We’ve reviewed the submissions and our committee has narrowed down the choices to these outstanding finalists for Community Champion of the Year! The Community Champion is someone who is active in their community and makes the time to participate, even when it may not be convenient to do so. They volunteer time, advocate for others in need, and work tirelessly to further the cause, whether it is to raise money, provide a service, or just to make the world a better place, even if that world is their own neighborhood.
Outstanding community service is at the heart of so many critical initiatives, and has a lasting, positive impact on our society as a whole. By recognizing, developing and celebrating our community service efforts we celebrate the meaning and spirit of giving back and paying it forward.
To be eligible for nomination, the Community Champion of the Year must have shown through their words, actions, and behavior, that they have offered an exemplary role for some or all of the calendar year of nomination. Individuals must be nominated by someone other than themselves.
AND THE FINALISTS ARE…
NOMINEE: Sean Sportun, Circle K Stores
Sean’s vision is simple, yet contagious “make our stores less attractive to the criminal element through community engagement. He believes it is important to evaluate your current practices and think beyond the box to make a shift in your paradigm and get the results you need.
Sean also holds two separate certificates on Leadership and Management, is a certified Crime Prevention Through Crime Prevention (CPTED) practitioner, and has achieved the designation of International Crime Prevention Specialist. He is also a member of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, working with law enforcement agencies across Canada on crime prevention, community safety, and community well-being initiatives such as:
- As chair of the Toronto Crime Stoppers Volunteer Board of Directors, his efforts have been integral to successful community awareness programs like Cash for Guns, Contraband Tobacco, Student Crime Stoppers, Payment Card Fraud, Retail Crime Stoppers, Fuel Theft and most recently Sean led a national campaign to bring awareness to the growing issue of human trafficking. He holds the 1st vice president position on the Ontario Association of Crime Stoppers and also serves as the 2nd vice president of the International Society of Crime Prevention Practitioners, which provides crime prevention training on a global level.
- Partnership with the Ontario Provincial Police Community Issues Unit where he helped develop their Robbery Prevention Program, “SafeGuard Ontario” small business security program, “Lock It or Lose It” auto theft program, and has utilized Circle K’s reach into the community to support the provincial “AMBER Alert” program. Sean has also strategically leveraged this community reach to help police investigators bring awareness to high profile incidents from wanted persons by posting reward posters.
- A Positive Ticketing crime prevention initiative – which are simply coupons for free beverages given to police officers to issue to youth observed engaging in good behavior. More than 1.8 million coupons have been issued by police which has led to a steady decline in youth crime at Circle K locations.
- Graffiti reduction through StreetART, a concept established as a way to combat issues of graffiti and violent crime at stores by painting community murals on the store’s alley wall. The murals were painted by local artists respected in the community. At all locations where a mural went up each store is experiencing a reduction in crime and an increase in store sales.
- The Enforcement Edition cards program, featuring the Soo Greyhounds Hockey Club, recognizing and rewarding youth for good behavior. As a result of this program, crime trends at local Circle K stores are down 42%.
Sean motivates everyone at Circle K with his vision of Crime Prevention Through Community Engagement. His actions have instilled a powerful respect from his team, senior management, the community and our organization’s leaders to believe in that vision.
NOMINEE: Dinesh Elangovan, Overseas Security Advisory Council, India
Dinesh takes the initiative in coordinating and leading webinars and chapter meetings, arranging guest speakers, preparing agendas, finalizing promotional flyers, communicating with the chairman and all committee members. Dinesh has been a very visible and active member of Chennai OSAC group. He is approachable and a go-to person in the Chennai group.
He is a can-do person with positive attitude, taking on exemplary work for the OSAC group. He demonstrates sense of urgency, is a reliable person, and is quick for any responses or follow-ups. His communications provide a high level of knowledge and competence
Crisis or Incident Response – 16 employees from Chitradurga were stranded in Tirunelveli trying to get interstate passes. Dinesh worked directly with the employees to get their interstate passes, reuniting 16 families that had been away from home for 45 days.
