Awards Celebrate Volunteerism and Community Pride in Pontiac
(Crystal A. Proxmire, April 1, 2019)
Pontiac, MI – It was a night of hugs, smiles, lots of clapping, and smooth jazz music as Pontiac’s most engaged residents gathered at Baker College for The Clarence E. Phillips Ascend Foundation’s second annual Pontiac Honors: Community Service Awards.
The Groove Session provided the music and Ascend Foundation President Kaino Phillips provided an evening full of accolades for over two dozen people and groups that put their heart into being good neighbors.
The list of winners was large, but so is the amount of community spirit seen in Oakland County’s capital city on a daily basis. “Words can’t express how grateful I am about our Pontiac honors event last night. A sold out venue came in to celebrate the greatness that exists in the City of Pontiac through the role of community service,” Phillips said on Facebook the night of the vent.  “More importantly, all we wanted to do was bring a community together in celebration of family and unity. We wanted to create a top of the line event that would be worthy of all of these tremendous acts of love for humanity! I think that last night, we accomplished that and so much more!”
2019 Pontiac Honors List of Community Champion Award Winners:
Che’Keita Jones: (Executive Director & Founder) Kicks 4 Kids Foundation
Male Selection:      Brien Becks
Female Selection:  Ma’Kenzie Ford
Jermaine Branner:   Owner of Max Out Fitness & Youth Mentor
Your Emerging Space (Owner-Mary Gee)
Gill Garrett: (President) Garrett Group & Oakland County Sherriff
Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church:   Pastor Terrance Garrett
Debra Ehrmann: (Community Activist & Champion for Minority Rights)
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.  ‘Omicron Alpha Alpha Chapter’
Oakland Family Services
Delta Sigma Theta ‘Omicron Zeta Chapter’ Oakland University
Perry Earl Jr.                 Vice-Chair – Pontiac Library Board
Bill Maxey: (Treasurer) Pontiac Library Board, Social Justice & Veteran Affairs Champion
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. Pontiac Alumnae Chapter
Eisha Branner: (Youth Mentor Director) Pontiac Police Athletic League
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. ‘Nu Gamma Chapter’ Oakland University
Angela Powell, Oakland County Commissioner
Pontiac Night Riders:
Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient:
Portia Fields :  Past Director of Recreation for the City of Pontiac
Mattie Hatchett:  Oakland County Commissioner Emeritus
Spirit of the Cause Recipients:
Pontiac Universal Crimes
Team Pontiac Special Olympics Basketball Silver Medalists
For more information on the Ascend Foundation, including how to volunteer, visit http://theascendfoundation.org/.