![[WATCH] Gov. Ivey honors SAFE in Montgomery after winning national Chick-fil-A award](https://www.sylacauganews.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/IMG_2447.jpg)
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Gov. Kay Ivey honored the Sylacauga Alliance for Family Enhancement for winning the Chick-fil-A True Inspiration Award on Thursday in Montgomery.
The Sylacauga Alliance for Family Enhancement is the Southeast’s winner of the Chick-fil-A True Inspiration Award winner for 2020 worth $75,000. In December, Chick-fil-A made the announcement at the annual SAFE Christmas lunch.
“We are here today to recognize an important example of how folks across Alabama are leaning in to surpass our goal of putting 500,000 workers into the workplace by 2025,” said Gov. Ivey. “Today, I am proud to be here as Chick-fil-A recognizes Sylacauga Alliance for Family Enhancement for the substantial impact they are making in throughout their community and in our great state.”
In 2015, the Chick-fil-A Foundation established the True Inspiration Awards in honor of founder S. Truett Cathy. Each year, Chick-fil-A celebrates organizations from across the country who embody his spirit of service and exist, like the Chick-fil-A Foundation, to help every child become all they can be.
True Inspiration Award recipients work hard to make a lasting difference in their communities like SAFE.
The grant, totaling $75,000, goes to organizations that fall in one of three categories; education, youth homelessness and poverty and economic empowerment. SAFE is the first winner from the state of Alabama and one of 22 recipients in the nation to win a form of an award.
“They are an incredible partner in my Sylacauga community and across our county,” said Micah Harris, Chick-fil-A Sylacauga Franchisee. “They are one of a few organizations in our country that received this level of award — the $75,000 award level for economic development and for creating new jobs in the state of Alabama.”
“Who would have thought…that Chick-fil-A would have spearheaded a nomination for the True Inspiration Award. The nomination was affirmation enough. But the win was, wow, priceless,” said Margaret Morton, Executive Director of SAFE.
Morton said the grant will be used to expand the Workforce Ready program.
