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 40th Annual Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Awards (Strobel Awards).
The 2026 Strobel Awards honor outstanding individuals and groups from 2025, which saw tremendous community need including increased cost of living, labor shortages, changes in public assistance programs and funding shifts. Award recipients will be announced at a celebration event on May 7th 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 Cathering 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.
Nominations open: Feb. 2, 2026 and close Feb. 15, 2026. Anyone who knows a dedicated, selfless volunteer hero in middle Tennessee can make a nomination.
Visit here to submit a nomination: https://handson.unitedwaygreaternashville.org/strobel2026
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 2025. Middle Tennesseans are encouraged to nominate volunteers within any of the following categories of service:
Youth Volunteer Award – Celebrate the next generation of changemakers! This award honors young individuals (ages 5–20) who have gone above and beyond — giving their time, energy, and resources to make our community stronger, kinder, and more connected in 2025. View last year’s finalists here.
Adult Volunteer Award – Honor the everyday heroes among us! This award celebrates adults (ages 21–59) who dedicated their time, energy, and resources to make a lasting impact on our community in 2025. View last year’s finalists here.
Older Adult Volunteer Award – Celebrate the wisdom and dedication that strengthen our community! This award honors volunteers age 60+ who gave their time, energy, and resources to create lasting impact in 2025. View last year’s finalists here.
Social Justice Impact Award – Through advocacy, outreach, and service, this award honors those who have strived to ensure that everyone has access to resources, information, and the chance to participate fully in community life in 2025. Their actions reflect a deep commitment to dignity, inclusion, and positive change. View last year’s finalists here.
Disaster Response Award – This award honors individuals who stepped up to help communities prepare for, respond to, or recover from disasters in 2025. Whether through relief efforts, prevention initiatives, or rebuilding after crisis, these volunteers bring hope and resilience when it matters most. View last year’s finalists here.
The Charles Strobel Legacy of Service Award – This award honors individuals whose lifelong commitment to volunteerism has left an enduring mark on our community and inspired countless others to create positive change. Named in memory of Charles Strobel—Mary Catherine’s son—who dedicated his life to service and honored the dignity of all people, this award shines a light on those who carry forward that same spirit of love. View last year’s finalists here.
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.