Public Police Partnership – Dinesh has worked closely with police officers, partnering with OSAC Chennai group and for the members’ benefit. The interactions have helped in gaining information and direction for the group members on matters of crime prevention. He has also coordinated meetings between police officials and the organization representatives of IT sector, which includes 120 ,000 workers. He was instrumental and served as a bridge in CSR initiatives that helped members contribute to crime prevention strategies
OSAC Secretary – He has demonstrated leadership qualities and performed leadership tasks, setting an example for team members. During the COVID crisis he stepped out of the box and arranged platforms for members to connect, arranging experts to talk through the topics of. He remained as a leadership point of contact for group members, addressed the queries, and advised members of policy changes and new initiatives.
Standards, Service and Quality – Dinesh has revised group objectives and added information for relevance. He has provided statutory information required per the Indian law and circulated to members for best practices and compliance. He developed professional relationships with experts in the field and assisted members on whom to contact in case of emergency or matters of importance for the befit of group members.
Innovative Networking – Dinesh ensured the chapter visibility and new initiatives were inducted for the group to include OSAC Chennai chapter Communication Templates, the All India OSAC Connect platform, the WhatsApp data Analysis, the Biannual Report, and networking to improve brand visibility.
NOMINEE: Kevin Metcalf, Founder, National Child Protection Task Force
Metcalf is a former federal agent turned prosecutor and founder of the National Child Protection Task Force. The National Child Protection Task Force was founded to provide detectives, analysts and officers access to investigative expertise and resources that are unavailable or under-funded in most law enforcement organizations. The members of the Task Force volunteer their time to any agency—small or large, international or local—on important, time-sensitive cases focused on human trafficking, child exploitation, and missing persons cases.
“We come from all walks of life and professional backgrounds, but we are united in our belief that we have a responsibility to make society a better place for everyone, especially our most vulnerable members.”
Metcalf has assisted with the recovery of numerous missing and exploited children and the identification and apprehension of sexual predators across the country. His law enforcement experience ranges from local to federal over more than 20 years and his interest in the criminal use of mobile devices led him to undergo training provided by the National Computer Forensics Institute, the National White Collar Crime Center, and the FBI CAST (Cellular Analysis Survey Team) among others. His efforts through the National Child Protection Task Force have united dedicated, talented, and compassionate individuals in the fight against human trafficking, child exploitation, and missing persons cases, making a tremendous difference for our communities, our families, and those in need of our commitment and support.
NOMINEE: Walgreens – Red Nose Initiative
The ability to influence change is a product of drive, creativity, and determination; but it also requires a unique ability to create a shared vision that others will understand, respect, support, and pursue. These are the qualities that separate us from others, and something that all of us across the loss prevention community should search for in ourselves and celebrate when we see it in others. Is there any better cause than helping children in need?
Want to make a real difference? It really doesn’t take that much to get involved—just buy a red nose. Dig way down deep in your pockets, pull out a couple bucks, and buy a red nose. That’s all it takes to get things started.
Red Nose Day is a campaign with the mission to end child poverty by funding programs that keep children safe, healthy, and educated. Through the power of entertainment, the mission is to bring people together to laugh and have fun, all while raising life-changing cash for the children that need it the most. Simply by purchasing bracelets, pins, pens, making cash donations—or buying a red nose at a local Walgreens location, we all have a real opportunity to make a difference.
By using humor and positivity to promote positive change, the Red Nose Campaign is making a real difference in our local communities and across the globe. Since debuting in 2015, the Red Nose Day campaign has raised nearly $240 million and has positively impacted over 25 million children in America, and around the world.”
All proceeds from the sale of Red Nose merchandise goes directly to the fund, which is used to provide food, clean water, shelter, vaccines and healthcare, education, and much more for children locally and abroad. Members of the Walgreens asset protection team across the country are holding fundraisers, posting fun videos, and generously offering their time, talents, and resources to support this worthwhile program.
HOW TO VOTE
DOWNLOAD THE LP PORTAL MOBILE APP FROM THE APPLE APP STORE FOR iOS, OR GOOGLE PLAY STORE FOR ANDROID. (SEARCH FOR “LP PORTAL”).
ONCE YOU INSTALL THE APP AND REGISTER, ACCESS “THE HALL” CHANNEL AND FOLLOW THE LINKS FOR VOTING
EACH CATEGORY WILL BE OPEN FOR AT LEAST TWO WEEKS OF VOTING – TELL YOUR COWORKERS, YOUR PEERS, AND YOUR FRIENDS – AND GET THE WORD OUT TO VOTE ON THE FINALIST YOU FEEL MOST DESERVES TO WIN!
Visit The Hall homepage to learn more about each of our categories and finalists