ARAMARK Building Community 2012 Innovation Awards Logo

ARAMARK Building Community 2012 Innovation Awards

The ARAMARK Building Community Innovation Awards recognize excellence in innovation and programming by local community centers. Launched in 2011, the Innovation Awards are hosted in partnership by ARAMARK, United Neighborhood Centers of America (UNCA) and the Alliance for Children and Families (Alliance) and are open to member organizations of either UNCA or the Alliance.

In 2012, ARAMARK is granting a total of $100,000 for four awards: One leadership award honoring an exemplary community center executive, and three awards recognizing innovative workforce readiness programs that prepare people for, and connect them to jobs.

Nearly 70 Alliance and UNCA member organizations participated in the 2012 application process.

2012 Award Winners

Peter B. Goldberg ARAMARK Building Community Executive Leadership Award

The Peter B. Goldberg ARAMARK Building Community Executive Leadership Award recognizes one outstanding community center executive director/CEO for active voice and leadership on behalf of community centers. This award honors the memory of Peter Goldberg, who served as president and CEO of the Alliance and CEO of UNCA for a number of years until his death on August 12, 2011. The award is presented with a $40,000 grant to the recipient’s community center.

Randal Rucker Photo

2012 Award Winner

$40,000 award

Randal Rucker
CEO
Family Service of Greater Boston
Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts

Tireless. Steadfast. Compassionate. Collaborative. Randal Rucker is an outspoken advocate for community building programs. Read more…


ARAMARK Building Community 2012 Innovation Awards
for Workforce Readiness

Unemployment, underemployment and workforce readiness continue to be key issues in today's society and in building strong families and thriving communities. The ARAMARK Building Community 2012 Innovation Awards for Workforce Readiness recognize community centers’ efforts to prepare people for the workforce, and connect them to meaningful jobs.

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Community centers have long been at the forefront of creating strong and collaborative programs dedicated to removing barriers that limit peoples’ ability to find and keep jobs and improve their quality of life. By focusing on addressing this major community issue, the awards aim to highlight best-in-class programs that will serve as examples to help other community centers worldwide develop new breakthrough programs, revitalize neighborhoods and help people thrive.

For more information on criteria used to select the winners, please visit the awards application page.

One community center winner in each of the following three categories will receive $20,000 for innovative programs that prepare people for and connect them to jobs:

  • Preparation for Growth Industries – Innovative programs that prepare people to work in growing fields such as green facilities management; culinary/hospitality; and health care.
  • Skills Training for Targeted Populations – Innovative programs that respond to the specific needs of target populations by providing comprehensive training and support to help youth and adults obtain and maintain jobs, and succeed in the workforce.
  • Business Ventures as a Training Ground – Innovative programs that utilize the power of community center-created business ventures to train people for a range of local jobs.

The winning programs all leverage community centers’ unique structure and resources, including:

  • Wrap-around support services that help remove barriers to employment
  • On-going partnerships with neighbors and the larger community, including business and government
  • Multifaceted expertise of staff
  • Extensive connections to community assets, such as support agencies and educational institutions
  • Casa Central

    Preparation for Growth Industries

    $20,000 award

    Casa Central
    Certified Nursing Assistant Training Program
    Chicago, Illinois

    The Certified Nursing Assistant Training Program prepares and places low-income Hispanic individuals into open, career-track jobs within the growing healthcare industry.

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  • East End Community Services

    Business Ventures as a Training Ground

    $20,000 award

    East End Community Services
    Dayton Works Plus
    Dayton, Ohio

    Dayton Works Plus creates green jobs for hard-to-employ individuals through their nonprofit residential deconstruction firm, one of the largest in the nation.

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  • Family Service Agency

    Skills Training for Targeted Populations

    $20,000 award

    Family Service Agency
    Community Re-Integration Program
    Phoenix, Arizona

    The Community Re-Integration Program assists ex-offenders to prepare for, secure and maintain long-term, meaningful employment.

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