Volunteers named 2026 Madison Visionary Award winners
Former mayor Paul Finley named Visionary of the Year
MADISON – Celebrating volunteerism in Madison was the central focus on March 25 when several Madison volunteers were honored for their hard work and commitment in helping make the city a better place to live. Madison Visionary Partners (MVP) hosted its fourth annual Madison Visionary Awards, a community-wide event to celebrate the people who make Madison a great place to call home.
During a luncheon ceremony, awards were given to Community Volunteer of the Year, Youth Volunteer of the Year, Philanthropic Businessperson of the Year and Madison Visionary of the Year. Also, a new award was presented this year, the Mayor’s Community Champion.
According to MVP Executive Director Christina Hearne, the following individuals are finalists and winners for the awards:
• Community Volunteer of the Year went to Madison Street Festival President Crystal McBrayer. Trina Bishop and Miranda Nichols were the finalists.
• Philanthropic Businessperson of the Year went to Scott and Amy Edwards with Summit 7. Eugene Jung with Champy’s of Madison was named the finalist.
• Youth Volunteer of the Year was awarded to Joshua Macri. Blake Lugos and Kendall Lugos were named finalists.
MVP’s most prestigious volunteer award, the Madison Visionary of the Year Award, went to former Madison Mayor Paul Finley.
“Congratulations to all of the nominees and winners! We are inspired by the examples of dedication and service from all of the nominees,” stated MVP Executive Director Christina Hearne. “Thank you to our presenting sponsor valleymls. com, and everyone who helped make this incredible event possible.”
Community Volunteer of the Year
Crystal McBrayer’s volunteer journey began with Big Brothers and Sisters in the 1990’s. Her services continued through Asbury Church, The Harbour Church, Monte Sano UMC, and Storehouse, where she served in youth, college, worship, and recovery ministries. Crystal also became an active volunteer in Madison City Schools, volunteering in multiple roles at Heritage Elementary, Liberty Middle School, and James Clemens High School as her child progressed from kindergarten through high school. She also volunteers for multiple projects for Main Street Madison, Madison Visionary Partners, and JustServe.
In 2019, Crystal got involved with the Madison Street Festival, a beloved celebration of Madison that has been an annual tradition since 1976.
As President, Crystal leads the volunteer team and manages the many moving parts required to pull off such a large event.
“Serving in this role has brought great joy and a strong sense of responsibility to preserve and grow this legacy so future generations can continue to enjoy and benefit from it,” said Crystal. “Serving others remains one of the most meaningful ways I know to make a lasting, positive impact on the place my family proudly calls home.”
“One of the elements of Madison’s success is its people, and MVP strives to honor the volunteers who work every day to build community in our city,” Hearne said. “We have many people doing good and, most often, they are the ones working behind the scenes. What better way to bring them in the spotlight than through these awards?”
Philanthropic Businessperson of the Year
Scott and Amy Edwards are long-time Madison residents who seek to give back to their community both personally and through their company, Summit7. Their goal is to inspire people to give generously to legacy projects and services that will serve Madison for generations.
“Madison is a small community, with limited corporate taxes and sponsors, which makes it important for individuals to support margin of excellence projects to ensure we remain a choice community servicing citizens,” Amy said.
Through Summit7, they strategically partner with local organizations to give employees the ability to be part of something bigger than themselves. Volunteerism is encouraged through both coordinated and volunteer-led events. Many employees also volunteer independently, and are eligible for Serve7 corporate sponsorships, Summit7’s charity matching program that is available for employees to leverage for causes important to them in all their communities across the country.
Personally, the Edwards family has made significant financial contributions to Madison and beyond, demonstrating an extraordinary commitment to strengthening the community and supporting meaningful causes. Their generosity has provided major support to organizations and initiatives including the Madison Community Center campaign, Asbury Church’s Madison capital campaign, Big Oak Ranch, Better Together’s missionary efforts in Turkey, Scouting America, the Madison Chess League, Behind You Beside You, the West Point Association of Graduates, the USO, and Educating with Hope.
Youth Volunteer of the Year
Joshua Macri has always enjoyed the outdoors, and loved hiking, kayaking, and rowing. During COVID, he sought out more outdoor recreational activities and enjoyed hiking trails maintained by Land Trust of North Alabama. When he noticed that some of his favorite trails were in need of repair, he decided to get involved.
Joshua enjoyed working and talking with Land Trust volunteers while cleaning up and trailbuilding. When he mentioned his goal of becoming a veterinarian, a Land Trust volunteer encouraged him to get involved with the Greater Huntsville Humane Society. In his work with the Humane Society, Joshua learned about SARTEC, the local all-volunteer K-9 search and rescue team. With SARTEC, he was able to help his community, be outdoors, and work with dogs. “I learned that each experience offers the opportunity to meet new people who often have amazing insight to our community,” said Joshua.
