A trio of local businesses have been named finalists in PBS Reno’s 2021 Spotlight Awards in the Extraordinary Local Business category: Mari Chuy’s Mexican Kitchen, Thrive Wellness of Reno and United Federal Credit Union. Go to pbsreno.org/events/spotlight-awards to learn more about each finalist and to cast your votes. The voting deadline is Wednesday, Aug. 18.
The businesses are just three of several finalists in this year’s awards; according to an Aug. 5 press release from PBS Reno, other finalists are as follows:
Extraordinary Community Group: Community Health Alliance, Step 1 Recovery and Trauma Intervention Programs (TIP) of Northern Nevada.
Extraordinary Educator: Milton Hyams, Social Studies Department Leader at Incline High School; Rebecca “RJ” Larrieu, School Director and Teacher at Newton Learning Center; and Kimberly Smerkers-Bass, CLS Teacher at Roy Gomm Elementary School.
Extraordinary Individual: Diaz Dixon, Eddy House CEO; Jane Dunn, Reno Posse Founder and Leader; and Kurt Hoge, President of Reno Type.
Extraordinary Youth: Jonah Howell, JUSTin Hope Foundation volunteer; and Emmalee Sutton, the 2021-2022 Children’s Miracle Network Champion Child at Renown Children’s Hospital.
Winners will be revealed live on-air during the Spotlight Awards and Auction on Sept, 18 on PBS Reno channel 5.1, Spectrum 785, or the station’s live stream online.
In addition, PBS Reno will also honor Sandy Raffealli as this year’s Extraordinary Philanthropist.
“We are thrilled to be able to continue highlighting the incredible people and organizations who make our region such an exceptional place with the Spotlight Awards again this year,” Brynne Kenney, PBS Reno Vice President of Administration, said in a statement. “So many people have used the difficulty of the last year to do great things for others in our community and we want to celebrate that.”
