Carol Hardison, chief executive officer of Crisis Assistance Ministry in Charlotte, received the 2011 Jack Callaghan Cornerstone Award on Thursday, May 19. The highest honor given by Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont, the award is presented annually to an individual who has demonstrated a passionate commitment to helping people who face barriers to employment, independence, and self-sufficiency.
Hardison received the award at Goodwill’s annual Cornerstone Celebration, presented by Wells Fargo. The event took place at The Westin Charlotte. Established in 1994, the Cornerstone Celebration luncheon honors individuals and corporations for their support of Goodwill’s mission.
The Cornerstone Award is named after Jack Callaghan, the first recipient of the honor. Callaghan was a television personality at WSOC-TV and station manager. He played a leadership role in numerous local, state and national community service organizations, including Goodwill. Callaghan contracted polio later in his life, and became a passionate advocate for people who experience barriers to employment and independence.
In the decade since Carol Hardison has been with Crisis Assistance Ministry, the agency has helped hundreds of thousands of men, women and children in Charlotte-Mecklenburg along the road to financial stability. She has played a key role in collaborating with partner organizations to strengthen aid programs in the Carolinas â including the development of the Critical Need Response Fund, the Workforce Initiative for Supportive Housing (W.I.S.H. Program), the Benefit Bank and many more.
Also during the event, Stephanie Johnson received Goodwillâs Volunteer of the Year Award. Johnson has generously given of her time and talents over the past eight years, teaching financial literacy to students participating in Goodwillâs Occupational Skills Training (OST) courses.
BI-LO was recognized with the organization’s Corporate Champion Award. Susan Byrdsong, Steven Struble and Parris Friday were honored with Good Work! awards. Bank of America and AT&T were supporting sponsors of the event.
