Honoring Community Champions in the Greater New Orleans Region
Heroes walk among us every day.
They mentor youth, fight for justice, care for neighbors, build coalitions, and hold communities together, often with few resources and little recognition. GNOFN’s Restoration and Rejuvenation Initiative (R2I) was created to change that. And now, we're thrilled to announce that nominations are open for the 2025 GNOFN Community Champion Distinguished Service Award!
About the Initiative
Now in its second round and newly renamed, GNOFN’s Restoration and Rejuvenation Initiative (R2I) celebrates and supports those making a meaningful difference in underserved communities across Greater New Orleans. This effort includes two key components:
The GNOFN Community Champion Distinguished Service Award: The award includes $4,000 each to 20 individuals who are strengthening their communities through service, leadership, and deep commitment to equity.
Community-Building & Cross-Sector Collaboration: This includes events and gatherings that will foster connection, shared learning, and mutual care among awardees.
Award funds are intended to nourish recipients personally, whether that means taking a retreat, practicing self-care, paying off debt, or investing in whatever respite and restoration looks like for them.
Why It Matters
When we invest in sustaining the people at the heart of social change, we strengthen the movements they lead. The GNOFN Community Champion Distinguished Service Award is designed to uplift leaders at every level of service—not just executive directors, but also staff members, coaches, ministers, mentors, and others whose work often goes unseen.
By making this an annual award in 2025 and 2026, we’re sending a powerful signal to other funders that these leaders matter, and that their work is worth supporting.
Key Information
Do you know someone whose daily work brings light and transformation to your community? Someone who inspires others, bridges divides, and shows up with consistency and compassion? Nominate them for the GNOFN Community Champion Distinguished Service Award!
Nominations open:
June 16 – July 7, 2025
Eligible nominees:
We are excited to welcome nominations of individuals who meet the following qualifications:
Conduct their primary work in Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. John, and/or St. James Parishes.
Are not employed by an organization represented on the Award Selection Committee
Are not currently serving as an elected official
Please note:
To ensure broad support for the nominees, nominations must be made by individuals other than the nominees (i.e., self-nominations will not be accepted) and to preserve the fairness and integrity of the selection process, nominations must be submitted by community members or funders not serving on the Award Selection Committee.
Tips for a Strong Nomination
We’re looking for nominations that bring each individual’s impact to life. Consider these prompts:
How has the nominee made a lasting difference in their community?
How have they brought people together to make positive contributions?
How have they supported others’ leadership and/or service?
Selection Process
Awardees will be selected by a committee of funders and community members.
Questions? Reach out to admin@gnofundersnetwork.org.