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Central Penn Business Journal has named the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (CIE) at Harrisburg University of Science and Technology a 2024 Nonprofit Innovation Awards finalist.

The Nonprofit Innovation Awards are presented to nonprofits that work to improve Central Pennsylvania in pioneering ways. The innovation must have taken place between July 2022 and December 2023. A top winner and a runner-up in each category will be revealed during video rollouts May 10–15.

The 2024 awards are held in partnership with the Lancaster County Community Foundation, The Foundation for Enhancing Communities, and York County Community Foundation.

Awards are presented in five categories:

  • The Branding Identity/Unique Marketing Campaign award recognizes nonprofits that utilize unique and innovative marketing concepts to attract financial support, volunteers, and/or clients.
  • The Collaboration category honors an innovative collaborative effort between a nonprofit and another organization to accomplish a common goal that they otherwise wouldn’t be able to achieve.
  • The Management Operations award recognizes innovation in organizational operations that have resulted in an increased success of its mission.
  • The Nonprofit Leadership Excellence category recognizes an innovative nonprofit leader whose accomplishments have advanced his/her organization and positively impacted the community.
  • The Programs award recognizes innovative programming that has resulted in the organization’s increased success in achievement of its mission.

To be eligible for the awards, the organization must be located in and serve at least one of the following counties: Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry, and/or York.

“The 2024 Nonprofit Innovation Awards finalists are inspirational. Their innovative practices in management, operations, and collaboration build strong communities in Central Pennsylvania,” said Suzanne Fischer-Huettner, managing director of BridgeTower Media/Central Penn Business Journal. “Central Penn Business Journal is proud to join our partners, Lancaster County Community Foundation, The Foundation for Enhancing Communities, and York County Community Foundation, in celebrating these impressive nonprofits.”

The top winner and runner-up will be revealed by category during daily video rollouts May 10–15 at CPBJ.com and on Central Penn Business Journal’s social media channels. The rollout schedule is: May 10, Branding Identity/Unique Marketing Campaign; May 13, Collaboration; May 14, Management Operations and  Nonprofit Leadership Excellence; and May 15, Programs.

A celebratory happy hour will be held May 16 at Wyndridge Farm, 885 S. Pleasant Avenue in Dallastown. Networking, drinks, and hors d’oeuvres begin at 4 PM with the awards celebration starting at 4:45 PM followed by continued networking opportunities. The event hashtag is #CPBJevents.

Attendance is limited. This event will sell out. Sponsors and honorees receive priority. Sponsorship includes multimedia marketing through the video rollouts and in-person celebration benefits including VIP seating for guests, the right to use the Nonprofit Innovation Awards logo, print and digital marketing, and much more. To secure a sponsorship, contact Suzanne Fischer-Huettner at shuettner@bridgetowermedia.com.

Honorees will be profiled in a special magazine that will be inserted into the May 24 issue of the Central Penn Business Journal and will be available online at CPBJ.com.

The Presenting Sponsor is First National Bank. The Foundation Partners are Lancaster County Community Foundation, The Foundation for Enhancing Communities, and York County Community Foundation. The Celebration Sponsor is WellSpan Health.

For more information and updated sponsorship information about Central Penn Business Journal’s 2024 Nonprofit Innovation Awards, visit CPBJ.com.

About Central Penn Business Journal

Central Penn Business Journal is the leading source of business news and information in Central Pennsylvania for the past 40 years. In addition to breaking news on its multimedia news site at CPBJ.com, it also publishes a biweekly print edition. Central Penn Business Journal publishes various special focus sections on topics such as real estate and construction and mergers and acquisitions in addition to the yearly Book of Lists. It also hosts 11 annual events, including Women of Influence, Reader Rankings, Fastest Growing Companies, and Best Places to Work in PA, to recognize excellence and provide leadership opportunities. In addition, Central Penn Business Journal facilitates webinars bringing local experts from the business community together to discuss current topics and trends. Its Digital Marketing Solutions helps customers with social media, search engine marketing and optimization, retargeting, email marketing, and more. Central Penn Business Journal and its sister publication, Lehigh Valley Business, which covers business in the Lehigh Valley, are part of BridgeTower Media, the leading provider of B2B information, research, events, and marketing solutions across more than 25 US markets and industries.

2024 Nonprofit Innovation Awards Finalists

Branding Identity/Unique Marketing Campaign

  • Family First Health
  • The Link 4 YOUth
  • WellSpan Health
  • York County Food Bank

Collaboration

  • Penn State Master Watershed Stewards
  • Peyton Walker Foundation
  • Wildheart
  • York County Food Bank
  • York County Safety Collab
  • YWCA Lancaster

Management Operations

  • Community Connections for Children Inc.
  • Jewish Family Service of Greater Harrisburg
  • York County SPCA

Nonprofit Leadership Excellence

  • Daniel Betancourt, Community First Fund
  • Willem Kiefer, Bench Mark Program
  • Dee Mathis, American Cancer Society
  • Wilda Reahm-Alessi, Leadership York

Programs

  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region
  • Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (CIE) at Harrisburg University
  • Community First Fund
  • New Hope Ministries Inc.
  • Prima Theatre
  • SWAN: Scaling Walls a Note at a Time
  • York County Food Bank
  • YWCA Hanover

CONTACT:

Central Penn Business Journal: Suzanne Fischer-Huettner | CPBJEvents@BridgeTowerMedia.com

Harrisburg University: Jessica Warren | JWarren2@HarrisburgU.edu

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