MOUNTAIN LAKES — Each year the Lakeland Hills Family YMCA recognizes individuals, groups, and corporations who have gone above and beyond in service to their communities, students, schools, and neighbors.

The Y is now seeking nominations through April 1 for YMCA Citizens of the Year (one from each service area town), two YMCA Educators of the Year (K-8 and High School), two Bronie Parkins Awards for an eighth grade girl and boy, and two William Kogen Awards for a graduating high school girl and boy.

Awards are presented during the Y’s annual dinner, which will take place on Wednesday, May 11 at the Knoll Country Club West in Parsippany.

Think you know someone who might qualify? Click here for complete details, criteria for awards, and links to nomination forms.

Applications must be returned no later than April 1. Contact Community Relations Director, Rosemary Linder Day, for more information: rosemaryl@lhymca.com.

MORRIS COUNTY — The Morris County Board of Freeholders has proclaimed Saturday, February 13, as Cupid’s Chase 5K Race Day in Morris County in support of an annual fundraising effort by non-profit Community Options in support of people with disabilities.

The mid-winter running event will take place on Valentine’s Day weekend in Morristown starting at 10:00 a.m. on February 13.

“Community Options is already making a difference by providing residential and employment support to people with intellectual disabilities, autism, physical disabilities, traumatic brain injuries and dual diagnoses,’’ said Freeholder Director Kathy DeFillippo.  The Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders welcomes all who are coming to Morristown and to Morris County for this outstanding event.’’

“Community Options invites runners, walkers, and rollers in wheelchairs and baby strollers to help raise for that can make a difference in the lives of people with disabilities by participating in the Cupid’s Chase 5K,’’ added Svetlana Repic-Qira, New Jersey Regional Vice President for Community Options, told the freeholders.

Repic-Qira was joined at the freeholder meeting by Tracy Mendola, Community Options’ Executive Director for Morris County, Christina Mazza, Media-Events Coordinator for Community Options, and client Ben Pedersen of Boonton, and his father, Buddy Pedersen.

Community Options is a nonprofit agency that works to provide housing, support services and advocacy assistance for people with disabilities nationwide.

Community Options, which is based in Princeton and has offices in Morristown, believes that all people – regardless of disability level – should live and work in the community with dignity, choice, and self-determination.

Cupid’s Chase 5K is an annual event sponsored by Community Options to raise funds and awareness for their mission of dignity and choice for those with disabilities. The very first Cupid’s Chase 5K took place in 2009, with more than 600 participants in Princeton, and was so successful that Community Options decided to make it a national event.

This year, it will be held in 30 towns and cities across the nation, including Morristown, and also Glen Rock, New Brunswick, Pennsauken, Princeton, and Seaside Heights in New Jersey.

For more event information click here.

MORRIS COUNTY — The Arts Mean Business. That is the message being delivered this week by Morris Arts, which in partnership with the Morris County Economic Development Corporation and ArtPride New Jersey, announced it has joined the Arts & Economic Prosperity 5, a national study measuring the economic impact of nonprofit arts and culture organizations and their audiences.

The study is being conducted by Americans for the Arts, the nation’s nonprofit organization advancing the arts and arts education.

It is the fifth study being done over the past 20 years to measure the impact of arts spending on local jobs, income paid to local residents, and revenue generated to local and state governments.

As one of nearly 300 study partners across all 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Morris Arts and the Morris County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) will collect detailed financial data about our local nonprofit arts and culture organizations such as our theater and dance companies, museums, festivals, and arts education organizations.

“Many people don’t think of nonprofit arts organizations as businesses,” said Richard Mahler, Managing Director at PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers), and a member of the Morris Arts Board of Trustees.

“This study will make clear that the arts are a formidable industry in our community—employing people locally, purchasing goods and services from local merchants, and helping to drive tourism and economic development.”

Morris Arts and MCEDC will also collect surveys from attendees at arts events using a short, anonymous questionnaire that asks how much money they spent on items such as meals, parking and transportation, and retail shopping specifically as a result of attending the event.

Previous studies have shown that the average attendee spends $24.60 per person, per event, beyond the cost of admission.

Those studies have also shown that, on average, 32 percent of arts attendees travel from outside the county in which the arts event took place, and that those cultural tourists typically spend nearly $40 per person—generating important revenue for local businesses and demonstrating how the arts drive revenue for other businesses in the community.

Surveys will be collected throughout calendar year 2016. The results of the study will be released in June of 2017.

Tom Werder, Executive Director of Morris Arts noted, “This study will show that when we support the arts and culture in Morris County, we are making an investment in an industry, one that supports jobs and generates government revenue, and is the cornerstone of tourism.

According to Americans for the Arts’ most recent national study, the nonprofit arts industry generated $135.2 billion in total economic activity and supported 4.1 million full-time equivalent jobs during 2010, resulting in $22.3 billion in federal, state and local government revenues.

The $135.2 billion total included $61.1 billion in spending by arts organizations and $74.1 billion in event-related spending by their audiences on items such as meals, local transportation and overnight lodging. Complete details about the fiscal year 2010 study are available by clicking here.

“Our Arts & Economic Prosperity series demonstrates that the arts are an economic and employment powerhouse both locally and across the nation,” said Robert L. Lynch, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts. “Leaders who care about community and economic vitality can feel good about choosing to invest in the arts. Nationally as well as locally, the arts mean business.”

Americans for the Arts’ Arts & Economic Prosperity 5 study is supported by The Ruth Lilly Fund of Americans for the Arts. In addition, Americans for the Arts’ local and statewide study partners are contributing both time and a cost-sharing fee support to the study. For a full list of the nearly 300 Arts & Economic Prosperity 5 study partners, click here.

Morris Arts, located in Morristown, is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1973 dedicated to building community through the arts.  The Morris County Economic Development Corporation, located in Florham Park, is a division of the Morris County Chamber of Commerce.