The personal injury law firm of Allen & Allen has announced the 2019 winners of the Allen & Allen Hometown Heroes Award. The award celebrates acts of local heroism throughout the cities and surrounding communities of Richmond, Charlottesville, and Fredericksburg.
Firm President Edward L. Allen said, “I am excited to recognize this year’s class of 14 extraordinary people who reflect the Allen Law Firm’s mission of service to others. This is our 10th year and we have recognized over 400 heroes and their organizations. They inspire us all to give back to our communities and to others.”
To celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the award, a Heroes’ Reunion will be held on August 1, 2019 at the Science Museum of Virginia, where past and present honorees are invited to attend. The event will also feature guest speaker Clarence Singleton, a Midlothian resident and retired FDNY firefighter, who has spoken about his 9/11 rescue efforts on national programs like the Today Show.
This year’s Heroes will also be honored at an awards event in downtown Charlottesville on Friday, July 19, 2019 at Fridays After Five.
Congratulations to these 2019 Allen & Allen Hometown Heroes in the Richmond area:
- Gail Crawford, the founder and president of Making a Difference For You, providing life enrichment services to under privileged families.
- Jeff Katz, who is dedicated to doing good deeds for law enforcement officers and helping children with disabilities.
- Jocelyn Marencik, founder of Got Tec, which helps inner-city youths gain access to technology and coding courses.
- Joe and Celeste Logan, therapeutic foster parents in Richmond who advocate for children with medical needs.
- Kelly Lane, the president of the Virginia Federation of Women’s Clubs, who has dedicated her administration to eliminating human trafficking.
- Lynne Hughes, the founder and CEO of Comfort Zone Camp, which provides a caring community and safe haven for grieving children.
- Michael Tillem, founder of Journey House Recovery Foundation, which helps recovering addicts, and provides coaching and support to their families.
- Sarah Scarbrough, the founder of the REAL Life Community Center, which leads those impacted by incarceration to a thriving future.
- Shonda Harris-Muhammed, founder of Northside Coalition For Children, which ensures over ten thousand children do not go without school supplies.
Congratulations to these 2019 Allen & Allen Hometown Heroes in the Charlottesville area:
- Annie Dodd, the founder of All Blessings Flow, which collects and redistributes used medical equipment to those in need.
- Chuck Pugh, the assistant chief of North Garden volunteer firefighters, who helps educate children and the community on firefighting.
- Gail Hyder Wiley, founded Car 2 Vote, helping residents of the Charlottesville area get to polls on voting day.
- Mary Birkholz, founder of Caring for Creatures, which provides a safe and healthy sanctuary to rehabilitate and rehome abandoned and abused animals.
Congratulations to the 2019 Allen & Allen Hometown Hero in the Fredericksburg area:
- Rick Ecker, founder of Veterans on Track Foundation, which has furnished 350 veteran houses, turning them into homes.
Click here to read in-depth stories about our heroes and their causes.
