2015 Giving Back Contest Winners

Congratulations to our three winners of this year’s Giving Back Contest. Each year Midnight Velvet accepts nominations for people who volunteer in their community and give back to those in need.

Our three winners choose a charity that will receive a $5,000 donation from Midnight Velvet. We plan to visit these individuals and award the check to them personally in the next couple months. Stay tuned for lots of pics and details!

Meet our 2015 Winners!

Winner: Paula Phillips
Charity of Choice: Right Road Kids
Location: Westlake Village, California
Nominator: Elizabeth Jones

Excerpt from Nomination:
“After being threatened by a young teen during the 1992 Los Angeles Riots, Paula immediately dedicated her life to making a difference in children’s lives. Paula founded a nonprofit organization that works directly with elementary and middle school children to develop their self-esteem, character and talents, helping them travel the Right Road in their lives.”

Right Road Kids-Winner of Contest — Tiffyn from Midnight Velvet (far left) and the Right Road for Kids winning Nominee: Paula Phillips (middle). Others in the photo are volunteer teachers.

Winner: Vanessa Bills
Charity of Choice: Whitley County Dazzlers
Location: Columbia City, Indiana
Nominator: September McConnell

Excerpt from Nomination
“Most little kids are awed by cheerleaders. My friend Vanessa Bills recognized that kids with intellectual and physical disabilities are no exception. With her own children grown and some extra time on her hands, Vanessa founded the Whitley County Dazzlers, a special needs cheerleading squad of boys and girls ages 3-21. The only perfection she strives for is inclusion and happiness.”

Whittley County Dazzlers Spg 2015 1188 — Tiffyn from Midnight Velvet (far right) and the Whitney County Dazzlers winning Nominator: September McConnell (far left) and Nominee: Vanessa Bills (middle).

Winner: Burton Stigen
Charity of Choice: A City of Refuge Shelter
Location: Vinton, Louisiana
Nominator: Denise Perkins-Stigen

Excerpt from Nomination
“Mr. Stigen started and runs a Veterans Homeless Shelter in Vinton for the past 29 years. Yearly he helps over 4500 individuals by feeding, clothing and housing them. He provides over 14000 meals plus provides food boxes to the needy in the community as well as helping with food feeding programs in area communities helping provide food and clothing to approximately 40 people daily.”

Check out a video about this trip!

A City of Refuge Shelter for homeless veterans — Tiffyn from Midnight Velvet (right) presenting the winning check to winning nominee: Burton Stigen (middle) and winning nominator: Denise Perkins-Stigen (left) from City of Refuge Homeless Veterans Shelter.

Congratulations to all our winners and their chosen charities!

See our previous winners below:

2012 >

2013 >

2014 >

16 responses to “2015 Giving Back Contest Winners”

Joan Carr

November 10, 2015

What are the requirements for entering the contest for 2016. Please send me an email with instructions and deadlines.

Many thanks

President
Phenomenal Women-Gifts of God, Inc.

Reply
1. Midnight Velvet
  
  November 15, 2015
  
  Hello Joan, we are not accepting any entries for the Giving Back contest at this time. We hope to have an entry period again in Fall 2016. Thanks for your interest.
  
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Terry

June 24, 2015

How can I be a winner up here in Seattle ? please let me know I need to do ! Thank you all

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janet melvin

June 23, 2015

Hello all, I would like to nominate, my stitch time ministry at Shiloh Baptist church,in Trenton,n.j. We are now making llapblankets and Shaws for female veterans. We also made hats and matching scarves for the homeless and their children,We supply the family’s of new babies blankets.Please sumit this wonderful group of lady.s.Thank you very much

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lanier

June 23, 2015

I want to enter into the contest for the Danville Boyle County Senior Citizens of Danville, Kentucky 40422

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Midnight Velvet

June 23, 2015

Hi everyone, just letting you know that we are not accepting any more nominations for 2015. We will hopefully offer this contest again next year and you can submit nominations then. Stay tuned. Thank you!

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nancy tyler

June 23, 2015

i was hoping i could at least something to take my friend of 45 years that is in stage 4 bone cancer whcih i live with to see the beach before her life ends. all i can do i just hope that iwill be able to take her to myrtle beach and have a beachfront motel where see can see the ocean and heard the waves. that is so peaceful. i pray for any one that has that that God is with them.

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StaceyStory

June 23, 2015

I think your program of giving is wonderful.

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Lois Grays

June 23, 2015

I am intering contest for my step dad who have had bad strokes. He now has a feeding tub, cant talk any more just make sounds. We are trying so hard to to get some work done on their home because it is so old and he can not come home with so many things wrong and i turly pray for my mother who’s 80 and they really need the help thats why i wish to nominate him Edward Taylor for this charity.

Reply
1. Midnight Velvet
  
  June 23, 2015
  
  Hi Lois, Sorry to hear about your stepdad. Unfortunately the entry period has passed this year and the winners have been chosen as you can see above. We will hopefully have another entry period next year that you are welcome to submit a nomination. Thanks for the comment and take care.
  
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Lillie Spikes

June 22, 2015

Congratulations to the chosen recipients .it takes courage and determination to take a stand to help The people of God.

I would like to nominate my son Takeo Spikes, for your award next year. He is giving back to his hometown community and the Atlanta community in which he resides. He donates his time, money and his voice to the kids each year for football camp, toys for Christmas and motivation speeches to kids and adults. These are just a few things he is doing.

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SARAH HARRELL

June 22, 2015

I AM ENTERING THIS CONTEST FOR OUR MISSIONS GROUP WHO IS TOTALLY SELF SUPPORTED. WE ARE A NON-PROFIT ORGANAZATION . THE NAME OF OUR GROUP IS ALL GOD’S CHILDREN WORLD MISSIONS. WE GO TO PLACES LIKE JAMAICA AND OTHERS AND TEACH THESE KIDS VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL. WE ALSO TAKE SUPPLIES AND LEARNING ITEMS AS WELL AS PERSONAL HYGENIE ITEMS IN. THEY WAY WE GET OUR MONIES TO GO PLANE TICKETS INCLUDED IS TO DO YARD SALES , CAR WASHES, FOOD FUND RAISERS, CHICKEN DINNERS AND ETC. WOULD LOVE TO WIN THIS AND HAVE MONIES TO, JUST FOR ONE TIME HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO BUY WHAT WE NEED. THANKS FOR CONSIDERING US .

Reply
1. Midnight Velvet
  
  June 23, 2015
  
  Hi Sarah, thanks for the comment and nomination. Unfortunately the entry period has ended for this year and the winners have been chosen as you can see above. We will hopefully have another entry period next year that you are welcome to submit a nomination. Thanks again for the comment.
  
  Reply
  1. Katherine A. Lester
    
    June 24, 2015
    
    This was a wonderful,and Congratulation to the winners,I’m looking forward to Midnight Velvet doing this for 2016 so that I can enter Thanks Midnight Velvet for giving Back
    
    Reply
Elaine Ahrens

June 22, 2015

Graduated St Joseph 1961. Best class ever.

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Shirley Cameron

May 10, 2015

I am entering contest for my brother who has ALS. This is a horrible disease and a horrific way to die. I support ALS and wish to nominate him Frank Heatwole for this charity.

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