Hands On to Honor Middle Tennessee Volunteers
Hands On powered by United Way of Greater Nashville (Hands On) invites the community to nominate outstanding volunteers in middle Tennessee for the 39th Annual Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Awards (Strobel Awards) sponsored by Jackson National Life Insurance Company® (Jackson®). The 2025 Strobel Awards honor outstanding individuals and groups from 2024, which saw tremendous community need driven by natural disaster long-term relief efforts, inflation, labor shortages and limited resources. Award recipients will be announced at a celebration event on May 8th at 14TENN.
The Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Awards are Middle Tennessee’s largest annual celebration of volunteerism. The event is held in partnership with the family of Mary Catherine Strobel, a community volunteer best remembered and honored for her tireless, joyful commitment to those in need. Recipients are recognized at a celebratory breakfast, surrounded by family, friends, and community supporters.
“Our volunteers are the driving force for good in Middle Tennessee and their efforts deserve to be celebrated. The Strobel Awards are a fantastic opportunity to recognize those who truly embodied the spirit of volunteerism in 2024. Last year’s volunteers also reminded us that the heart of relief efforts beats strongest long after the cameras leave. Their dedication to rebuilding lives and communities following the 2023 tornadoes is a testament to the power of unwavering compassion and commitment,” said Lori Shinton, Chief Volunteerism Officer at United Way of Greater Nashville.
What: 39th Annual Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Awards
When: Thursday, May 8, 2025
Nominations open: Feb. 3, 2025 – Nominations close: Feb. 16, 2025
Who can nominate a volunteer: Anyone who knows a dedicated, selfless volunteer hero in middle Tennessee
How to submit a nomination: https://handson.unitedwaygreaternashville.org/strobel2025
The Strobel Awards honor volunteers of all ages and backgrounds for significant community service achievements. Hands On has several categories to recognize the extraordinary volunteer work that took place in 2024. Middle Tennesseans are encouraged to nominate volunteers within any of the following categories of service:
- The Charles Strobel Legacy of Service Award- In honor of the late Charles Strobel, recognizes individuals who have made a lasting impact on the community
- Youth, Adult and Older Adult Volunteer (three categories: ages 5–20; ages 21–59; age 60+) recognizes individuals who have contributed significant time and energy to a nonprofit agency, faith-based ministry or community organization
- Social Justice Impact pays tribute to individuals whose volunteer work focused on dismantling or calling out systemic injustice or oppression and lifting disenfranchised communities
- Disaster Response Award honors individuals who made a significant contribution to disaster relief, preparation, or mitigation and prevention in 2024.
Award recipients will each receive a $1,000 that can be donated to the charity of their choice. The remaining finalists will receive $250 to donate to their desired charity.
Hands On does not choose the award recipients. A panel of judges made up of community leaders meet and review each of the Strobel Award finalists’ stories. The judges select the finalists based on community impact, time volunteered, and the level to which the volunteer exemplifies the spirit of the category.