Vision awards

When Vision 2020 was founded -- it started as Vision 2000 and updated its name to keep up with the times -- it identified five key areas that needed attention: arts, culture and leisure; community services and enrichment; economic development; education; and transportation and infrastructure. Over the years organizations and individuals who have contributed to those key areas have been recognized with annual awards. The awards are named in honor of Melvin Gateley, a retired educator and former city councilman, who was instrumental in organization Vision 2020 and who has himself devoted countless hours of volunteer service to his community.

This year's awards went to Mississippi Valley Therapeutic Horsemanship, which provides services to people with disabilities; THRIVE, which promotes character development for young people; Pat King, a dropout who went back to school and earned a bachelor's degree in social work; Ken Urhahn, a popular and successful baseball coach in the Cal Ripken League; Larry and Jean Underberg, volunteers to organize the Tunes at Twilight concerts for Old Town Cape; and Kay Hood, a registered nurse who has helped establish ministries in the city's south side.

Just as their awards' namesake has done, each of these groups and individuals has provided valuable services to our community as volunteers. Congratulations to all of this year's award recipients. Our lives and our community are better because of them.