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2021 Salute to Excellence presented by PNC Bank Finalists Announced 

Community Impact, Nonprofit Leadership

July 1, 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Media Contact: Hillary Musice, hillary@cnm.org, (615) 259-0100 

 

NASHVILLE, TN, July 1, 2021 — The Center for Nonprofit Management (CNM) announced the 29 finalists for the 2021 Salute to Excellence nonprofit awards, presented by PNC Bank. The finalist organizations are comprised of nonprofits large and small in diverse services areas supporting communities across Middle Tennessee.  

Now in their 28th year, the Salute to Excellence awards will be presented during a virtual event Oct. 21, featuring 10 award categories of nonprofit excellence. The event also will include a People’s Choice Award for Nonprofit Leadership, sponsored by The Memorial Foundation, selected via live voting during the event. Winning organizations will receive cash prizes in amounts collectively totaling more than $227,000, as well as recognition for their accomplishments serving the Middle Tennessee community. 

“The resilience of nonprofits has never been more apparent than it has been in the past year,” shared CNM President and CEO Tari Hughes. “It is an honor to be able to pause and recognize the hard work of so many deserving organizations at Salute to Excellence. There is no group more deserving of celebration than those who have been on the front lines of complex issues facing our community.” 

The 2021 Salute to Excellence awards are made possible by corporate and philanthropic supporters throughout the region including PNC Bank, the 2021 Hero of Excellence sponsor. 

“PNC has a long history of supporting local organizations that strengthen and enrich the lives of our communities,” said Mike Johnson, PNC regional president for Tennessee.  “As a Main Street bank, we understand that a healthy, happy, culturally engaged community is a significant driver for Middle Tennessee’s economic success. We congratulate this year’s finalists for the Salute to Excellence nonprofit awards.” 

The finalists for the ten awards categories are: 

CEO of the Year  

Tallu Schuyler Quinn, The Nashville Food Project 

Dr. Gatluak Thach, Nashville International Center for Empowerment  

Rikki Harris, TN Voices 

 

Diversified Trust New Generations 

Cumberland River Compact 

Operation Stand Down Tennessee  

Tennessee Justice for Our Neighbors 

 

Erie Chapman Foundation Radical Loving Care 

James Slater, Center for Living and Learning 

Pamela Styles, Progress, Inc. 

Tiffany Ladd, The Salvation Army  

 

KraftCPAs Board Member of the Year 

Daryl Farler, Amputee Blade Runners 

Doria Panvini, The Arc Tennessee  

Fred McLaughlin, Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee 

 

Piedmont Natural Gas Sustainable Practices  

Justice Industries 

Plant the Seed 

Tennessee Environmental Council  

 

SunTrust Now Truist CFO of the Year 

Cecily McSurdy, Interfaith Dental Clinic  

Heather Verble, Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee  

Renee Wood, Thistle Farms  

 

The Frist Foundation Innovation in Action 

Nashville Humane Association 

Senior Ride Nashville 

Turnip Green Creative Reuse 

 

The Frist Foundation Revenue Development 

FrankTown Open Hearts  

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville  

Turnip Green Creative Reuse  

 

The Frist Foundation Team Building  

Legal Aid Society of Middle TN and the Cumberlands  

Martha O’Bryan Center  

Oasis Center  

 

United Way of Greater Nashville Community Impact 

Raphah Institute  

Sexual Assault Center 

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About CNM: CNM is a membership service organization that has served the Middle Tennessee nonprofit community and its partners for 35 years. CNM builds nonprofit capacity through consulting services, educational workshops and trainings, collective impact programming, networking opportunities, special events, member resources and moreCNM’s mission is to amplify the impact of nonprofits and their partners in order to create a connected community equipped to realize our greatest opportunities. 

About PNC Bank: PNC Bank, National Association, is a member of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC). PNC is one of the largest diversified financial services institutions in the United States, organized around its customers and communities for strong relationships and local delivery of retail and business banking including a full range of lending products; specialized services for corporations and government entities, including corporate banking, real estate finance and asset-based lending; wealth management and asset management. For information about PNC, visit www.pnc.com. 

About Salute to Excellence: A key part of CNM’s mission is celebrating nonprofit organizations for their service to the community. For the past 28 years, CNM has hosted Salute to Excellence, an annual awards ceremony honoring CNM member nonprofit organizations for their hard work in Middle Tennessee. Salute to Excellence brings together local business, community and nonprofit leaders as they honor organizations in 10 distinct categories of service. Finalists in each category receive recognition for their ongoing hard work in the community, and winning organizations take home cash prizes totaling approximately $227,000.  

2021 marks the 28th year of recognizing the outstanding Middle Tennessee nonprofits and their leaders by applauding their hard work and commitment to make our community a better place to live and work. For more information, visit CNM’s website.