The list of organizations Joshua has volunteered with is long and varied. Besides the Humane Society and SARTEC, he has made dog toys for Huntsville Animal Services and Madison Animal Services. He has given his time to Asbury Food Pantry, One Gen, and Manna House. He has made holiday cards for seniors at 2 senior residence facilities, as well as participating in Hugs for Soldiers and Operation Christmas Child. Additionally, he has volunteered with Apollo Coalition, Green Team at Ditto Landing, Madison Visionary Partners, and the Madison Street Festival. Joshua even spent one summer as an intern at the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Hospital in North Carolina. Overall, he has volunteered over 400 hours.
Mayor’s Community Champion Award
This year included a new recognition. Madison Mayor Ranae Bartlett awarded the first ever Mayor’s Community Champion Award to Rev. Spencer Beach of Building Church. Pastor Beach and congregation were instrumental in helping the 30 families impacted by the Sutton Water Crisis. Barrett described Beach as “a leader whose actions during a time of need reminded us all what community really looks like.”
The City of Madison mobilized community partners to support residents of Sutton Apartments in January following a water service disruption caused by unpaid utility charges by the property’s management.
Madison Utilities, an autonomous entity from the City of Madison, shut off water service to the residents at the complex after the property accumulated more than $30,000 in unpaid water bills. City leaders immediately began coordinating resources to ensure residents received essential support. Mayor Ranae Bartlett, local faith leaders, education officials, and multiple organizations stepped in to meet urgent needs. Pastor Beach and Building Church immediately took a leading role in helping coordinate this effort.
Bartlett praised Beach for perseverance in helping with the Sutton Apartments’ water crisis. “He stepped forward, mobilized support and helped organize relief efforts for families facing sudden and difficult circumstances,” Bartlett said.
Beach’s most distinctive trait is his ability to bring people together. “Churches, local organizations, and volunteers rallied . . . ensuring residents without water could relocate as smoothly and safely as possible,” Bartlett said.
“(The response) was a powerful reminder that, in Madison, we don’t face challenges alone. We show up for one another,” Bartlett said. “This is what makes Madison special, the people who lead with heart, who take action and who remind us that, when we come together, there is no challenge we cannot meet.”
Spotlighting volunteer efforts that make a substantial ongoing difference in the lives of others in the city, Madison Visionary Awards highlight a key element in MVP’s mission as Madison’s community nonprofit. In addition to fundraising for large projects, MVP is also building a community of volunteers who want to bring small projects, events and programs to Madison, Hearne said.
“Madison’s leaders have a vision for our community that MVP, along with other community organizations, can help bring to reality,” Chuck Brand said. Brand serves as Chair of MVP Board of Directors. “Support for our mission is integral as we continue to grow as a city and a region.”
Madison Visionary of the Year Award
The most anticipated award presented during the ceremony was the annual Visionary of the Year. This year the award went to former Madison mayor Paul Finley.
In three terms serving as Mayor, Paul Finley has left an indelible mark on Madison.
When he took office in 2008, Madison was poised for growth but lacked adequate infrastructure and economic development. Schools were overcrowded. Parks and recreation areas needed improvement, or some did not exist at all. In fact, his first run for the mayor’s office was motivated by the need to improve Palmer Field. That motivation turned into a grassroots effort that led to much-needed changes in some of Madison’s recreational areas.
During Finley’s second administration, he helped secure funding for James Clemens High School, partnering with Madison City Schools on the 2019 property tax referendum. He supported major economic and quality-of-life projects, including Madison Hospital, the development of Town Madison, Toyota Field, and the construction of the new Madison Senior Center.
Besides helping to secure the Trash Pandas for family enjoyment, Finley’s administration secured the property by Hexagon to be developed into recreation spaces, including pickleball courts, a new playground was built at the former 40-acre Sunshine Oaks horse farm, including an 18-hole disc-golf course and the completion of Home Place Park, a 700 seat amphitheater, gazebo and a stage for Concerts in the Park. The development of these types of spaces was the city’s proactive approach in prioritizing the growth of green space and connectivity in Madison.
While serving, Finley said he fell in love with the city’s non-profits and has continued to be involved in those areas as a private citizen.
Community Impact Grants
Another segment of the awards program was the presentation of recipients of Community Impact Grants. MVP announced they will disperse $13,050 to local nonprofits for programs and events that will benefit the Madison community.
“Any way we can enhance and support the nonprofit activity in Madison is going to be beneficial to the community. We have some great projects that are going to get funding,” Hearne said.
The organizations receiving the grants are: Madison Arts Alliance, National Children’s Advocacy Center, Madison City Community Orchestra, Huntsville Hospital Foundation–Madison Hospital, Madison City Schools, SS4Kids and Huntsville-Madison County Library Foundation–Madison Library.
For more information, visit mvpmadison. org/visionary awards.
