Community of Hope Ministries Executive Director Amy White has been named the recipient of the 2018 James R. Stevens Service to Garner Award.

The award is bestowed on citizens who have made substantial, outstanding contributions to Garner over a significant number of years, in keeping with the late Mr. Stevens’ example of service spanning decades. It is Garner's most prestigious award for public service.

White was chosen by a panel that included Town officials, a Garner Chamber of Commerce representative, a Stevens family member and other members of the community.

Community of Hope Ministries is a faith-based non-profit that has grown from a one-time federal grant recipient for tutoring at-risk children into a community-supported program with numerous ministries including a summer camp, school track-out program, food pantry, Job for Life program, Carpenter's Hands ministry, crisis assistance ministry and, in recent years, a Garden of Hope.

Community of Hope's impact in the Garner area is profound. In 2016, for example, the organization provided more than 171,000 meals to food-insecure families. The organization also partnered with seven area elementary schools to provide after-school tutoring and a structured after-school program.

"We're a better town because of the work they do," Garner Chamber of Commerce President Neal Padgett said. "And that work just wouldn't have been possible without Amy's energy and what she's put into it."

Community of Hope was featured in Garner's successful application and presentation for the All-America City Award in 2013. White assisted with the writing of the application and was a key member of the delegation that went to Denver to make Garner's winning presentation for the award.

White served on the Wake County School Board from 2001 to 2005. She was vice president of the Garner Chamber of Commerce from 2006 to 2009.

In her other public service roles, White has been past chair of the Garner Educational Foundation and has served on the boards of the Wake Education Partnership, Partnership for Educational Success, Wake County Community Foundation and the YMCA Capital Steering Committee for Garner.

White served on the N.C. Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service and, from 2014 to 2016, she chaired the committee responsible for coordinating the Governor's Medallion Reception for Excellence in Community Service. She also was appointed by former Gov. Pat McCrory to serve a seven-year term on the State Board of Education.

White has gained regional recognition for her leadership. Triangle East Magazine selected her as one of the outstanding business women in the area, and The News & Observer named her a Tarheel of the Week.

White will be honored at a reception at Garner Town Hall (900 7th Ave.) at 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 21, just prior to the Town Council meeting at 7. The Council will recognize her at that meeting.

Amy White (center) at a check presentation by the Golden State Foods Foundation to Community of Hope Ministries.