Pastor Larson & Pastor Fowler Allies Award
The Allies Award is presented in honor of Dr. Ron Fowler and Pastor Knute Larson, whose intentional
personal/professional relationship crossed racial, cultural and congregational barriers. The Fowler-Larson
Allies Award is given to Christian faith leaders who model the "allies spirit." Recipients will be chosen from
the local church or para church community in the Greater Akron area. This honor is awarded to persons
in the Christian community; therefore, is not an inter faith award.
Nomination Criteria
- Be persons of utmost integrity and good moral character.
Demonstrate their Christian faith and witness in the community. Treats people with dignity and respect
regardless of their faith status.
- The individuals, from separate local church or para church ministries, representing differing backgrounds
their relationship must demonstrate an intentional effort to build bridges of understanding between diverse
races, cultures or congregational traditions.
- Must have a history of serving in a recognized ministry position with a local church or para church within
the Christian community in the Greater Akron area. Bi-vocational individuals are eligible.
Nomination Criteria
- Must be a Christian.
- Must be a person of utmost integrity and good moral character.
- Must be bold in his or her Christian faith and witness in the community.
- Must have demonstrated service to others in the community at large, treating people with dignity and respect
regardless of their faith status.
- Must not be in a compensated ministry position in a Local Church or Para-Church Ministry.
Brenda Burnham Unruh Servant Leader Award
Brenda Burnham Unruh was a person known and loved by many in the Greater Akron community. In addition to
being a person of high integrity, Brenda was known for tirelessly, boldly and consistently reaching out to people of
all socio-economic levels—from politicians, lawyers and doctors—to prostitutes, homeless and felons—with the
Good News of Jesus Christ. An intense desire to share the Gospel with everyone was at the core of her legacy.
Brenda eagerly cared for individuals and served her community-at-large without expecting compensation or
recognition. She treated all people with dignity and respect regardless of their faith status. The Brenda Burnham
Unruh Servant Leader Award is to be given to a person not employed in full time ministry, who exemplifies the same
character traits demonstrated so well by Brenda. The award seeks to not only recognize those who live their lives
the way Brenda did but also to inspire and challenge those who would.
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Love Akron Change-Maker Award
The Love Akron Change-Maker Award will be presented to a person and an organization that is impacting Greater Akron. The list below identifies what makes a person and an organization a Change-Maker: Curious and Creative Problem Solvers: Change-makers become passionate about solving a problem (or problems). Inherently, they ask questions and look for creative ways to find solutions. Risk Takers with Confidence and Courage: Instinct and intuition as their guide, change-makers trust in themselves and preserver into new frontiers or against popular opinion. Open-minded with a Positive Perspective: In order to succeed, Change-Makers are optimistic about their results and success and are open to different and new perspectives. This positivity and openness are what helps them see the solutions that lead to significant change. Engaging communicators: By the nature of a change maker’s passion for the change they seek, they must be able to inspire and motivate audiences for support. Change-makers are storytellers that inspire action. Doers with Ambition and Drive: Because of their passion for results, successful change-makers will roll up their sleeves and dig into the work. They set up lofty goals and are willing to put in the hours until they reach them, very committed to success.