Chapel Hill – An Orange County resident won a humanitarian award in a state-wide competition, for his volunteer work in the community.
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The Lamplighter Awards is an annual state-wide competition that recognizes volunteers for their community service. One of the awards is the John Hope Franklin Humanitarian Award.
When Minister Robert Campbell of Chapel Hill thinks of someone who should be awarded for shining his light upon others, he says one name comes to mind.
“I nominated Mr. David Caldwell simply because of the work that he had been doing in the community of the Rodgers-Eubanks Neighborhood,” says Campbell, “He’s just one of those lights that shine in the community.”
David Caldwell is the project director and community organizer for the Rogers-Eubanks Neighborhood Association. He says he’s shocked that he beat the odds, and the other deserving contestants to win the honor.
“I think when it got to about 300 people I kind of said, ‘Okay, well that’s as far as I’m going,’” Caldwell says, “Looking at the competition that was out there, it was unbelievable what people were doing around the state.”
Campbell says he is not surprised that Caldwell won the competition. He says there is no better candidate than Caldwell.
“I looked at the definition for the award, and David is the example that Dr. Hope Franklin himself represented,” says Campbell.
Caldwell was presented with the award Saturday at the Carolina Theater in Durham. But he says the credit is due to all the folks who have helped him accomplish so much in Orange County.
“This is a pat on the back for everybody that’s been apart of RENA, and the hundreds of collaborations that we’ve made over the years,” says Caldwell.
Caldwell has plans to continue his work in the community, and he says he hopes you will join him.
“There’s a lot of work to be done,” says Caldwell, “You might not be able to do what you want to, but please do what you can.”
For more information about the Rogers-Eubank’s Neighborhood Association click here.
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