South Carolina Leader, Mason Hardy, Recognized for Commitment to Nonprofit Sector
June 6, 2008
COLUMBIA, SC – June 6, 2008 – Mason Hardy, President of South Carolina Association of Nonprofit Organizations (SCANPO) is the 2008 recipient of the Phyllis Campbell Newsome Leadership Award. The award is presented by the National Council of Nonprofit Associations (NCNA) to a leader in the state association network who has dedicated his or her career to serving others, and views the nonprofit sector as a vehicle for that service.
The national award was created in memory of Phyllis Campbell Newsome, Director of Advocacy and Community Relations for the Center for Nonprofit Advancement in Washington, DC. In addition to being a new leader in the nonprofit sector, the award recipient must demonstrate the enthusiasm and visionary zeal exhibited by Newsome during her work with DC nonprofits.
We applaud the work of dedicated, innovative, and ethical professionals in our network, a group that naturally includes new and upcoming leaders, said Audrey R. Alvarado, Executive Director of NCNA. Many folks are already working to address the pending leadership transition in the sector, asking ‘How do we fill in the gaps?’ One solution is looking at the existing pool of talent, and encouraging new leaders to help direct our future. Mason is definitely someone I would trust to help guide the sector into the future.
Hardy was formally acknowledged at the NCNA Annual Member Meeting and Nonprofit Congress National Meeting, which was held June 2-4.
I am very honored to be recognized by this national award and I am proud to be part of a much larger network of nonprofits in South Carolina and around the country working and volunteering to meet the many needs of the world we live in, said Hardy. I have an ideal vision for the nonprofit sector that I believe is shared by many around the country and I consider myself fortunate to have many mentors and partners in fighting the good fight.
Hardy joined SCANPO in 2006 with a background in nonprofit hospital foundations. As Executive Director and Chief Development Officer for the Tuomey Foundation in Sumter, SC from 2004-2005, he was responsible for marketing, development, events, and public relations; he performed a similar role as Executive Director of the Newberry County Hospital Foundation, Inc. from 2002-2004. Hardy is now a Certified Association Executive (CAE). He is also a member of the South Carolina Secretary of State’s Advisory Council and the Columbia Rotary Club, as well as a former diplomat for the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce. Hardy’s wealth of leadership experience is matched only by his passion for strengthening South Carolina’s nonprofits.
The National Council of Nonprofit Associations (NCNA) is the network of state and regional nonprofit associations serving over 20,000 members in 41 states and the District of Columbia. NCNA links local organizations to a national audience through state associations and helps small and midsize nonprofits: manage and lead more effectively; collaborate and exchange solutions; engage in critical policy issues affecting the sector; and achieve greater impact in their communities.
The South Carolina Association of Nonprofit Organizations (SCANPO) is the only statewide organization that brings together charitable nonprofits to strengthen the effectiveness of the state’s nonprofit community. SCANPO’s mission is to serve, support, and strengthen nonprofit organizations for a better South Carolina. For information on SCANPO or these awards for excellence, please call 803-929-0399 or visit www.scanpo.org.
