Community Member of the Year 2015 nominees

The 280 corridor is full of people making a difference in our community, and we need your help to give them the recognition they deserve.

Chris George

Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy

Chris George has dedicated his life to the citizens of Shelby County and has made it his goal to protect those residents. His story is very motivating and has been openly shared many community groups. He sets an example for young men to follow.

Toni Hill

President of Freedom Financial Group

Toni is the 2014 Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) Woman of the Year, raising the most money ever for the LLS Gulf Coast Chapter. Outside of campaigning for LLS, she has taken the time to sponsor a Make-A-Wish child, conduct a Thanksgiving Day meal delivery and organize a successful canned food drive for Oak Mountain Missions among other outreach projects. 

Paul Hughes

Director of Kingdom Forerunners/Birmingham Prayer Furnace

Paul has been a catalyst for social change on the 280 corridor. He has worked to build interdenominational unity among the Birmingham Christian community in the name of addressing the issues of social and racial injustice in our day. Paul has a heart for seeing the youth of our community strengthened in faith.

Scottie Jackson

Director of Education and Outreach at Alabama Wildlife Center

Scottie works tirelessly organizing and leading the educational programs of the Alabama Wildlife Center, and caring for the “educational ambassador” raptors that are part of AWC. In 2014 she directed the Alabama Wildlife Center’s outreach efforts, reaching more than 25,000 people with AWC’s conservation education programs.

John Lankford

Director of Urban Avenues 

John has started mentoring group and business opportunities for young men in the Fairfield community. This enterprise has giving young men hope for a career and does so in a way that honors each person’s story.

Keith Richards

Founder of Taziki’s

Keith, a Meadow Brook resident, founded his first Taziki’s restaurant along the U.S. 280 corridor in 1997. This local entrepreneur continues to give back. Keith hires employees with special needs at all his restaurants and created HOPE, a program that works with Shelby County school students to grow herbs used by Taziki’s restaurants. 

Katie Stubblefield

Director of Clinic and Animal Care at Alabama Wildlife Center

Katie is amazingly committed to ensuring that all of the patients at the Alabama Wildlife Center receive the best possible care. She directs the care of almost 2000 patients every year. She supervises and directs all medical care, housing and feeding of AWC patients from intake through their rehabilitation to release back into the wild. 

Myrah Taylor  

Oak Mountain High School Alumna

Myrah Taylor created a brochure titled “Neglected and Abused Children” as a part of her Miss Oak Mountain High School and Miss Outstanding Teen platform. Her fight to protect children took a step abroad to include children’s ministries in Nicaragua. Myrah to translate her brochure into Spanish, so she could share it with the teachers there.   

Gabe Thomas

Leader of the Grace Klein Community

Gabe is a true friend, committed husband/father and faithful member of the 280 community. Through his servant leadership at Grace Klein, they have been able to resource underprivileged families in the area. They also have a global impact beyond the Birmingham area. Gabe’s leadership is to be commended as an example for others in our community.

Della Pender

Mt Laurel sales manager

Della impacts lives of strangers every day. Through her nonprofit, God’s Outreach Center, Della is able to help those who need it most with clothing, food, supplies and more. In an almost anonymous fashion, and with no expectation of anything in return, Della has helped many of those who need it most in our community.

To vote, visit 280living.com/award. Voting ends on March 8.