The Center for Nonprofit Management has announced the finalists for the “Academy Awards” of the nonprofit community in Middle Tennessee.This year Salute will present nine awards totaling nearly $160,000 for nonprofit excellence. The winner of each award will be announced at Salute to Excellence 2009 on Thursday, September 17, 2009.

The Frist Foundation Awards of Achievement recognizes excellence in Middle Tennessee nonprofit organizations in three categories: Innovation in Action, Making a Difference, and Team Building.

• Finalists in the 2009 Innovation in Action category are: Monroe Harding, Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle TN and STARS/Oasis.

• Finalists in the 2009 Making a Difference category are: Health Assist Tennessee, Homework Hotline, and Nurses for Newborns.

• Finalists in the 2009 Team Building category are: Interfaith Dental Clinic, PENCIL Foundation’s LP PENCIL Box, and Our Kids, Inc.

Baptist Healing Trust and Erie Chapman Foundation Servant’s Heart Award recognizes individuals who are providing care and/or assistance to the clients of a nonprofit agency and who are on the “front lines” of the service profession.

• Finalists for the 2009 Servant’s Heart Award are: Martha Oldham of BrightStone, Bob Overton of Discovery Place, and Emad Khalil of Siloam Family Health Center.

Baptist Healing Trust Healing Charity Award recognizes a nonprofit where love and compassion characterize its delivery of service.

• Finalists for the 2009 Healing Charity Award are: Health Assist Tennessee, Renewal House, and Our Kids, Inc.

The Bank of America Chief Executive Officer of the Year Award highlights the importance of executive leadership in an organization’s achievement of mission-related results.

• Finalists for the 2009 CEO of the Year Award are: Brenda Hauk of BrightStone, Mary Bufwack of United Neighborhood Health Services, and Linda Leathers of The Next Door.

The KraftCPAs Board Member of the Year Award recognizes board members who go the extra mile for their organizations.

• Finalists for the 2009 Board Member of the Year Award are: Judy Fisher of Alive Hospice, Don Kendall of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee, and Andrea Overby of The Next Door.

The Marvin Runyon Leadership Award is presented to a nonprofit agency that has demonstrated sound management strategy in the heat of crisis.

• Finalists for the 2009 Marvin Runyon Leadership Award are: Hands On Nashville, Hope House, and Mercy Children’s Clinic.

The Ford Motor Company Excellence in Communications Award is presented to the organization that exemplifies the best strategies for planning and executing a communications program designed to advance the mission of the organization.

• Finalists for the 2009 Excellence in Communications Award are: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee, Nashville Ballet, and the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee’s NowPlayingNashville.com.