Central Carolina Community Foundation, the Midlands’ local center for philanthropy, has awarded the 2020-2021 David W. Robinson Catalyst Award to Fairfield Forward.
Founded in 1979, Fairfield Forward is a collaborative alliance of community members, leaders and agencies with a mission of providing local resources and opportunities for building a healthy community.
“Fairfield Forward’s response to the pandemic, despite the many challenges faced, is admirable,” says JoAnn Turnquist, president and CEO of Central Carolina Community Foundation. “Through its collaboration, Fairfield Forward worked to successfully address the needs of its community.”
Fairfield Forward is awarded the David W. Robinson Catalyst Award for its immediate, collaborative and creative response to providing COVID-19 relief to its community. When the pandemic began, Fairfield Forward leveraged members of its alliance to organize and develop a fresh food distribution hub, provide mental health programs, deploy a diaper bank, distribute PPE for essential workers and play a critical role in developing a coalition of organizations that are addressing crucial needs within Fairfield County.
The David W. Robinson Catalyst Award, created in memory of inaugural board member David W. Robinson, was established by the Community Foundation and the Robinson Family in 1994. It recognizes organizations in the Foundation’s 11-county service area that have exemplified leadership, creativity, vision and commitment in addressing critical community issues. The recipient is selected by the Foundation’s Community Impact Committee. For more information about the Catalyst Award, visit www.yourfoundation.org/catalyst.
