For many advisers, it’s personal

THE INVEST IN OTHERS Charitable Foundation and InvestmentNews have announced the finalists for the sixth annual Community Leadership Awards.

The awards, which will be presented Sept. 13 at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York, honor financial advisers who make a difference in the lives of others.

This year, a new element to the judging process enabled applicants to share their personal stories, said Kandis Bates, president of the Invest in Others Charitable Foundation.

“Often, these advisers are compelled to give back due to a personal connection or experience,” she said.

“We wanted the judges to review this year’s nominations from a holistic approach and understand not only the incredible impact each adviser makes, but also what drives them to achieve their mission.”

Awards will be presented in four individual categories and one group category.

The individual categories are Volunteer of the Year, Global Community Impact, Community Service and Mentoring Excellence. The Volunteer Team Award honors advisers who organize groups to perform charitable services.

The Invest in Others Charitable Foundation and InvestmentNews received more than 250 nominations for this year’s awards.

The foundation will donate $20,000 to the charity designated by each category’s honoree. It also will donate $5,000 to each of the finalists’ charities.

“I never, ever tire of the stories about these advisers and the wonderful work they do in concert with their charities,” Ms. Bates said. ”Each adviser’s story is different and resonates with people differently. I look forward to hearing from them each year. It’s incredibly uplifting.”

WHERE PROCEEDS GO

Proceeds from the awards dinner will go to the Boston-based Invest in Others Charitable Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3) charity that supports philanthropic and volunteer activities among advisers in the United States.

This year’s keynote speaker is Charles Best, who established DonorsChoose.org, an online charity that supports public education by pairing donors with projects in schools. Since it began 12 years ago, Donors Choose.org has provided books, technology, classroom supplies, field trips and resources to more than 6.7 million schoolchildren across the nation.