The Salvation Army is Stevie® Winner in 19th Annual American Business Awards®
New York, NY – May 10, 2021 – The Salvation Army of Greater New York earned the highest recognition given by The 19th Annual American Business Awards® with a Grand Stevie® and two Gold Stevies® for its outstanding mobilization of resources in response to COVID-19.
The American Business Awards are the U.S.A.’s premier business awards program. All organizations operating in the U.S.A. are eligible to submit nominations – public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small.
Nicknamed the Stevies for the Greek word meaning “crowned,” the awards will be virtually presented to winners during a live event on Wednesday, June 30. Tickets for the virtual event are now on sale.
The Salvation Army of Greater New York was awarded Best Non-Profit Response to COVID-19 thanks to the brave and selfless actions of staff, donors, and volunteers. The organization’s community-based model makes it uniquely positioned to respond immediately in times of crisis. “Thank you, Salvation Army, for your unwavering commitment, and thank you to your volunteers,” commented one Stevies judge.
The organization has provided over 7.6 million meals to more than 650,000 New Yorkers since its initial response. They are poised to provide rental assistance once federal moratoriums are lifted.
Seth Ditmer, who served as The Salvation Army’s Deputy Director of Operations in the Greater New York area during the height of the pandemic, was given the top award for Delivery Hero of the Year. Ditmer coordinated supply chain logistics to ensure the flow of food and personal protective equipment to the communities that needed it most. He personally delivered an average of 24 pallets of food per week to Salvation Army food banks. Ditmer now leads The Salvation Army’s Emergency Disaster Services in New Jersey.
In commending Ditmer’s nomination, one Stevies judge noted, “The ‘degree of good’ delivered under Mr. Ditmer’s leadership is simply staggering. [Their delivery of meals] must have saved lives, renewed hope, and lifted so many families from despair. We cannot honor this effort enough.”
More than 3,800 nominations – a record number - from organizations of all sizes and in virtually every industry were submitted this year for consideration in a wide range of categories. More than 250 professionals worldwide participated in the judging process to select this year’s Stevie Award winners.
Details about The American Business Awards and the list of 2021 Stevie winners are available at www.StevieAwards.com/ABA.
Pictured above, Seth Ditmer, former Deputy Director of Operations for The Salvation Army of Greater New York, now the Director of Emergency Disaster Services for The Salvation Army of New Jersey