Kentucky Habitat for Humanity’s Prison Partnership Program was selected as the winner of the 2006 Fifth Third Bank Innovative Nonprofit Award.The award will be presented Sept. 28 at the fourth annual Kentucky Nonprofit Leadership Forum, a statewide gathering for Kentucky’s nonprofit leaders hosted by the University of Kentucky Nonprofit Leadership Initiative, an outreach program of the College of Agriculture.The program, with support from the Kentucky Department of Adult Corrections, engages offender volunteers from county jails and state correctional facilities in building homes and other tasks, such as making cabinets for the new homes. Kentucky Habitat for Humanity was selected for the award for their innovative approach to engaging a new, much-needed volunteer base to meet the growing needs of their local affiliates. To date, local Habitat affiliates in Boyle, Pike and Hopkins counties have benefited from the program through partnership with nearby correctional facilities.“This program allows offenders to make a positive contribution to their community while developing social and marketable job skills,” said Mary Shearer, executive director. “The affiliates participating report that the work is exceptional and the savings incurred because of this volunteer support is truly critical for their limited budgets.” The award was created by the UK Nonprofit Leadership Initiative in partnership with Fifth Third Bank. It recognizes a nonprofit organization implementing inventive, nontraditional programs or methods that effectively and efficiently meet community needs. The selected organization was required to demonstrate creativity and vision in finding solutions to address community issues and is open to any registered 501(c)(3) organization located and operating in Kentucky.“The Initiative’s advisory council has the extremely difficult task of selecting the winner, and each year it becomes more challenging,” said Danielle Clore, director of the UK Nonprofit Leadership Initiative. “Because of their sometimes limited budgets, nonprofits are very creative and the creativity shown by this year’s nominees made it very difficult for the advisory council to select only one winner. Habitat’s innovative approach benefits the community in so many ways and that’s why it was selected as the final winner.” Kentucky Habitat for Humanity will receive a video production of their winning program, a one-year membership in the Initiative’s Nonprofit Network, and a $500 Scholarship for Nonprofit Leadership Initiative workshops, seminars and publications.The Nonprofit Leadership Initiative serves and strengthens Kentucky’s nonprofit sector through educational opportunities, consulting services, and resources for organizations and their leaders.