Total Action for Progress (TAP) is pleased to announce that nominations are now open for the 2026 Cabell Brand Hope Award, an annual honor recognizing an outstanding community leader whose service embodies the spirit of TAP’s founder Cabell Brand.
Now in its twelfth year, the award shines a spotlight on individuals who have demonstrated a deep commitment to improving lives across the Roanoke Valley and Allegheny Highlands – especially in the areas of anti-poverty efforts, education, or environmental sustainability.
Nominations must be submitted by Friday, August 21, at www.tapintohope.org/hopeaward. The winner will be publicly announced the week of September 7th and formally honored at TAP’s Annual Event in October.
Nominees should meet the following criteria:
• Demonstrate an extended commitment to anti-poverty, educational, or environmental causes
• Serve as a dedicated volunteer or advocate over a sustained period of time
• Exemplify the spirit of community action through leadership, innovation, and resilience
• Reside in one of the eleven localities served by TAP: the counties of Alleghany, Bath, Botetourt, Craig, Roanoke, and Rockbridge; the cities of Buena Vista, Covington, Lexington, Roanoke, and Salem.
Past winners have included Pam Irvine (Feeding Southwest Virginia), Sherman P. Lea Sr. (former mayor of the City of Roanoke), Dr. Faith Pasley (Fralin Free Clinic), Abby Hamilton (United Way of Roanoke Valley), Nancy Agee (Carilion), and Ted Edlich (former TAP President).
Each honoree has carried forward Brand’s legacy of courageous leadership, community impact, and unshakable hope. TAP established the award in honor of Cabell Brand, a Roanoke businessman, civic leader, and founding force behind the organization’s creation in 1965. Brand’s visions for grassroots, community-led solutions helped shape not only TAP but the broader community action movement nationwide.
To nominate a deserving individual or learn more, visit www.tapintohope.org/hopeaward or contact Keegan Gore at (540) 283-4809 or [email protected]
