The Johnson County Library Foundation has awarded four outstanding individuals as winners of the annual 2008 Pinnacle Awards: David Hughes, Jr., John Burgess, Vivien L. Jennings and Dr. Robert W. Fry.
The Pinnacle Award was launched in 2002 by the Johnson County Library Foundation to recognize Excellence in the Arts. This year, the Foundation expanded the Pinnacle Award to include three additional categories, which highlight a program or special area of emphasis at the Johnson County Library. The additional award categories include Excellence in: Advocacy and Public Engagement; Entrepreneurship; and Literacy and Education.
As with the original Pinnacle Award the new honorees were selected as they demonstrate excellence in their professional field or philanthropic pursuits:
Arts: David Hughes, Jr., Kansas City, Mo., founder of the Charlotte Street Foundation. Hughes has been a catalyst for Kansas City's emergence as one of the most dynamic cities in America for contemporary art. In launching the Urban Culture Project, he also has helped to revitalize downtown Kansas City by transforming empty storefronts into galleries for the display of contemporary art installations and performances.
Entrepreneurship: John Burgess, Leawood, Kan., founder and CEO of Interactive Media Holdings, LLC which was formed to develop and license online media social networks dedicated for use by schools and other organizations. Interactive Media Holdings' media network provides schools and other organizations a platform for collaboration and offers a lasting showcase of the photos, videos and recordings that document the events in the life of the school or other organization.
Literacy and Education: Vivien L. Jennings, Fairway, Kan., founder and president of Rainy Day Books, Inc., Kansas City's community bookseller, and the oldest independent bookstore in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Since 1975 Vivien has led Rainy Day Books in promoting a legacy of literacy throughout Kansas City.
Advocacy and Public Engagement: Dr. Robert W. Fry, Olathe, KS, founder of Fry Orthodontics, is a hero to the YMCA of Greater Kansas City and other local, national and international charitable efforts. He serves as chair of the YMCA of Greater Kansas City Board of Directors and is past chair of the YMCA's annual mission campaign. Dr. Fry serves on the Johnson County Community College Foundation Board of Directors. He has also served as a member of several international medical teams.
The 2008 Pinnacle Award winners were honored at a recognition dinner on Thursday, October 30, at the Regnier Center, Johnson County Community College. Winners were be presented with an engraved Tiffany & Co. crystal bowl.
Past Pinnacle Award Honorees are: the late Joe McGuff, sportswriter and former editor of the Kansas City Star; James Hamil, watercolor artist; Charles W. Gusewelle, author and Kansas City Star columnist; Gary R. Holcombe, actor and founding member of the KC Actors Theater; Cynthia Levin, Producing Artistic Director of the Unicorn Theatre; and Leon Brady, Kansas City Youth Jazz.
