FLEMING ISLAND – The Paul E. and Klare N. Reinhold Foundation, Inc. held its annual “Celebrate Clay” community service awards ceremony live online on April 27, during which the Foundation distributed $100,000 and 47 community service awards to nonprofit organizations that provide services to Clay County residents.

Waste Not Want Not captured the top honor this year, earning the $15,000 Paul E. Reinhold Community Service Award.

A panel of five judges including three volunteers from the community and two representatives on behalf of the Reinhold Foundation voted on the best projects and volunteers of 2020 to determine the winners of the $100,000 in cash awards. This year’s judges were: Irene Toto, CEO, Clay Behavioral Health Center and Kids First of Florida; Nina Waters, President, The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida; Jeremy Johnston, Executive Director, Clay County Utility Authority; Cotton Bryan, Reinhold Family Member; and John Myers, Reinhold Family Member and Foundation Trustee.

Applications were open to all nonprofit groups active in the First Coast Area that provided services to Clay County residents in 2020. The 47 winners included Clay County and regionally based nonprofits, churches, and school programs.

The 2021 “Celebrate Clay” awards winners:

Paul E. Reinhold Community Service Award ($15,000): Waste Not Want Not

Judges' Choice Program Awards ($7,000 each): Challenge Enterprises and The Way Free Medical Clinic

Extraordinary Executive Director* ($7,000):

Don Fann, Executive Director, The Way Free Medical Clinic

Peggy Bryan Volunteer of the Year Award* ($7,000): Jerry Kemp (posthumous award) and Clay County Habitat for Humanity

Judges' Choice Volunteer Awards* ($3,500 each): Lee Sackett BS CJ Acres Animal Rescue Farm and Allene Zvara of Seamark Ranch

(* Volunteer and executive director awards recognize outstanding individuals for their community service. The cash awards are provided to the nominating nonprofit organization that they serve.)

Special Judges' Awards ($2,000 each): CJ Acres Animal Rescue, Clay County Habitat for Humanity, Clay County Humane Society, Episcopal Children’s Services, Hope Therapy, James Boys of Orange Park United Methodist Church, Mission of the Dirt Road, Project REACH Kids, Clay County School District, Quigley House and Seamark Ranch

Category Awards ($1,000 each): Arts & Culture – Clamour Theatre Company, Concert on the Green, Oakleaf Village Elementary Music Program and Orange Park Community Theatre; Civic Programs

Clay County Agricultural Fair, Village Improvement Association GWFC Green Cove Springs, Community Programs, Food Pantry of Green Cove Springs, Hunger Fight, J.P. Hall Children’s Charities, McRae Elementary Weekend Food Program and Mercy Support Services; Education & Literacy – Clay County Education Foundation and Early Learning Coalition of North Florida; Environment and Animal Advocacy, Safe Animal Shelter, Health and Human Services, Ascension St. Vincent’s Foundation, BASCA, Community Health Outreach, Community Hospice and Palliative Care, Senior Citizens' Programs, Aging True Community Senior Services, Mobility Worldwide – PET Florida Penney Farms, Senior Champions Fellowship Hall, Shepherd’s Center of Orange Park, Women’s Empowerment Services Northeast Florida, Church Service Programs, Church of the Good Samaritan Anglican, The Clothes Closet of the Church Women’s Christian Ministries, Food Bridge – Middleburg United Methodist Church, St. Catherine’s Conference, Society St. Vincent de Paul, Accomplishments by Youth, Teen Court of Clay County, Service to Youth and Families, Orange Park Outfitters of Orange Park High School and Pace Center for Girls Clay

The Foundation created the “Celebrate Clay” awards program to honor the legacy of Paul and Klare Reinhold and to recognize, reward, and encourage community service within Clay County. The Foundation has awarded $965,000 to Celebrate Clay award recipients in the past 12 years.