Community Cause of the Year 2015 nominees
Vestavia Hills is full of people making a difference in our community, and we need your votes to give them the recognition they deserve. Read about our nominees below and visit vestaviavoice.com/award to vote.
Autism Society of Alabama
Located in Vestavia Hills, the Autism Society of Alabama collaborates with various state and local agencies to increase autism awareness in the community, schools, and in the medical and professional arenas. The organization promotes education and understanding to encourage the early diagnosis of autism.
Birmingham AMBUCS
Birmingham AMBUCS is a nonprofit organization that donates custom-made bicycles and tricycles to children with disabilities. Each bike is specifically made to fit each child’s disability. The organization, which moved to Vestavia Hills in 2010, also conducts regular bike fairs around the area to train therapists to help children use the bikes.
Cooking with Cancer
Cooking with Cancer, located on Laurel Road, was founded by Vestavia Hills oncologist Dr. Luis Pineda. Pineda researches and develops beneficial recipes for cancer patients as well as their families, friends and caregivers. He has compiled well researched recipes into a Cooking with Cancer cookbook with a goal to give a free copy to every cancer patient who wants one.
Help the Hills
Help the Hills was born out of two classes of Leadership Vestavia Hills to fight against drug and alcohol abuse among children. The organization’s goal is to foster open dialogue with parents, educators and community leaders by providing information, tips and strategies to help parents have those necessary conversations.
KultureCity
Julian Maha and his wife, Dr. Michele Kong, founded KultureCity in 2013 after their son Abram was diagnosed with autism at age two. Run from the couple’s Vestavia Hills home, the organization provides networking and resources for those affected by autism and has now reached hundreds of families across the world.
Magic City Nutcracker
The Magic City Nutcracker is a nonprofit, organization that uses local community talent to provide a holiday tradition for the city. The production is a result of the efforts of Vestavia Dance members Stephanie Thompson, Kelly Avery and Angel White. This past December, the organization hosted a Sugar Plum Fairy tea.
Paul Meyers Foundation
After surviving the loss of their brother Paul the young age of 33, the Meyers family decided to honor his with the creation of the Paul Meyers Foundation. The foundation funds agencies and individuals that support medical treatment for underprivileged people, safety and rehabilitation to victims of human trafficking, and importance of early and continual screening for heart disease.
Reel Life International
Founded by local resident Michael O’Neal, Reel Life International endeavors to serve orphans and impoverished families by mobilizing people and resources for sustainable and empowering assistance initiatives. The work of Reel Life has grown to reach several countries, including Costa Rica, The Dominican Republic, Mexico, Peru, Cuba, Haiti and Guatemala.
Trips for Kids Birmingham
Founded by Tanglewood resident Doug Brown, Trips for Kids Birmingham loans bicycles and safety gear to children in the Birmingham area and teaches them to ride trails at Oak Mountain State Park. Through the organization, students ages 10-15 from inner-city Birmingham are invited to join volunteers on the trails as a reward for improving their attendance records.
Urban Purpose
Formed in 2010 by Vestavia Hills resident Jim McFarland, Urban Purpose provides food, clothing, shelter, employment opportunities, drug and alcohol recovery to those in need in Birmingham. In addition, every Sunday afternoon the group travels downtown to serve a meal to anywhere from 40 to 120 people.
Visit vestaviavoice.com/award to vote. Voting ends on March 8.