Portage County Opens Nominations for Community Heroes

Portage County wants to celebrate the neighbors, volunteers, and changemakers who quietly make life better for everyone around them.

The annual Celebrate Portage awards are now accepting nominations through May 30th. Anyone can submit names of individuals, organizations, or projects that made Portage County a great place to live in 2025.

Winners and nominees will be honored at the Celebrate Portage annual dinner. Community members can visit www.celebrateportage.org to nominate someone or reach out to celebrateportage@gmail.com with questions.

The awards span six categories that capture different ways people give back. The Community Hero Award recognizes individuals whose courage and self-sacrifice benefit neighbors they may never meet face to face.

Community Service awards go to programs that bring young people, adults, and families together to tackle shared needs. The Community Improvement category celebrates projects that enhance the county's identity, from historical renovations to beautification efforts and art installations.

The Employee of the Year Award honors workers whose everyday dedication improves lives behind the scenes. Youth Initiative awards spotlight young people and youth organizations leading innovative community engagement programs.

Health Initiative awards recognize programs building better systems so everyone has tools to reach their full potential for health and wellness.

The Ripple Effect

These awards do more than hand out trophies. They shine a light on the often invisible work that holds communities together, inspiring others to step up and serve.

When communities pause to recognize their helpers, it creates a culture of appreciation that spreads. Someone honored for organizing food drives might inspire a neighbor to start tutoring kids, creating waves of positive action that reach far beyond a single award ceremony.

May 30th is the deadline to make sure someone's hard work gets the recognition it deserves.