MIAMI, FL, April 1, 2009 -- The Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce Nonprofit Business Committee presented the eighth annual NOVO Awards on Wednesday, April 1, 2009 at Jungle Island during the Chamber's monthly Trustee Luncheon.
The NOVO Awards honor nonprofit business innovative excellence in two categories - nonprofits with a budget of $2 million and above and those with a budget of less than $2 million.
In the $2 million and above budget category, the NOVO Award was presented to ACCION USA - Miami/Florida Office. ACCION USA is a private nonprofit organization that provides financial services to low and moderate-income entrepreneurs who are unable to access bank credit for their small businesses. A study indicated that a large underserved market of small business owners lacked financing options in Miami. In an effort to bridge the gap between high income and low to moderate-income entrepreneurs, ACCION USA brought its micro-lending model to Miami-Dade County in 2003. The impact to the community has been significant.
In the under $2 million budget category, the NOVO Award was presented to The Education Fund -- Ocean Bank Center for Educational Materials. The Ocean Bank Center for Educational Materials is the quintessential example of how The Education Fund fulfills its mission to involve the business community in public education. The program's objective is to solicit excess inventory, used equipment and remnants from businesses to meet the demand for resources that create the supportive environment students need to learn. While this assistance is available to the entire district, the center's inventory is especially critical to schools in low-income neighborhoods. Since 1993, support from Ocean Bank and others has allowed The Education Fund to solicit $5.6 million in donated supplies and distribute them to 14,500 teachers, reaching more than 500,000 students.
The Chamber also recognized the following finalists: $2 Million and Above in Revenue category -- Carrfour Supportive Housing and Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center - Nou Kab; Under $2 Million in Revenue category -- The Florida Breast Health Initiative, Inc. - Neighborhood Outreach and Per Scholas, Inc. - Computer Technician Training.
The 2009 NOVO Awards were made possible by the following sponsors: Ford Motor Company Fund, Wachovia, Health Foundation of South Florida, Tropical Financial Credit Union, and Hands On Miami.
For information about the NOVO Awards and nominations for next year, contact Jennifer Sanchez at 305-577-5451 or jsanchez@miamichamber.com.
About the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce
The Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce is an association of businesses and professions organized to create economic progress in Miami-Dade County. To carry out its mission, the Chamber serves as the voice of business enterprise and involves the private sector in community leadership. For more than 100 years, the Chamber has been widely recognized and respected for its extraordinary record of economic development and community improvement.
The Greater Miami Chamber is an activist chamber. Its program of work is organized in five areas: Advocacy, Domestic Business Development, International Business Development, Leadership Programs and Marketing & Member Services. The Chamber has an award-winning website, www.MiamiChamber.com; holds the license to the Miami Free Trade Zone, Inc.; and has been recognized as one of the Top 10 Executive Speaking Forums in America.