Watch the 2021 Unsung Heroes Virtual Celebration of our community’s volunteers of the year, plus special guests and surprises! Special thanks to our event sponsor, the Lower Keys Medical Center.

The 21st annual Unsung Heroes Celebration recognized the tremendous efforts of our community’s volunteers. All 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofits based in and serving the Florida Keys were invited to nominate their volunteer to be honored.

The Unsung Heroes celebration is sponsored by the Lower Keys Medical Center and promotes civic engagement in the Keys. Thanks also to Keys Weekly for their partnership with this year’s publication. We also appreciate the generosity of Ocean Wellness Spa, which donated $2,000 in gift certificates for spa services to this year’s Unsung Heroes.

David Clay, CEO of Lower Keys Medical Center, said, “The not-for-profit organizations and their volunteers being recognized are so vital to the health and well-being of our communities, providing food, shelter, financial assistance and health and human services to our residents in need. The Unsung Heroes event is our chance to celebrate the giving nature of the Keys and the people who work tirelessly to help their neighbors.”

Nearly 1,400 volunteers have been recognized since the event was started 21 years ago. Keys volunteers donate their time and services to our community, including cleaning up beaches, supplying food to children and families in need, fostering animals, mentoring students, assisting at homeless shelters, and much more.

Nearly 23 percent of all Florida residents volunteer for nonprofits, contributing 341 million hours of service. Last year in America, 77.4 million people volunteered hours of service valued at $167 billion.

Since 2001, the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys has been hosting the annual Unsung Heroes event to recognize the tireless efforts of our community’s volunteers. Each Monroe County 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization is invited to nominate one Unsung Hero to recognize that individual’s unpaid contributions over the past year.

Photos from the 2020 Unsung Heroes Celebration

Click here to see all the photos from the event.