Lou Thesz World Heavyweight Championship Award: In partnership with The Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute, the Lou Thesz World Heavyweight Championship Award is given in recognition of meritorious public service throughout the world each year.
Considered the “Nobel Prize of Wrestling,” the Lou Thesz World Heavyweight Championship Award was established by the Lou Thesz / George Tragos Wrestling Hall of Fame of the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and is awarded to an individual in the sport of wrestling that has taken the skills, courage, and mental toughness that are the of the sport and has taken it to the realm of public service to those throughout the world in need.
The award is named in honor of the six time world heavyweight champion Lou Thesz. The award stand in memory and honor of not only his athletic achievements but also to reflect the man he was and his heart felt compassion for those who are struggling and find themselves in times of need. Lou always had great admiration for their courage and for those who reached out to them. Lou and his wife Charlie were instrumental in the growth of the Eblen-Kimmel Charitable Group and have inspired many of the program and outreaches and always encouraged our work by reminding us “If it’s to be, it’s up to me.” William Murdock, Founding Director of the Eblen-Kimmel Charitable Group and the Center for Social Enterprise was honored as the first recipient in July of 2007 in a ceremony in
Graduation Initiative Compass Award: The Compass Award recognizes schools and school leaders who are “heading in the right direction” by implementing best practices in dropout prevention. Buncombe County Schools earn recognition for their impressive school-wide focus on professional development, literacy and parental involvement.
The Graduation Initiative awards the Compass Award quarterly to the primary, elementary, middle, or high schools that lead the way with various strategies and methods designed to better equip teachers working with a rapidly growing and changing population of students by providing innovative methods to encourage and keep students in school until graduation.
The Frank Lewis Memorial Award: Established to recognize an area school each year for outstanding service, the Frank Lewis Memorial Award was first awarded in 2003. The Frank Lewis Memorial Award is named in memory of Frank Lewis, beloved
In partnership with Pepsi of Asheville, Outback Steakhouse, and Ingle’s Markets, the winning school each year receives $1,000 from Pepsi Cola, a banner to be displayed in the school, and the knowledge that touching children and families in times of need is one of the greatest hallmarks of education.
The Eblen-Kimmel Award for Meritorious Public Service: Conferred by the board of directors to an outstanding individual, company, or organization that exemplifies the spirit of the Eblen-Kimmel Charities in touching the lives of those less fortunate in our community, the Meritorious Public Service Award serves as the highest honor that is given by our organization.
The award is not confined solely to the work of the Eblen-Kimmel Charities but may be given out to anyone that has given exemplary service to those in need in our community through innovation, outreach, or example of selfless endeavors that provide assistance to those who may be less fortunate