffes and more.
- Charles Lee, That’s My Child — The program offers after-school programs for youngsters 9 to 19, with options ranging from hip hop to poetry, audio recording to culinary arts to yoga. Business owner and community activist Charles Lee founded the program in 2012 to offer youths more and better options than were available when he was growing up.
- Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama. Girl Scouts works to build courage, confidence and characters in girls and young women.
Sabel Steel Services sponsored the awards program this year.