PREVIOUS COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AWARD WINNERS

2023 COMMUNITY CONNECT, INC. COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AWARD WINNERS

Community Leadership Awards

The Community Leadership Award is given to community volunteers and leaders who have proven themselves to be an asset to the community and who support the growth of other leaders in the community. They have volunteered their time and services to support others, and the community service they provide shows they care about people and are willing to go the extra mile for others.  This award recognizes those who display leadership, communication, mentoring, motivational speaking, training, event promotion, and a voluntary spirit in their encouragement of others to make a difference in the future of our community.

Qualifications for the award include:

• Demonstrates leadership in a community-based program or in their field of expertise

• Gives from the heart and has donated extensive hours to community service

• Leads program(s) that add value to or improve the community

• Displays excellent customer service and communication skills

• Has a positive attitude and has shown tremendous leadership development

• Is committed to bettering the lives of others through community activities and volunteering

• Mentors others to help advance future leaders

• Serves as a model of excellence in their profession and is poised to accomplish more

• 10 or more people in the community can attest to their valuable community service

Submission Criteria:

• Nominees must be a current resident of the state of Nevada

• Nominations should include the specific award category (see below), details of the nominee’s personal attributes, leadership, communication, and mentoring skills, as well as evidence of support for community development.

Award categories for Community Leadership Awards. 

• Community Police Officer

• Community Firefighter

• Community Adopt-A-Cop Nevada Prayer Partner

• Community Chaplain

• Community Volunteer

• Community Mentor/Community Role Model

• Community Business Owner

• Community Church Leader (Pastor, Bishop, Minister, Deacon)

• Community Heath Care Worker

A person may only be nominated for one of eight award categories and they must not have been a previous recipient of the same award.

1. Community Leadership Award recipients are selected by the community workers, business owners, and advisory board members.

2. Nominations must be submitted by December 7, 2025

3. Voting period will be from December 8, 2025 to December 19, 2025.

4. Community Leadership Awards will be presented at the first Adopt-A-Cop Nevada ministry meeting in January 2026.

COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP NOMINATION

THE SAMUEL JOSEPH PASTORELLO

HUMANITARIAN AWARD

In September 2019, Senior Chaplain Michael Thrower established the Samuel Joseph Pastorello Humanitarian Award through the Adopt-A-Cop Nevada Prayer Protection Ministry, a dba of Community Connect, Inc., of Las Vegas, Nevada.  This annual award recognizes citizens in the community who have consistently demonstrated humanitarianism toward their fellow man.

 Chaplain Sam Pastorello was a kind, once-in-a-lifetime kind of person, a loving husband, a model father, a consummate teacher, an effective community leader, a friend to everyone, a chaplain for Messages of Faith Ministry, a member of Adopt-A-Cop Nevada and a man after God’s own heart.

 Few people achieve the reputation of being both a child of God and a great humanitarian, but Samuel Joseph Pastorello was such a man. In June 2019, Sam went to be with his Lord and Savior. 

 THE PURPOSE OF THE AWARD

 This annual award will be presented to honor the memory of Chaplain Sam and to recognize outstanding humanitarianism in the Las Vegas community.

 A humanitarian is defined as an individual who has the courage to take decisive action when it is needed; the wisdom to face aggressive challenges; the willingness to sacrifice in order to influence long-term impact for the betterment of the community and its citizens; and a spiritual foundation that draws and encourages others to seek a purpose-driven life.

 THE CRITERIA FOR THE AWARD

 Nominations for the award must be submitted in writing.  Submissions may be accompanied by no more than two letters of support from persons who are personally familiar with the humanitarian deeds of the nominee. 

 The selection committee shall consider:

• All nominees who reside in the State of Nevada, regardless of age, race, sex, or religion;

• The visibility of the cause or the person and their influence on the community, inspiring others in their humanitarian activities;

• The extent to which the quality of the humanitarian effort exceeds the duties called for by a person.

• The human factor in humanitarianism, the quality of the nominee’s personal involvement with those in need of assistance or support.

  December 19, 2025, at 7 pm is the deadline for submission

HUMANITARIAN AWARD NOMINATION