Kim Davis on the American Giving Awards: "Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things in Communities Every Day"

Kim Davis said it plainly: "Many times we think about all the negative things happening in our country and in our society, and yet there are these a…" — and Premier Guide Miami was in the room when it happened.

On December 7, 2011, NBC Universal held a press call for the American Giving Awards Presented by Chase , airing Saturday, December 10th at 8 p.m. on NBC. Kim Davis, head of the JP Morgan Chase Foundation, joined host Bob Costas on the call to explain the show's origins and the five charities competing for a $1 million grant. Premier Guide Miami was among the outlets on the line.

Many times we think about all the negative things that are happening in our country and in our society, and yet there are these amazing activities and feats of sacrifice that are happening. If we can play a small part in helping to elevate that, then I think we are making a contribution.

The show's origins — and $2 million in grants

Davis described the American Giving Awards as the first-ever televised celebrity tribute to community heroes: "A total of $2 million will be granted by Chase to five charities that will be participating in the show." The concept grew directly from Chase's Community Giving Program, launched in fall 2009: "It's a crowd-sourced philanthropic initiative on Facebook, where we have, over the period of time since the fall of 2009, engaged over 3.3 million fans who have helped us decide which local non-profits will receive grants from our firm." Performers and presenters included Taio Cruz, Miley Cyrus, Jesse Tyler Ferguson of Modern Family , and Dancing with the Stars champion JR Martinez. Colin Farrell was also being honored, Davis noted, because of his personal passion for one of the featured organizations.

The five categories — and two organizations doing extraordinary work

The five grant categories were: Education and Mentors, Youth Developers, Community Builders, Champions of Health and Wellness, and Heroes and Leaders. Davis offered two examples of the organizations being recognized. The first was Let's Get Ready, based in New York City: "What they do is help low-income, at-risk high school students go to college through SAT preparation and counseling. We know what the cost of college is today. So it's giving these kids a leg up in communities to help them get to college." The second was Move for Hunger, out of Neptune, New Jersey: "They are a moving company that, as they are helping to move people across America, they pick up the unopened and non-perishable food items from people during the moving process and deliver those food items to local food banks across the country. An incredible sacrifice and accomplishment — they've moved tons of food across the country." On the show's broader purpose: "I think it's important to help give voice and to celebrate the incredible efforts and sacrifices that ordinary people who are doing extraordinary things in communities are making every day." The American Giving Awards Presented by Chase aired Saturday, December 10, 2011, on NBC.

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