Game Changers Nomination Form | Barberton Community Foundation

Game Changer and Blooming Impact Award Nominations

Barberton Community Foundation celebrates the individuals, businesses and organizations whose exceptional leadership, service and commitment make Barberton a stronger community.

We invite you to nominate those whose contributions go beyond the ordinary and make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

About the Awards

Game Changer Awards

The Game Changer Awards recognize individuals, businesses and organizations whose exceptional leadership, service and dedication have made a meaningful and lasting difference in Barberton.

These awards celebrate those who go above and beyond what is expected of their roles or responsibilities to strengthen the community. Through their actions, leadership and commitment, they have created opportunities, addressed challenges or inspired positive change that extends beyond their everyday work.

Awards are presented in two categories:

Game Changer – Individual: Recognizes an individual whose extraordinary leadership, service and personal commitment have made a lasting impact on Barberton beyond the expectations of their professional or volunteer responsibilities.
Game Changer – Business/Organization: Recognizes a business or organization that has gone beyond what is ordinarily expected of an organization of its kind to make a meaningful and lasting difference in Barberton.

Blooming Impact Award

The Blooming Impact Award recognizes an emerging leader, age 35 or younger, who demonstrates initiative, resolve and momentum in making a difference in Barberton.

This award celebrates an individual who takes action, perseveres through challenges and builds momentum toward positive change, demonstrating the leadership and potential to help shape Barberton's future.

Nomination Deadline

Nominations are accepted annually through May 31.

Multiple Nominations and Letters of Support Are Encouraged!

Know someone deserving of recognition? Don't assume someone else has already nominated them!

Individuals, businesses and organizations may receive multiple nominations. Each nomination offers an opportunity to share additional perspectives, accomplishments and examples of community impact.

Letters of support are also strongly encouraged, particularly from people who have witnessed the nominee's leadership, service or contributions firsthand.

Multiple nominations and letters of support can help provide a more complete picture of a nominee's accomplishments. However, selections are based on the strength of the supporting information and an established scoring rubric, not simply the number of nominations received.

Nomination and Selection Process

Barberton Community Foundation's Community Engagement Committee independently reviews and scores nominations using an established evaluation rubric. The committee considers each nominee's leadership, service, accomplishments and contributions to the Barberton community.

Foundation staff do not vote in the selection process.

Award Recipients

The committee may select one Award Recipient in each category based on the strength of the nomination and the committee's evaluation.

Award Recipients receive special recognition at Barberton Community Foundation's Annual Dinner, including:

Presentation of an award and formal commendations.
A professionally produced video highlighting their contributions and community impact.
Recognition on stage, with an opportunity to share brief remarks.

Award Recipients are not eligible for future nominations.

Honorees

In addition to Award Recipients, the Community Engagement Committee may recognize no more than two Honorees in each category.

This distinction is reserved for nominees whose exceptional qualifications and contributions rise to the highest level of consideration under the committee's scoring rubric.

Honoree recognition is not automatic. The committee does not simply recognize the next two highest-scoring nominees. Only those who demonstrate an exceptional level of leadership, service and community impact will be considered.

Honorees receive honorable mention and public recognition during the Foundation's Annual Dinner.

Honorees remain eligible to be nominated again in future years.

Strategic Impact Areas and Tiebreaking

In the event of a tie in evaluation scores, the Community Engagement Committee gives additional consideration to nominees whose contributions align with at least one of the Foundation's four strategic impact areas:

Early Learning (Birth to 5)
Career Pathways and Workforce Development
Downtown Revitalization
Community Stability and Basic Needs

Alignment with these strategic impact areas is not required for nomination or selection. It serves as an additional consideration in the event of a tie.

Selection Timeline

Award Recipients and Honorees are selected no later than July 30 each year.

All selections are based on merit. The committee is not required to select an Award Recipient or Honorees in every category.

For questions about the nomination process, contact Kim Graves, Director of Communications, at 330-745-5995.

Before You Begin

Please have the following information ready before completing your nomination:

Your full name, phone number and email address.
The full name, phone number and email address of the individual you wish to nominate, or the name and location of the business or organization you wish to nominate.
A description of the nominee's leadership, accomplishments and contributions to Barberton.
Any letters of support or additional documentation you wish to include.

Your contact information is required. Contact information is also required for individual nominees. For businesses and organizations, the name and location are sufficient.

Please complete all required fields to ensure your nomination can be considered.

Game Changers Nominations