Quality of Life Award
The Quality of Life Award is Presented to Individuals Who Make a Positive Difference in McKinney
Each year, the McKinney Community Development Corporation presents a Quality of Life Award to an individual or organization that has made a positive difference in the lives of McKinney citizens. The Quality of Life Award provides an opportunity to recognize an individual and/or organization that works to make McKinney a better place to live, work and visit.
Jump to Topic
Nomination Criteria
To be nominated for the Quality of Life award, the individual or organization must meet one or more of the following criteria:
- Has made a significant economic, social or environmental impact on the community
- Is a public use project, facility or initiative that impacts the community at large
- Promotes, develops or creates:
- Affordable housing
- Business growth or tourism
- Recreational, cultural or community assets or amenities
For more information, view the Quality of Life Award Criteria and Winners (PDF).
Submitting Nominations
You may submit a nomination in two ways:
- You may complete the Quality of Life Nomination Form online on our website.
- Download and complete a Quality of Life Nomination Form (PDF) and send it to:
McKinney Community Development Corporation
Attention: Linda Jones
5900 South Lake Forest Drive, Suite 110
McKinney, Texas 75070
Award Presentation
Presentation of the award takes place at the annual McKinney Chamber of Commerce Community Awards Event.
For More Information
If you have any questions or need additional information, please send us an email or call at 972-547-7654.
2021 Award Recipients
Individual Award - Kim Sanchez
Kim Sanchez has been a servant leader in McKinney for many years. She is the founder of the McKinney Little Free Pantry which provides food, no questions asked, to those in need throughout our community. With more than a dozen locations, the Little Free Pantry provides non-perishable food and toiletries 7 days a week, 24 hours a day with kindness and respect. The Pantry partners with Love Life Foundation and AEYL on food, clothing and backpack drives. Ms. Sanchez has impacted affordable housing in McKinney, through her work with McKinney Housing Authority Newsome Homes and Merritt McGowan Manor projects. Kim is a long-standing supporter for the arts in McKinney - helping raise funds for the tile mosaic on the Downtown parking garage and working with Main Street to locate one of the monarchs near the mural. With a passion for those who are hungry, Ms. Sanchez has been a key supporter of Community Garden Kitchen and Hugs Cafe. She is also working to preserve McKinney’s history and heritage through a project with the Mexican section of the Pecan Grove Cemetery. Her heart for the underserved has led her to partner in efforts underway to create a co-location facility for nonprofits to share resources and encourage collaboration. Always willing to serve and lend a hand, Ms. Sanchez has spent years giving back through her church, Holy Family School, Junior League, Girl Scouts, Children’s Advocacy Center, Rape Crisis Center and the McKinney Chamber Board.
Organization / Initiative Award - Feeding Friends & Families Initiative
Feeding Friends & Families emerged as a collaboration between Community Lifeline Center and Mike Redeker soon after the start of the pandemic and has consistently provided food for those in need during this unprecedented and critical time in our community. These leaders partnered with USDA, North Texas Food Bank and Hello Fresh to hold 36 food distribution days during 2020, distributing 728,600 pounds of food to 3,452 families, including 200 turkeys at Thanksgiving. Additionally, they provided toys to families at Christmas. As demand is growing in our surrounding areas, the Feeding Friends & Families initiative has continued to take care of those in need throughout 2021. These leaders have reached far beyond their program in McKinney -- they have assisted churches, apartment complexes and neighboring communities to organize and create similar food distribution programs.
Previous Award Winners
|
|