Crystal Awards Honor Philanthropy, Volunteerism and Fundraisers |

The Crystal Awards were bestowed on Tuesday, November 29th, the Oscars of Memphis philanthropy, volunteerism and fundraising. The Association of Fundraising Professionals has given these honors for 26 years. A standing-room-only crowd of Mid-South philanthropists, volunteers and professional fundraisers jammed the ballroom of the Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality Management at the University of Memphis for the midday luncheon.

Here are the 2011 winners! 

YOUTH IN PHILANTHROPY: Silvia Escobedo Davila of St. Agnes Academy and Tamario L. Jones of St. Dominic School.

OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER FUNDRAISER: Shannon Brown of FedEx. Brown raised $25.7 million dollars as General Chairman of the 2010-11 United Way of Greater Memphis Campaign. 

SPIRIT OF PHILANTHROPY AWARD: Michael and Bette Arndt, owners of Emergency Mobile Health Care (EMHC Ambulance Service). The Arndts and EMHC sponsor dozens of charitable events in Memphis and the Mid-South with their company creed of "Caring For and Sharing with the Community." 

OUTSTANDING CORPORATION AWARD: Duncan-Williams, Incorporated. Through financial support, encouraging employee investment and providing employees with opportunities for service during work hours, Duncan-Williams, Inc. serves as a perfect model of corporate community involvement. 

OUTSTANDING PARTNER IN PHILANTHROPY: Caesar's Entertainment, Inc. Caesar's donated $2 million dollars for the American Cancer Society's Harrah's Hope Lodge, a free interim residence for adult cancer patients while undergoing treatment. Caesar's also supports the nonprofit community through volunteerism with Caesar's Heroes Program, cash gifts, in-kind donations and membership on several organizations' Board of Directors.

OUTSTANDING EXECUTIVE LEADER: Susan Schadt, President & CEO, Arts Memphis. Schadt raised $27.2 million dollars in 2004-5 for the Memphis for the Arts Endowment Campaign. Arts Memphis has allocated $11 million dollars to local arts groups through the endowment. 

OUTSTANDING FUNDRAISING EXECUTIVE AWARD: Linda Jackson McNeil, Vice President of Development, BRIDGES. Jackson-McNeil directs all the fundraising at BRIDGES: a $1.3 million dollar annual campaign, a $10 million dollar capital campaign, a $5 million dollar challenge grant and $12 million dollars for BRIDGES' endowment.

OUTSTANDING PHILANTHROPIST: James E. McGehee, Jr. Jim, Chairman of McGehee Realty and Development, is former Chairman of the Memphis Airport Authority. He's currently raising $5 million dollars to build a Comprehensive Sickle Cell Clinic at Methodist University Hospital. $1`million has been raised; Jim gave a quarter of the current total: $250,000.  Jim is a member of the University of Memphis Board of Visitors, and a regular donor. He's given generously to Rhodes College, creating the Virginia Ballou McGehee Chair of Muslim-Christian Relations. He's an avid supporter of Hutchison School and Christian Brothers High School, Dixon Art Gallery and St. John's Episcopal Church where he hand carved the wooden cross that hangs in the congregation's "Life Center."