CHICAGO, IL -- (Marketwire) -- 05/14/09 -- At its 10th annual nonprofit symposium on Wednesday, May 13th, at North Park University, The Axelson Center for Nonprofit Management awarded its prestigious Alford-Axelson Awards for Nonprofit Managerial Excellence. Girls in the Game won this year's award in the small nonprofit category and CommunityHealth won in the large nonprofit category. Family Service and Mental Health Center of Oak Park and River Forest (whose name was recently changed to Thrive Counseling Center) and Christopher House received the honorable mention awards (in the small and large categories, respectively).

The award winners were especially outstanding in the following areas:

--  Clear mission and demonstrated impact of programs on target groups
    served;
--  Creative strategies to generate revenue;
--  Strong budget and financial policies;
--  Evidence of strategic innovation;
--  Attention to support for the growth and development of staff;
--  A governing board that is demonstrably engaged with the organization,
    contributes financially to support the mission, and ensures organizational
    accountability; and
--  Engagement with their community.
    

Established in 2002, the Alford-Axelson award program is sponsored by CHASE and ShoreBank. The award is given annually to two nonprofit organizations that exemplify extraordinary managerial excellence. The award is named in honor of leading nonprofit thinker, Jimmie R. Alford, and devoted community healthcare leader, Nils G. Axelson. In choosing this year's winners, a panel of evaluators consisting of a group of Chicago's top nonprofit and philanthropy leaders reviewed an applicant pool of 42 nominees. The award comes with a $5,000 unrestricted grant for the two winning organizations.

Girls in the Game -- whose award was presented by Kimberly Jones, Business Development Officer at ShoreBank -- provides and promotes sports and fitness opportunities, health and nutrition education, and leadership development programs to enhance the overall health and well-being of all girls. Girls are encouraged to get in the game -- any game -- so they can learn teamwork and determination, and to make choices that lead to a happier, healthier life. Girls in the Game was founded in 1995, and is located at the Union Park Fieldhouse, 1501 W. Randolph Street in Chicago.

CommunityHealth -- whose award was presented by Rosemary Mauck, Division Manager at CHASE -- has been dedicated since its founding in 1906 to serving the uninsured and underserved in Chicago and surrounding communities. With comprehensive patient services and many institutional affiliations, CommunityHealth is a leader among free clinics nationwide. They offer an innovative model for providing compassionate and comprehensive medical care to the uninsured, and are the largest volunteer-staffed free medical facility in Illinois. CommunityHealth is located at 2507 N. Greenview Avenue, Chicago.

North Park University's Axelson Center for Nonprofit Management, established in 1999, seeks to enhance the performance and effectiveness of individuals and organizations in the nonprofit sector through education, service and resources. The Axelson Center's vision is to help build vibrant communities in Chicago and beyond through strengthening nonprofit leadership. For more information, visit www.northpark.edu/axelson.

About North Park University

Located in Chicago, North Park University is a Christian comprehensive university that serves nearly 3,300 undergraduate and graduate students from around the country and the world. Within a diverse, close-knit, urban community, North Park offers a values-based education to students through more than 30 undergraduate majors and an adult degree-completion program, as well as graduate and continuing education in business, nonprofit management, nursing, education, music, and theology. By integrating faith with learning -- as it has done since its founding in 1891 by the Evangelical Covenant Church -- North Park University continues to focus on the important task of preparing students for lives of significance and service. More information is available at www.northpark.edu.

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