Center for Nonprofit Management, in partnership with our award sponsors, is proud to announce the winners of the 2011 Salute to Excellence Awards.

The Frist Foundation Awards of Achievement recognize excellence in Middle Tennessee nonprofit organizations in three categories: Innovation in Action, Making a Difference and Team Building.

The winner in the Innovation in Action category is Big Brothers Big Sisters Parent Engagement Program. Finalists are Martha O’Bryan Center’s Top Floor program and Saddle Up! Provisional Riders program.

The winner in the Making a Difference category is Martha O’Bryan Center’s Tied Together program. Finalists are Magdalene/Thistle Farms and The Contributor.

The winner in the Team Building category is Nashville CARES. Finalists are Coalition for Healthy Aging at Vanderbilt University Center for Health Services and Hands on Nashville.

The Bank of America CEO of the Year Award highlights the importance of executive leadership in an organization’s achievement of mission-related results. This year’s winner is Rachel Hester of Room in the Inn. Brian Williams of Hands on Nashville and Connie Williams of PENCIL Foundation are finalists.

The KraftCPAs Board Member of the Year Award recognizes board members who go the extra mile for their organizations. This year’s winner is William Boss of Hands-On Science Center. Jill Bosse of Saddle Up! and Rita Mitchell of YWCA are finalists.

The Marvin Runyon Leadership Award is awarded to a nonprofit agency that has demonstrated sound management strategy in the heat of crisis. This year’s winner is Discovery Place. Finalists are the Mental Health Association of Middle Tennessee and Nashville Children’s Alliance.

The SunTrust Business Acumen in the Arts Award recognizes arts organizations that have demonstrated particular business acumen in implementing an initiative that carries out the agency’s mission and creates high community impact. This year’s winner is ALIAS Chamber Ensemble GLF Project. The finalists are Senior Center for the Arts and the Tennessee Performing Arts Center.

The Erie Chapman Foundation Servant’s Heart Award was created to recognize individuals who are providing care and/or assistance to the clients of a nonprofit agency and who are on the “front lines” of the service profession. This year’s winner is Eric Fogle of Sexual Assault Clinic. The finalists are Janet Rosenburg of Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands and Traci Cook of Hope House Maury County.

The Baptist Healing Trust Compassionate Care Award is designed to recognize a nonprofit where love and compassion characterize its delivery of service. This year’s winner is STARS Nashville. The finalist is Safe Haven Family Shelter.

The Baptist Healing Trust Access of Care Award acknowledges organizations that demonstrate boldness in expanding access to care, especially for the vulnerable and underserved in Middle Tennessee. This year’s winner is Streetworks. The finalists are Magdalene/Thistle Farms and First Steps.

Each year CNM hosts Salute to Excellence, the “Academy Awards” of the Middle Tennessee nonprofit community, with a dinner and awards presentation that honors area nonprofits for their commitment to management excellence. Salute to Excellence 2011 was held on Tuesday, September 22, at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel. Rhori Johnston, NewsChannel 5 anchor, was the master of ceremonies. This year marked the 19th Salute to Excellence.