Nearly 350 came together on November 9 to celebrate the accomplishments of the Greater Washington region’s nonprofit sector at the Center for Nonprofit Advancement's Annual Celebration & Meeting.

Marty Rodgers, a senior executive at Accenture, provided valuable tips, tangible strategies and new motivation for successful partnerships between nonprofits and corporations.

Seth Goldman, president and TeaEO of Honest Tea, energized the crowd—sharing the success Honest Tea has realized by blending social justice with its corporate mission and the many benefits of developing innovative solutions to obstacles.

Building on the theme--Bridging Communities: Nonprofit & Corporate Connections--Rodgers and Goldman joined area corporate, government, philanthropic and nonprofit leaders in celebrating our collective efforts to advance communities throughout the region.

The Center’s Annual Celebration & Meeting included announcement of the Gelman, Rosenberg & Freedman 2010 EXCEL Award for excellence in chief executive leadership and presentations of the Phyllis Campbell Newsome Public Policy Leadership Awards.

The Gelman, Rosenberg & Freedman 2010 EXCEL Award was presented to the following chief executives:

• Scott Beale of Atlas Service Corps
• Michael Curtin of DC Central Kitchen
• Steven Park of Little Lights Urban Ministries

The following executive directors were named Honorable Mention recipients for the Award:

• Andrea Powell of FAIR Fund
• Kristine Thompson of Calvary Women's Services

Learn more about the EXCEL Award.

Elected officials from the District of Columbia, Northern Virginia and Montgomery and Prince George’s counties in Maryland were recognized with the 2010 Phyllis Campbell Newsome Public Policy Leadership Awards. Honorees included:

• D.C. Councilmember Michael A. Brown
• Maryland State Senator David C. Harrington
• Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett
• Loudoun County Supervisor Andrea McGimsey

Each public official was recognized for their dedication to the region's nonprofit community.

Learn more about the Phyllis Campbell Newsome Public Policy Leadership Award.

“The Center takes great pride and responsibility in its role cultivating and recognizing innovation in chief executive leadership and public policy,” said Center CEO Glen O’Gilvie. “We are pleased to celebrate our newest EXCEL and public policy leadership award winners and excited about the new inspiration this will provide for their colleagues."

Also announced was the launch of The Washington Post 2011 Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Management.

Washington-area nonprofit organizations are invited to apply through January 7.

Learn more about the 2011 Post Award and the upcoming application workshop.