WEST PALM BEACH, Florida. — Across Palm Beach County, more people than ever are giving their time to local causes, and Nonprofits First celebrated them at its annual Hats Off Awards. The sold-out event was held Thursday, October 15, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach.
“More people are doing more,” Nonprofits First President and CEO Trudy Crowetz said, pointing to rising volunteerism across the community. The Hats Off Awards exist to honor exactly those people, the Palm Beach County nonprofit volunteers, leaders, and staff who keep more than 8,500 local organizations running.
Crowetz appeared with West Palm Beach personal injury attorney Bill Bone, a committee member and emcee for the awards. She described the mission of Nonprofits First in simple terms. “We actually help the helpers,” she said.
The organization builds the capacity of other nonprofits through education and training, leadership development programs, and a formal accreditation process, reaching every cause from arts and culture to education to health and human services.
That support helps local organizations grow stronger and serve more people. Crowetz said demand for their work keeps rising, making it all the more meaningful to recognize and rally behind these groups.
Crowetz understands the recognition firsthand. She was named Nonprofit Professional of the Year at the 2022 Hats Off Awards. One of the night’s most popular honors, the People’s Choice Award, puts the spotlight on the public. As Bill Bone noted, anyone can vote for a favorite organization through Nonprofits First, and the winner is revealed live at the ceremony.
The Hats Off Awards is the only fundraiser Nonprofits First holds all year, a deliberate choice so the group does not compete with the nonprofits it serves. Residents who want to pitch in can donate at nonprofitsfirst.org, where gifts fund the education, training, and accreditation that back hundreds of local causes.
Bill Bone, Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by The Florida Bar, is proud to stand with Nonprofits First and the volunteers who strengthen the community.
