Fort Wayne, IN (August 07, 2024) – Join Amani Family Services' Welcoming Fort Wayne initiative in celebrating the individuals and organizations building a more inclusive community at the annual Welcoming Fort Wayne Awards, 8:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 20.

The event will take place at Ceruti’s Summit Room, 6601 Innovation Blvd, Fort Wayne, IN 46818. Admission is free but registration is required by visiting amanifamilyservices.org/welcoming-fort-wayne-awards. Doors open at 8:30 a.m. and a light breakfast will be served.

Community members are also encouraged to nominate deserving organizations and individuals to receive an award. Award nominations can be submitted until Monday, August 26. Download nomination forms at amanifamilyservices.org/welcoming-fort-wayne-awards.

The Welcoming Fort Wayne Awards celebrates the achievements of exceptional immigrants and refugees, native community individuals, organizations, and companies that have demonstrated a strong commitment to multiculturalism.

There are three categories:

Lifetime Achiever: Honors an experienced leader who has devoted a significant portion of their career and volunteer work to the immigrant and refugee community. Their service has deeply impacted multiculturalism in Allen County for more than a decade.
Emerging Leader: Honors a newcomer to the multicultural community who has demonstrated exceptional resilience and commitment to improving the community and lives of immigrant/refugee families through their burgeoning career or volunteer work.
Welcoming Organization: Recognizes a for-profit or nonprofit organization that has made a lasting effort to be inclusive and welcoming through engagements with the refugee and immigrant refugee community. In addition to its external efforts, the organization demonstrates multicultural representation at various levels of leadership and has taken initiative in hiring immigrants and refugees in Allen County, Indiana.

"We all thrive when we feel a sense of belonging," says Ewelina Connolly, CEO of Amani Family Services. "The Welcoming Fort Wayne Awards honor those who bridge the gap between immigrants, refugees, and the wider community."

Welcoming Week is a globally-recognized celebration in which communities strive to be a more welcoming place for all, including immigrants and refugees. In partnership with several local community partners, Welcoming Week will feature events from Friday, September 13 to Saturday, September 21 that are focused on art, education and local resources. The full Welcoming Week event schedule can be found at amanifamilyservices.org/welcoming-week.

Welcoming Week is made possible by our following sponsors: Presenting Sponsor – Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne, Advocate Sponsors – Bowen Health Center and NIPSCO/NiSource Charitable Foundation, Supporter Sponsor - AnCor HR and Welcomer Sponsors – Ivy Tech, Old National Bank and Liechty Media. Amani Family Services is a local nonprofit organization serving nearly 2,000 individuals from around the world. Learn more at www.amanifamilyservices.org.

Event Information:

What: Welcoming Fort Wayne Awards

When: 8:30 to 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 20

Where: Ceruti’s Summit Room, 6601 Innovation Blvd, Fort Wayne, IN 46818

Admission: Free; register and download nomination forms at amanifamilyservices.org/welcoming-fort-wayne-awards; check out the full Welcoming Week schedule at amanifamilyservices.org/welcoming-week.