Now is the time to nominate that quiet superhero in the community

The annual Local Hero Awards are upon us — but you can still nominate your special champion, that special person who nurtures our communities. Entries for the Daily Dispatch and Johnson & Johnson Local Heroes campaign are still open. Nominations close on July 31.

The Dispatch is searching for the many inspirational stories that 2021 will bring.

The campaign was initiated in 2015 and sees 12 people chosen as local hero finalists from a pool of nominees sent in by readers throughout the year.

Each of the finalists is honoured at a gala dinner.

The campaign had its first successful virtual awards event and has awarded more than 70 ordinary people who make a difference in our communities.

In 2020, a new category, the Frontline Hero Award, was introduced in an effort to honour the incredible efforts of front-line workers during the pandemic.

Daily Dispatch marketing manager Jennilee Peremore-Oliver said the Dispatch would continue to shine a light on the good Samaritans in the community in an effort to inspire others and spread good news.

“I think it is important to recognise the people in our community who selflessly give of their time and resources to help others, because it keeps our communities motivated and inspired and that is important especially now during the pandemic,”  Peremore-Oliver said.

She said the Dispatch and Johnson & Johnson Local Hero Awards judges always looked forward to the unique nominations sent in each year.

They  encouraged readers to nominate the people in their communities who went the extra mile to help others.

Unique stories of people helping others in unusual or special ways showed that there was much more people could do to help their neighbours.

“We also look at the level of sacrifice the people made to help their communities. These are just two of the characteristics that help nominees stand out,” Peremore-Oliver said.

To nominate your local hero, email a 500-word motivation for the nominee’s selection to localheroes@dispatch.co.za.

Nominees must make an impact in the Eastern Cape and preferably their outreach should be as local as possible.

All necessary details of the nominee, including name, cell number and email address, must be provided in the nomination. Unsuccessful Local Hero nominees from past years may be renominated for the 2021 awards.

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